Krueger

My 3g-grandfather was Anton KRUGER, born 5 Dec 1812, probably in Trzcianka [Schönlanke], Germany, and died 19 Feb 1866 in Straduhn, Schönlanke, age 53. He married on 24 Nov 1839 to my 3g-grandmother, Dorothea FLOTHE, born about 1815, died 3 Dec 1875 in Straduhn. They were about 25 and 23 when they married. They lived in Straduhn, a small village near Trzcianka, and had 7 children.

The record above tells us that Anton died on 19 Feb 1866 in Straduhn, age 53 years, 2 months and 14 days, so his birth was 5 Dec 1812. He would have been 26 on 24 Nov 1839. So there is a slight error in these dates.

The data above comes from Torrey Copfer, a researcher who has access to the records at Trzcianka. He sent me clippings of the original documents, but the pages are old, in German, with sloppy handwriting, so I will accept Torrey's transcription and translation. 

The German letter Ü is translated into English as UE or U. Here, I regard KRÜGER as the German version of KRUGER and KRUEGER.

Please look at the unidentified photos on the Haloupek Photos page.

There was an Anton Friedrich KRÜGER, born 8 Dec 1812 in Bremen, son of Georg Hermann Friedrich KRÜGER and Margarethe RESHOLM. This may be the right Anton, although Bremen is in northwestern Germany, not close to Straduhn.

Records for Dorothea have her name spelled FLOTHE, FLÖTHE, FLOETER, GLOTHER. The record above says she was 23 in 1839, thus born about 1816. Other records indicate birth dates from 1813 to 1817. Her birth place and parents are unknown.

In 1867, the year after Anton died, Dorothea married in Schönlanke, to Martin BANHAGEL. The marriage record indicates they were 68 and 50, thus born about 1799 and 1817. It also confirms that Dorothea was a widow, and Martin was a widower.

Dorothea FLOTHE b: abt. 1815, d: 3 Dec 1875 in Straduhn
  + Anton Andreas KRÜGER b: 5 Dec 1812, m: 24 Nov 1839, d: 19 Feb 1866 in Straduhn, age 53 

1. Caroline Wilhelmine KRÜGER b: 14 Oct 1840 in Straduhn, d: 10 Feb 1845 in Straduhn, age 4
2. August Friedrich KRÜGER b: 23 Jan 1842 in Straduhn, d: 29 Jul 1884 in Straduhn, age 42
   + Wilhelmina Caroline KANNEMAN b: 20 Jan 1844 in Smolarnia, m: 4 Sep 1867 in Schönlanke
3. Emiline Henriette KRÜGER, b: 12 Feb 1844 in Straduhn
    + Ludwig MIDDELSTRADT b: 1839, m: 1869 in Straduhn
4. Carl Ferdinand KRÜGER b: 26 Jan 1846 in Straduhn
5. Gustav Wilhelm KRÜGER b: 13 Dec 1847 in Straduhn
  + Albertine KAPITZKY b: 1853, m: 28 Jun 1874 in Straduhn
  + Emilie Sophie KASS b: 28 Aug 1859, m: 27 Apr 1887 in Stieglitz, Preußen
6. Caroline Wilhelmine KRÜGER b: 13 Aug 1854 in Straduhn
  + Gustav Hermann JASTER b: 1856, m: 1880 in Schonlanke
7. Ludwig KRÜGER b: 5 Jan 1856 in Straduhn
8. Theodore KRÜGER b: 29 Mar 1858 in Straduhn, d: 15 Apr 1858 in Straduhn, age 17 days
9. Hermann KRÜGER b: 27 May 1861 in Straduhn, d: 6 Oct 1862 in Straduhn, age 16 months

 + Martin BANHAGEL b: 1799, m: 1867 in Schönlanke

Trzcianka (Schönlanke)

Straduň is a small village near Trzcianka, in western Poland (then part of Prussia). This was in the district of Czarnikau, province of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia, part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.

Trzcianka is called Schönlanke, or Schoenlanke, in German. Straduň is Straduhn in German. More pictures here and here. The town, which now has over 17,000 inhabitants, became famous on 27 January 1945 when Russian troops, marching towards Berlin from the east, entered Schönlanke. On that day, about 500 people committed suicide, rather than surrendering to the Russians.

This region changed hands several times, between Prussia, Germany and Poland. The Germans always renamed everything when they took over, which further complicates things. Every place has two names. 

1. Caroline Wilhelmine KRÜGER

1. Caroline Wilhelmine KRÜGER was born 14 Oct 1840 in Straduhn, and died 10 Feb 1845, age 4. She was the first child of Anton and Dorothea, and they reused the name in 1854, so they had 2 children with this name. The first Caroline left behind 2 younger siblings, August and Emiline, age 3 and almost 1.

2. August Friedrich KRÜGER

August Friedrich KRÜGER was born 23 Jan 1842 in Stradun. He married on 4 Sep 1867 in Schonlanke, to Wilhelmina Caroline KANNEMAN, born 20 Jan 1844 in Smolarnia, another small town near Straduhn. So they were 25 and 23 when they married. They had 4 children, in Straduhn. At least 3 emigrated to America.

