Kraemer in Amerika

About Kraemer in Amerika

The 330-page book (8 ½" x 11" soft cover) is extensively indexed by last name, place, and occupation, and is sourced in detail. This is not your usual genealogy book with pages filled with names, places and dates. The book, with 11 chapters and a large appendix containing additional information, has a Tiefenbach history section, church history, family stories, German translations, and more. The authors have included original documents; photographs (weddings, family snapshots, homes, cemeteries); immigration records, census records; naturalization records; birth, marriage and death records; draft cards; maps; and land certificates.

Volume 1: The Kraemer Series

Debra Blau and Kenneth Kraemer, both natives of Wisconsin, USA, and interested in preserving family history, stumbled upon an unsolved mystery far away in the homeland of their ancestors. The small village of Tiefenbach - set among the beautiful rolling hills of the Oberpfalz region in Bavaria, Germany - is where the mystery took place.

The mystery involved a unique stained-glass church window with an intriguing inscription, "Kraemer in Amerika." Setting out to discover the meaning behind the inscription, the authors found themselves faced with many unanswered questions, such as:  

• Who did "Kraemer in Amerika" represent? 

• Where in America did this Kraemer live?

• Who donated money for the Kraemer window? 

• Could there be a fascinating story behind the donation?  

There was indeed a fascinating story! In this book, Ken and Debbie reveal the answers to these questions and much more.

Their research led to Kraemer families in Minnesota - rugged pioneers who settled the town of Lake Henry in Stearns County; and to Kraemer families in Los Angeles who profited from the 1890s land boom; their connection to the Wisconsin Kraemers from Sauk County; and how they all share the same roots in Tiefenbach.

Because Kraemer daughters married into other families, the book also touches on the family stories of the following southern California families: Davancens, Faulkner, Fox, Friel, Grasham, Jacque, Keeley, Lach, Lypps, Marshall, Meeks, Menne, Preuher, Scott, Vallon, Wagner, Zmora and Zrnka. Of the Minnesota Kraemers, the book mentions the following families: Aanerud, Bruhn, Dueber, Gelting, Ingram, Jaeger, Kowal, Longley, Michelitsch, Patsch, Schuett, Sitta, and Staples. 

The Kraemer Series continues with the "Wisconsin Kraemers" (Volumes 2, 3 and 4) in three separate, high-quality books: 

1. In the Old World of Bavaria. History and genealogy of the Kraemers of Tiefenbach, Bavaria and Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin

2. The New World of America. Paul and Walburga Kraemer and their children. History and genealogy of the Kraemers of Tiefenbach and Irlach, Bavaria and Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin

3. The Twentieth Century. Peter Kraemer, Anna Ring, Grace Ring, Katherine Eckstein and their children. History and genealogy of the Kraemers of Tiefenbach and Irlach, Bavaria and Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin

See what's in the index: click here

Books were donated to the following libraries and archives: 

Wisconsin

• Old Franklin Township Historical Society, 915 Wachter Avenue, Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin

• Kraemer Public Library and Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin

• Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St., Spring Green, Sauk County, Wisconsin

• Sauk County Historical Society, 531 4th Avenue, Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Historical Society Library, 816 State Street, 2nd floor, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin

Minnesota

• Germanic Genealogy Society, PO Box 16312, St. Paul, MN 55116-0312

• Great River Regional Library, 119 Washburne Ave, Paynesville MN 56362

• Stearns County Historical Society (d.b.a. Stearns History Museum), 235 South 33rd Avenue, St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota

California

• Anaheim Historical Society, PO Box 927, Anaheim CA 92815

• California History Room of the California State Library, 900 North Street, Room 200, Sacramento, Sacrament County, California

• History and Genealogy Department, Los Angeles Public Library, 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

• Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library, 417 Irving Dr, Burbank CA 91504

• Orange County California Genealogical Society, c/o Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Utah

• Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah

Germany

• Archiv der Gemeinde Tiefenbach (Tiefenbach Community Archive), in the "Alten Schule (old school), Hauptstrasse 23, 93464 Tiefenbach, Kreis Cham, Bavaria, Germany. Presented in person by the authors on September 19, 2014, to archivists Bruno Servi and Richard Bierl in the presence of Mayor Ludwig Prögler (see Bayerwald Echo and Chamer Zeitung newspapers dated September 23, 2014).

• Bistumsarchiv der Diözese Regensburg, Bischöfliches Zentralarchiv (Catholic church book archive), St. Petersweg 11-13, 93047 Regensburg. Presented in person by the authors on September 18, 2014, to Dr. Camilla Weber, head of the archive.

Reviews

"I recently received a color copy of the book and love it! . . .Encourage you all to get your very own copy, you will not be disappointed." ~Diane

"It's an amazing accomplishment" ~Rita

"I really like the style of your writing. It was simple, clear and direct the way you led people through the story." ~Christa

"This book will appeal to a variety of readers. . . As a genealogical and historical researcher, I look for new techniques and areas to research. This book gives many new areas to research. Non-relatives will find the Minnesota Kraemer's life events interesting. Debra has strong research skills working with paper and online resources. Ken's professional organizational and educational background shows in the rigorous standards used to produce the book. Well written, above average support for facts and logical assumptions derived from the research." ~Gary

"This book is wonderful, you both did a great job on it." ~Dave