The record above shows that Wilhelmina was still living in Schönlanke in 1887, a widow. It also names her parents: Christian KANNEMANN and Caroline WARNKE. It says she was born in 1834, while other records say 1844. So I think the date 1834 is a mistake, and tentatively accept the rest.

Wilhelmina Caroline KANNEMAN b: 20 Jan 1844 in Smolarnia, m: 4 Sep 1867 in Schonlanke
+ August Friedrich KRÜGER b: 23 Jan 1842 in Stradun, d: Bef. 1887

........... i. Emil Gustav KRUEGER b: 26 Jun 1868 in Stradun, d: 26 Feb 1963 in Stutsman, ND, age 94

........... ii. Ottilie Emma KRUEGER b. 15 Nov 1869 in Straduhn

........... iii. Albert KRUEGER b: 13 Apr 1873 in Stradun, d: 17 May 1949  Elberon, Tama, IA, age 76
........... + Laura HANSEN b: May 1870 in IA, m: 7 Nov 1902 in Vinton, Benton, IA, d: 24 Feb 1923, age 52
................. a. Nora Wilhelmina KRUEGER b: 25 Jan 1904 in Keystone, Benton, IA, d: 30 Jun 1994 in State Center, Marshall, IA, age 90
................. + Milo William POSEKANY b: 23 Oct 1905 in Chelsea, Tama, IA, m: 26 Dec 1925 in Cedar Rapids, Linn, IA, d: 12 Jun 1961 in Elberon, Tama, IA, age 55
................. + Roy Rolland RYAN b: 16 Dec 1893, m: 4 Jun 1967, d: 16 Apr 1974 in Chelsea, IA, age 80
................. b. Edwin KRUEGER b: 25 Jun 1905 in Benton, IA, d: 25 Mar 1967 in Forest River, Walsh, ND, age 61
................. + Margaret I. WILSON b: 26 Apr 1893 in ND, m: 12 Jun 1931 in Aberdeen, Brown, SD, d: 12 Sep 1972 in Forest River, Walsh, ND, age 79
................. c. Adele Caroline KRUEGER b: 28 Apr 1907 in Benton, IA, d: 29 Sep 1999 in Vining, Tama, IA, age 92
................. + John Vencil "Jack" RIHA b: 27 Jan 1908 in Vining, Tama, IA, m: 09 Sep 1926 in Vining, Tama, IA, d: 16 Jun 1976 in IA, age 68
................. d. Leonard Elbert KRUEGER b: 12 Dec 1908 in Benton, IA, d: 20 Nov 1985 in Olmsted, MN, age 76
................. + Edith Gunhild MALM b: 02 Sep 1908 in ND, d: 04 May 1991 in Wabasha, MN, age 82

........... iv. Martha Louise KRUEGER b: 22 Aug 1879 in Straduhn, d: 5 Jul 1967 in Pomona, Los Angeles, CA, age 87
........... + Adolf Gustav FREYMARK b: 28 Sep 1880 in Straduhn, m: abt. 1907 in Germany, d: 9 Dec 1942 in Jud, La Moure, ND, age 62
................ a. Alfred H. FREYMARK b: 8 Dec 1908 in Germany, d: 4 Jul 1935 in Stutsman, ND, age 26
…............. b. Erna Nora FREYMARK b: 15 Apr 1911 in Montevideo, d: 28 Feb 2002 in Jamestown, age 80
….............  + Stanley WITKOWSKI b: 3 Sep 1901 in PA, m: 19 Oct 1931 in Brown, SD, d: 25 May 1978 in Dickey, ND, age 76
…............. c. Nora Ida FREYMARK b: 13 Dec 1912 in Montevideo d: 25 Jan 1963 in Jamestown, age 50
............….  + Melvin Clarence NELSON b: 16 Dec 1895 in Lac Qui Parle, MN, m: 14 Sep 1938 in Chippewa, MN, d: 29 Mar 1963, age 67
............…. d. Ella Lena FREYMARK b: 27 Sep 1915 in La Moure, ND, d: 16 Oct 2015 in Hiawatha, Brown, KS, age 100
............….  + Curtis Alvin STEVENS b: 6 Jul 1910 in Falls City, NE, m: 27 Sep 1943 in Bismarck, ND, d: 22 Jun 2006, age 95
............…. e. Hilda Laura FREYMARK b: 21 Sep 1917 in Jud, d: 24 Oct 2004, age 87
............….  + Fredrick Harlan HADLEY b: 6 Mar 1913 in San Francisco, CA, m: 7 Aug 1965 in Portland, OR, d: 5 Nov 1990, age 77

 + Wilhelm Hermann ZANDER b: 1859, m: 1887

2.i. Emil Gustav KRUEGER (1868-1963)

Emil Gustav KRÜGER  was born 26 Jun 1868 in Stradun. He never married, and lived with his brother Albert and family in IA, in 1910 and 1920, then with his sister Martha and family in ND, in 1940 and 1950. He lived to the age of 94.

His immigration date is uncertain. One biography says that he immigrated in 1892, and made trips back to Germany in 1897 and 1907. However the 1910 US Census for Homer, Benton, Iowa has his immigration date as 1883. The same census also lists his marital status as "1891" and years married illegible, maybe "Al" as in Alabama, so it is in doubt.

Timeline for Emil.

26 Jun 1868 - born in Straduhn
1892 - came to America
1-6 Sep 1894 - witnessed the Great Hinckley Fire in Hinckley, Pine County, MN
1897 - went back to Germany
1905 - lived in Sparta, Chippewa, MN
1907 - went to Germany again
4 Sep 1907 - arrived back in New York
1910 - lived with his brother Albert and family on the farm in Homer, Benton, IA
1915 - lived with his sister Martha and family on the farm in Bluebird, La Moure, ND
10 Mar 1920 - Declaration of Naturalization, La Moure County, ND
1920 - lived with his brother Albert and family on the farm in Kane, Benton, IA
1930, 35, 40, 50 - lived with his sister Martha and family on the farm in Bluebird, La Moure, ND
26 Feb 1963 - died at Hi-Acres Manor Home for the Aged, in Jamestown, Stutsman, ND, age 94

Emil arrived in America for the 3rd time on 4 Sep 1907, on the ship Carmania. His last known residence was "Straduhen, Germany" so we know it is the right person. 

His mother was named twice, as "W Scoenens" so I think that is right. Emil was Albert's brother, and Albert's mother was Wilhelmina KANNEMANN. However, family lore said that Albert left home because he couldn't get along with his stepfather. So I think Wilhelmina had remarried, to someone named SCOENENS.

His destination was Chicago, and his contact in the US was "Ferdinand Poritz", a friend. He had $10, equivalent to about $300 today.

Also on the voyage were Albert and Herman FRIEMARK, age 21 and 19. See the section on Martha (KRUEGER) FREYMARK, below.

2.ii. Ottilie Emma KRUEGER (1869-?)

Ottilie Emma KRUEGER was born 15 Nov 1869 in Straduhn. 

2.iii. Albert Karl KRUEGER (1873-1949)

Albert Karl KRÜGER was born 13 April 1873 in Straduhn, and died 17 May 1949, age 76, on the farm, south of Elberon, Tama County, IA.

Family records indicate that Albert, having trouble getting along with his stepfather, came to America as a stowaway in about 1893. The dates are uncertain, and this has been a difficult case, since KRUEGER is such a common name. Albert KRÜGER wrote and spoke German, not Polish, and probably considered himself a German.

However, I think I have found the right Albert KRUEGER, a passenger on the ship Stuttgart, from Bremen to New York, arriving on 16 Dec 1892. The Castle Rock records list him as a laborer, traveling self-paid. His destination is North Dakota, so he must have already planned to settle there. His nationality is German, and last place of residence listed as W---GORIN. Everything fits except this last fact. I don't have access to the original image, so I have to go by what the transcriber has given. Is there a place called Westgorin? Also, he was a ticketed passenger, not a stowaway.

It is interesting that Albert's original stated destination was ND. The family eventually formed ties with ND, and Albert's sister Martha and family moved there about 1914, although Albert didn't join them until 1927. Of course, many German immigrants settled in ND, which became a state in 1889. Before that, it was part of the Dakota Territory. Did the KRUEGERs know someone in ND before 1914?

A half dozen other KRUEGERs were on the same voyage, but they had different origins and destinations. I don't know if they travelled together. Albert's older brother Emil doesn't seem to have been among them, although he also immigrated about 1892.

His obituary (bottom of the page) also says that he immigrated at age 19, but doesn't say if he was a stowaway. It says he first came to relatives in Wisconsin, then to Iowa County, Iowa, and then to Benton County. Another account says that he first located in Ripon, WI.

I have not found Albert's relatives in Ripon, Fond du Lac, WI, or in Iowa County, IA.

Albert Krueger's work book can be seen on the German Documents page.

Albert looks very young in the photo above. Taken at the W. Harrington Studio in Williamsburg, Iowa County, IA, about 25 miles SE of Keystone. It says "Albert Krueger" on the back.

Albert was a farmhand on the Friedrich HANSEN farm, near Keystone, Benton County, Iowa. He appears with the family in the 1900 US Census (see the HANSEN page), so he moved from North Dakota to Iowa before that. He married Laura HANSEN, the farmer's daughter, on 7 Nov 1902 in Vinton, Benton, Iowa, and they eventually had a farm near her father's farm. They were my great-grandparents.

Laura HANSEN was born in Iowa, May 1870, to Frederick and Annie (SOENKE) HANSEN, who had immigrated from Schleswig-Holstein. There's more about Laura on the HANSEN page. 

Laura's maternal grandparents had immigrated to Scott County, IA in 1853, and were well-established, prosperous farmers. See the SOENKE page. Laura's father was a farmhand on her grandfather's farm. So there were two generations of farmers' daughters marrying their fathers' farmhands!

Albert and Laura settled on a farm next to the HANSEN farm. By 1910, they had 4 children: Nora Wilhelmina (1904), Edwin (1905), Adele (1907) and Leonard (1908). Albert's brother Emil KRUEGER had come to live with them, and they had one farmhand, Lorin MCMILLAN. 

In 1916 Albert KRUEGER bought a new Studebaker Four. I'm not sure if it was a 1916 model, or if it was a roadster or touring car. Since he had a family of 6, it was probably a touring car, like the one shown below.

The 1920 US Census has the Albert KRUEGER family in Kane Township, just south of Homer Township. Albert's brother Emil is still with them, helping out as a farmhand. The census also tells us that Albert immigrated in 1893, and was naturalized in 1900. Emil immigrated in 1892, and had submitted papers for naturalization. Both Albert and Emil had German as their native tongue. 

Nora KRUEGER, eldest child of Albert and Laura, graduated high school in Keystone, 1921, and started work as a school teacher, at age 17 or 18.

Laura (HANSEN) KRUEGER died on 24 Feb 1923, at age 52, and Albert, age 49, was very despondent over the loss of his wife. The children were 19, 17, 15 and 14.

Albert sold his farm in Mar 1927, and moved 500 miles NW to Jud, La Moure County, ND, where his sister Martha (KRUEGER) FREYMARK was living with her family. Recall that Albert's 1892 immigration records from Castle Rock listed his destination as ND.

Albert's son Edwin ended up in Forest River, which is in northeastern ND, and his sister Martha lived in Jud, a small town in southeastern ND. When Milo POSEKANY quit farming and sold his farm in 1929, the family moved to Jud for a few years. 

The 1930 US Census has almost all the Kruegers in Jud. They are side-by-side in the census, so they were probably neighbors. Martha and Adolph, with their 5 children, had Emil living with them. Milo and Nora were there, with their first two children. Albert was there with two sons, Edwin and Leonard. Only Adele is missing, since she had married Jack RIHA in 1926, and they lived in Vining, IA. Milo and Nora soon moved their family back to Iowa, and Milo resumed farming.

Albert went back to IA with his daughter Nora and her family. Lawrence was born in ND on 24 Dec 1935 and Ardis was born in IA on 17 Jan 1938, so they moved between those dates.

In 1940, Milo POSEKANY had rented a place for $19/month. (I'm not sure if that was the farmhouse or the farm.) Milo's income in the previous year was $420, and Albert's was $50.

The marriage date of 1909 is a typo. All other records indicate that Albert and Laura were married on 7 Nov 1902. Their children were born in 1904, 5, 7, 8.

This obituary of Albert KRUEGER contains several bits of information that don't seem to be available anywhere else. He died on the POSEKANY farm, which was in Tama County, near Elberon. When he immigrated at age 19, he first went to stay with relatives in Wisconsin. Which relatives? Another record says he first came to Ripon, WI. He then went to Iowa County, Iowa. How long did he stay in each place? Were there also relatives in Iowa County? After that he went to Benton County, where we know he was a farmhand on the Friedrich HANSEN farm in 1900.

The obituary says that he was preceded in death by one sister (unnamed), and survived by a sister, Mrs Martha FREYMARK, a brother, Emil KRUEGER, and a sister, Mrs Bertha KRENZKE, who stayed in Germany (now Poland). This agrees with other records, except that other records don't mention the unnamed sister, and there is some indication of another brother who "fled to Australia." Also, we now have the surname of Bertha's spouse.

The list of those attending from a distance is interesting. First are Albert's sons Emil and Leonard, and their wives. A.F., E.H. and C. Helene HANSEN are the three children of Annie (HANSEN) HANSEN, sister of Albert KRUEGER's late wife, Laura HANSEN.

Albert and Laura had 4 children and 19 grandchildren. Some of the grandchildren and their spouses are still living, as far as I know.

For brevity: Kane and Homer are townships in Benton County, IA. Keystone is a village in Kane. Chelsea, Elberon and Vining are villages in Tama County, IA. Belle Plaine is a city in Benton County, IA. Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, IA. Cedar Rapids is a city in Linn County, IA.

2. Albert KRUEGER b: 13 Apr 1873 in Straduhn bei Schonlanke, Germany, d: 17 May 1949  Elberon
+ Laura HANSEN b: May 1870 in Homer, m: 7 Nov 1902 in Keystone, d: 24 Feb 1923 in Keystone

.... i. Nora Wilhelmina KRUEGER b: 25 Jan 1904 in Keystone, d: 30 Jun 1994 in State Center, Marshall, IA
....  + Milo William POSEKANY b: 23 Oct 1905 in Chelsea, m: 26 Dec 1925 in Cedar Rapids, Linn, IA, d: 12 Jun 1961 in Elberon
....  + Roy Rolland RYAN b: 16 Dec 1893 in Chelsea, m: 4 Jun 1967 in Marion, Linn, IA, d: 16 Apr 1974 in Chelsea
…….. a. Richard Leo POSEKANY b: 20 Aug 1926 in Keystone, d: 18 Jan 2015 in Marion, OR
……..  + Patricia Ann WHALEN b: 17 Jun 1931 in Boone, IL, m: 24 Nov 1977 in Marion, OR, d: 9 Aug 2019 in Eugene, Lane, OR
……..  + Phyllis JAHNBURT b: 31 Jan 1939, m: 21 Jun 1985 in Marion, OR, still living
…….. b. Lois Maxine POSEKANY b: 21 Dec 1927 in Keystone, d: 5 Oct 2009 in Springfield, Greene, MO
……..  + Jack Louis HALOUPEK b: 10 Apr 1924 in Belle Plaine, m: 7 Nov 1948 in Elberon, d: 3 Feb 1994 in Springfield, Greene, MO
…….. c. Robert Wayne POSEKANY b: 10 Nov 1930 in Keystone, d: 17 Mar 1931 in Keystone
…….. d. Donald James POSEKANY b: 29 Apr 1933 in Belle Plaine, d: 27 Nov 2013 in Eugene, OR
……..  + Sharon Rae COY b: 14 Apr 1937 in OR, m: 9 Nov 1957 in Reedsport, Douglas, OR, d: 28 Oct 1992 in North Bend, Coos, OR
……..  + Virginia Elizabeth ORTIZ b: 8 Oct 1938, m: 29 May 1994 in Storey, NV
…….. e. Lawrence Keith POSEKANY b: 24 Dec 1935 in Jud, La Moure, ND, d: 8 Aug 2020 in Des Moines, Polk, IA
……..  + Jaqueline Lee BREITKRUETZ b: 30 Apr 1943 in Sioux City, Woodbury, IA, m: abt. 1962, d: 18 Feb 2020 in Des Moines, Polk, IA
…….. f. Ardis Elaine POSEKANY b: 17 Jan 1938 in Tama, IA, d: 20 Jan 2009 in King, WA
……..  + Howard Claire STEELE b: 2 Apr 1936 in Marshalltown, m: abt. 1957, d: 22 Jul 2013 in King, WA
…….. g. Diana Laura POSEKANY b: 9 Aug 1941, still living
……..  + Richard Eugene CASTELL b: 2 May 1935 in Marshalltown, m: 20 Apr 1957 in Iowa City, IA, d: 19 Apr 2010 in Marshalltown

.... ii. Edwin Frederick KRUEGER b: 25 Jun 1905 in Benton, IA, d: 25 Mar 1967 in Forest River, Walsh, ND
.... + Margaret Isabella WILSON b: 26 Apr 1893 in ND, m: 12 Jun 1931 in Aberdeen, Brown, SD, d: 12 Sep 1972 in Forest River, Walsh, ND
…….. a. Caroline Lorraine KRUEGER b: 13 Feb 1932 in Crookston, Polk, MN, d: 15 Jul 2007 in Northwood, Grand Forks, ND
……..  + Arlen Mansfield MCDONALD b: 6 Dec 1924 in Forest River, Walsh, ND, d: 21 Apr 1994 in Inkster, Grand Forks, ND
…….. b. Donna Rae KRUEGER b: 22 Sep 1933 in ND, d: 17 Mar 2014 in Whatcom, WA
……..  + Harold Thomas KANE b: 18 Nov 1926 in Chicago, Cook, IL, m: 25 Jun 1956 in Los Angeles, CA, d: 24 Nov 2010 in Bellingham, Whatcom, WA
…….. c. Albert E. KRUEGER b: abt. 1935 in ND
……..  + Yvonne Marie KELLEY b: 14 Sep 1937 in Cleveland, Walsh, ND, m: 30 Nov 1956 in Walsh, ND, d: 9 Sep 2015 in Holladay, Salt Lake, UT

.... iii. Adele Caroline KRUEGER b: 28 Apr 1907 in Keystone, d: 29 Sep 1999 in Vining
.... + John Vencil "Jack" RIHA b: 27 Jan 1908 in Vining, m: 09 Sep 1926 in Vining, d: 16 Jun 1976 in IA
…….. a. Paul Edward RIHA b: 5 May 1929 in Vining, d: 27 Nov 2021 in Tama
……..  + Frances Luree CARNEY b: 22 Nov 1932 in Iowa, IA, m: 10 May 1955 in Millersburg, IA, d: 2 Jan 2019 in Belle Plaine
…….. b. Doris Barbara RIHA b: 12 Mar 1931 in Tama, d: 11 Apr 2011 in Cedar Rapids
……..  + Kenneth Richard LAWRENCE b: 11 Jan 1931 in Belle Plaine, d: 14 Jun 2020 in Marshalltown
…….. c. John Albert “Jack” RIHA b: 28 Jun 1934 in Vining, d: 14 Jan 2005 in Cedar Rapids
……..  + Lorraine HADDY b: 30 Jul 1926 in Cedar Rapids, d: 7 Jan 2004 in Cedar Rapids
…….. d. Richard William RIHA b: 2 Nov 1936 in Vining, d: 4 Mar 2011 in Hiawatha, Linn, IA
……..  + Norma Jean NOE b: 12 Aug 1939 in Garrison, Benton, IA, m: Nov 1957
…….. e. Victoria A “Vicki” RIHA b: 28 Dec 1946 in IA
……..  + Roman R. THOME b: 14 Jun 1930 in Waterloo, Black Hawk, IA, m: 25 Nov 1972 in Vining, d: 29 Nov 2018 in Waterloo, Black Hawk, IA

.... iv. Leonard Elbert KRUEGER b: 12 Dec 1908 in Homer d: 20 Nov 1985 in Olmsted, MN
.... + Edith Gunhild MALM b: 02 Sep 1908 in ND, d: 04 May 1991 in Wabasha, MN
…….. a. Patricia G. KRUEGER b: 21 Apr 1934 in Jud, La Moure, ND, d: 21 Nov 2013 in Minot, Ward, ND
……..  + James A. THOM b: Jun 1934, m: 1 Sep 1956 in Brown, SD
…….. b. Daniel Leonard KRUEGER b: 11 Jul 1941
……..  + Mary Ann HARTZE b: Oct 1942, m: 21 Jun 1962 in Brown, SD
…….. c. William John KRUEGER b: abt. 1945 in ND
……..  + Elizabeth Louise “Betty Lou” WEIGEL b: 4 Mar 1946 in Los Angeles, CA, m: 11 Mar 1965 in Day, SD

2.iv. Martha Louise (KRUEGER) FREYMARK (1879-1967)

Martha Louise KRUEGER was born 22 Aug 1879 in Straduhn, and died 5 Jul 1967 in Pomona, Los Angeles County, CA, age 87.

Adolf Gustav FREYMARK first came to America in 1905 as a single man, age 24 or 25, staying in Chicago for one year, then another year with his sister Augusta and her family, in Montevideo, MN. He returned to Straduhn, where he married Martha KRUEGER, about 1907-8.

They had a son, Alfred Otto H. FREYMARK, on 8 Dec 1908, in Germany. 

Adolf Gustav FREYMARK was born 28 Sep 1880 in Struduhn, and died 9 Dec 1942 in Jud, La Moure, ND, age 62. So Adolf and Martha they were both born in the same small town in Prussia, and married when he was 27 and she was 28.

Martha, Adolf and their son Alfred Otto, age 8 months, came to America in on the ship Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse, arriving  in New York on 14 Sep 1909. They stated their destination as Montevideo, Chippewa County, MN. Adolf had a sister named Augusta STUBER, who stayed in Straduhn, and another sister Anna HÖRING, in the US, presumably in Montevideo.

The family of 5 on the trip included Adolf's mother Julianna FREYMARK, age 59, a widow, and Adolf's uncle August FREYMARK, age 53, single. 

The 1910 US Census has the family in Chippewa County, MN. The boy Otto is now called Alfred, age 16 months. Uncle August is missing, and Adolf's brother Albert had joined them. All 5 were born in Germany, and their parents were all born in Germany. Adolf and Martha had been married 2 years, and Martha had 1 child, still living. For some reason the number of children Julia had is omitted. 

About 1914 the family moved about 200 miles NW to La Moure County, ND.

By 1920 the FREYMARKs have a farm near Jud, La Moure, ND. Alfred, now 11, is joined by 4 sisters. Judging by the birth dates and places, the move from MN to ND took place between 1913 and Nov 1915. Adolf's brothers, Albert and August, are listed next, and probably lived nearby. Both Adolf and Albert owned their farms, with mortgage, and both had wives named Martha. All the adults could read, write, and speak English, except Julia. All had immigrated in 1909, although Albert's son was born in MN, 1908. Albert seems to have aged 15 years between 1910 and 1920.

By 1930, the KRUEGERs had joined the FREYMARK family in Bluebird. Albert's brother Emil KRUEGER lived with the FREYMARKS. Albert and his sons Edwin and Leonard lived on an adjacent farm. Albert's daughter Nora and her family also lived with them. Albert's daughter Adele and her family had stayed in IA. See above for this census.

In 1940, Adolf and Martha were still on the farm in Bluebird. Their youngest daughter, Hilda, was still at home, and Martha's brother, Emil KRUEGER, lived with them. All had an 8th grade education except Hilda, who had 4 years of high school. Adolf was a naturalized citizen, Martha was still an Alien, and Emil had submitted papers.

Adolf and Martha's son Alfred had drowned in 1935. Their daughter Erna had married and was raising a family, in Bluebird. Their daughter Nora had married and moved to northern MN. Their daughter Ella was still single, and had moved back to Montevideo, MN, to live with her aunt. See below for more on Alfred, Erna, Nora, Ella and Hilda.

Adolf's brother Albert FREYMARK also had a farm in Bluebird, and lived with his son Arthur, and Arthur's wife and baby, in 1940.

Martha and Adolf had 5 children, and 11 grandchildren, that I've found. There are probably more.

For brevity: Straduhn is Straduhn Bei Schoenlanke, Germany. Montevideo is a city in Chippewa County, MN, Jamestown is a city in Stutsman County, ND. Jud is a village in La Moure County, ND.

2.iv. Martha Louise KRUEGER b: 22 Aug 1879 in Straduhn, d: 5 Jul 1967 in Los Angeles, CA
+ Adolf Gustave FREYMARK b: 28 Sep 1880 in Straduhn, m: abt. 1907 in Germany, d: 9 Dec 1942 in ND

…. a. Alfred FREYMARK b: 8 Dec 1908 in Straduhn, d: 4 Jul 1935 in Jamestown

…. b. Erna Nora FREYMARK b: 15 Apr 1911 in Montevideo, d: 28 Feb 2002 in Jamestown
….  + Stanley WITKOWSKI b: 3 Sep 1901 in PA, m: 19 Oct 1931 in Brown, SD, d: 25 May 1978 in Dickey, ND
…….. Verna M. WITKOWSKI b: 26 May 1933 in Jud, d: 14 Nov 1991 in Fargo, Cass, ND
……..  + Donald Eugene HARSHMAN b: 22 Aug 1932 in ND, m: 4 Sep 1954 in Coeur d’Alene, ID, d: 4 Jul 1970 in Mahnomen, MN
……..  + Robert L. JOHNSON m: aft. 13 Aug 1969
……..  Marilyn Ardella WITKOWSKI b: 4 Jun 1935 in Jud, d: 19 Dep 1955 in Fort Morgan, CO
……..  + Harold Gene BURNETT b: 3 Jul 1932 in Nortonville, La Moure, ND, m: 9 May 1954 in Stutsman, ND, d: 19 Sep 1997 in Lewiston, Nez Perce, ID
……..  Jane Adeline WITKOWSKI b: Jan 1937 in ND, d: 2 Oct 2019 in Virginia Beach, VA
……..  + Mark
……..  Iris L. WITKOWSKI b: 22 Feb 1940 in ND
……..  + Wilbur Darwin FLAIG b: 5 Nov 1934 in Jamestown, m: 9 Jun 1957 in Stutsman, ND, d: 10 Jun 2019 in Jamestown
……..  Alvin Larry WITKOWSKI b: 16 Mar 1943 in Edgeley, La Moure, ND, d: 6 Feb 2011 in Cody, Park, WY
……..  + Sandra Adair MASON b: 8 Dec 1943 in Cut Bank, Glacier, MT, m: 29 Feb 1964 in Hot Springs, WY, d: 15 Oct 1999
……..  Gloria M. WITKOWSKI b: Oct 1949 in ND, still living
……..  + Leroy E. MOSER b: 15 Jan 1946 in Jamestown, m: 23 Oct 1971 in ND, d: 5 Aug 2005 in Kelowna, BC

…. c. Nora Ida FREYMARK b: 13 Dec 1912 in Montevideo d: 25 Jan 1963 in Jamestown
….  + Melvin Clarence NELSON b: 16 Dec 1895 in Lac Qui Parle, MN, m: 14 Sep 1938 in Chippewa, MN, d: 29 Mar 1963
……..  Harold M. NELSON b: 15 Feb 1946 in ND
.........  + Terry Ann BLEICH b: 16 Jan 1947 in San Francisco, CA, m: 2 Sep 1967 in Dakota, MN

…. d. Ella Lena FREYMARK b: 27 Sep 1915 in La Moure, ND, d: 16 Oct 2015 in Hiawatha, Brown, KS
….  + Curtis Alvin STEVENS b: 6 Jul 1910 in Falls City, NE, m: 27 Sep 1943 in Bismarck, ND, d: 22 Jun 2006
……..  Sharon Lee STEVENS b: 10 Aug 1944 in Yellow Medicine, MN, still living
……..  + Alvin J. ROFKAHR b: 18 Dec 1938 in AR, m: abt. 1964, d: 3 Apr 1967 in Los Angeles, CA
........  + Jim LOWE
……..  Kathleen F. STEVENS b: 14 Feb 1947 in Richardson, NE
.........  + Roger A. LEMKE m: abt. 1970 in Fort Holabird, MD
……..  + BUTEL
……..  Elizabeth A. STEVENS b: 25 Oct 1956 in Los Angeles, CA

…. e. Hilda Laura FREYMARK b: 21 Sep 1917 in Jud, d: 24 Oct 2004
….  + Fredrick Harlan HADLEY b: 6 Mar 1913 in San Francisco, CA, m: 7 Aug 1965 in Portland, OR, d: 5 Nov 1990
……..  Candice Ann HADLEY (must be a step-daughter)
.........  + Douglas Andrew THOMPSON m: 17 Dec 1966 in Portland, OR

Some further information on the 5 children and their families appears below.

2.iv.a. Alfred FREYMARK was born 8 Dec 1908 in Straduhn, and came to America with his parents, age 9 months when they arrived in NY on 14 Sep 1909. He was called Otto in the ship's manifest, and Alfred in the US Censuses of 1910 and 1930, and in the 1925 ND State Census, and in his death certificate and obituaries. He was Alfred H in the 1920 US Census. He drowned in a swimming pool on 4 Jul 1935 in Jamestown, ND, age 26.

2.iv.b. Erna Nora FREYMARK was born 15 Apr 1911 in Montevideo, Chippewa, MN, and died 28 Feb 2002 in Jamestown, Stutsman, ND, age 90. She  came to ND with her parents and siblings about 1914. She married on 19 Oct 1931 in Brown County, SD to Stanley WITKOWSKI, born 3 Sep 1901 in PA, died 25 May 1978 in Dickey, ND, age 76. So Erna was 20 and Stanley was 30 when they married. They had 5 daughters and 1 son.

The 1940 US Census has Stanley and Erna next to his parents, Frank and Katie, both born in Poland, and naturalized citizens. Stanley and his father were both renters, and it looks like Frank WITKOWSKI had a rented farm, while Stanley was a WPA worker. Frank had only a 3rd grade education, and his daughter-in-law had 1 year if college. All over 5 had lived in the same place in 1935.

Stanley and Erna were still in Bluebird in 1950. They retired and moved to Jamestown, ND between 1950 and 1960.

2.iv.c. Nora Ida FREYMARK was born on 13 Dec 1912 in Montevideo, and died 25 Jan 1963 in Jamestown, age 50. She was about 2 when the family moved to Bluebird. She graduated from Jud High School in 1932. Then she returned to Chippewa County, MN where she married on 14 Sep 1938 to Melvin Clarence NELSON, born 16 Dec 1895 in Lac Qui Parle County, MN, died 29 Mar 1963, age 67. They only had one child, Harold M. NELSON, born 15 Feb 1946 in ND, probably in or near Bluebird.

The 1940 US Census finds Nora and Melvin in Clarkfield, a small town about 10 miles SW of Montevideo, MN. Melvin was working at a gas station. The rented half of a house for $15/month at 109 North Avenue. Melvin's 1935 residence was Lac Qui Parle County, MN, where he was born. Nora's 1935 residence was Montevideo. So apparently Nora had moved to Montevideo between 1930 and 1935, as a single woman, possibly to live with her aunt.

In 1950 Melvin was owner of the FREYMARK farm, in the SW corner of Section 10, Bluebird. Melvin and Nora and their son, Harold, lived with Nora's mother, Martha L FREYMARK, and uncle, Emil G KRUEGER (not KREUGER). 

There was a Harold Melvin NELSON who married Terry Ann BLEICH on 2 Sep 1967 in Dakota, MN. She was born 16 Jan 1947 in San Francisco, CA.

There was also a career US Army officer,  Capt. Harold M. NELSON, son of one Melvin NELSON, who married on 11 Nov 1967 in San Gabriel, CA to Carolyn Virginia HEDDEN. They lived in Ft Sill, OK in 1967, and at 357 N Bridge St, San Gabriel, CA in 1971.

2.iv.d. Ella Lena FREYMARK was born 27 Sep 1915 in La Moure, ND, and died 16 Oct 2015 in Hiawatha, Brown, KS, age 100. She moved many times in her adult life, among 6 states in the American West and Midwest.

Ella graduated from Jud High School in 1933. I don't know what she was doing between 1933 and 1937, except that the 1940 US Census (below) gives her residence in 1935 as La Moure County, ND. In 1943 she applied to Northern Pacific Railroad for a position as telegrapher, and the records in her application fill in the time between 1937 and her marriage in 1943.

1937 Aug—1937 Nov – housemaid in BURRIS home, Forest River, ND
1938 Jan—1938 Mar – unemployed, Jud
1938 Mar—1938 Aug – housemaid in BURRIS home, Forest River, ND
1938 Aug—1938 Nov – unemployed, Jud
1938 Nov—1939 Jun – Waitress, Jebb’s Café, Montevideo, MN
1939 Jun—1939 Sep – unemployed, Jud
1939 Sep—1942 Dec – Waitress, Jebb’s Café, Montevideo, MN
1942 Dec 7—1943 Mar 23 – at home on the farm, near Jud, ND
1943 Mar 23—Apr 12 – Waitress at Palace Café, Jamestown, ND
1943 Mar 12—Jun 1 – Waitress at Donette Café, Jamestown, ND
1943 Aug 12 – started service as telegraph agent – Jamestown, ND – 40 cents per hour
1943 Sep 26 – resigned from NP

The records seem to indicate that she was stationed, as a telegraph agent, in Jamestown, ND, but her wedding announcement says she worked in Litchville, ND, about 30 miles SE of Jamestown, and 40 miles NE of Jud.

Ella made the 200-mile trip between Jud and Montevideo several times. She must have done her training for telegraphy between 1 Jun and 12 Aug 1943. She only worked as telegraph agent a little over 6 weeks, and resigned the day before her marriage.

The 1940 US Census has Ella staying with her aunt, Anna STORING, a widow, and naturalized citizen. They lived in a house owned by Anna, valued at $1,800, at 407 S 6th Street, Montevideo. Their neighbor was Wendell G. JEBB, owner of the restaurant where Ella worked.

Ella married on 27 Sep 1943 in Bismarck, ND, to Curtis Alvin STEVENS, born 6 Jul 1910 in Falls City, NE, died 22 Jun 2006, age 95. They were married on Ella's 28th birthday, when Curtis was 33. They had 3 children.

Curtis enlisted in the US Army on 11 Dec 1943, and was discharged on 30 Dec 1945. His rank was TEC 5.

Timeline for Ella and Curtis, partly based on her obituary on FindaGrave:

27 Sep 1943 - married in Bismarck, ND
11 Dec 1943 - Curtis enlisted in the US Army
10 Aug 1944 - daughter Sharon Lee STEVENS born in Yellow Medicine County, MN
30 Dec 1945 - Curtis discharged form the US Army
14 Feb 1947 - daughter Kathleen F. STEVENS born in Richardson County, NE
14 Apr 1950 - US Census has them in Rulo, Richardson, NE
1950 - moved to Pomona, Los Angeles, CA
25 Oct 1956 - daughter Elizabeth STEVENS born in Los Angeles County, CA
1972 - moved to Kootenai, ID
1976 - moved to Horton, KS
22 Jun 2006 - Curtis died, age 95, buried in Horton, KS
2014 - Ella moved to Vintage Park in Hiawatha, Brown, KS
16 Oct 2015 - Ella died in Hiawatha, Brown, KS, age 100

2.iv.e. Hilda Laura FREYMARK was born on 21 Sep 1917 in Jud, and died 24 Oct 2004, age 87. She married on  7 Aug 1965 in Portland, OR to Fredrick Harlan HADLEY, born 6 Mar 1913 in San Francisco, CA, died 5 Nov 1990, age 77. She was 47 and he was 51 when they married. 

They appear to have had one child, Candice Ann HADLEY. (Must be a step-daughter of Hilda, since Candice was married in 1966.)

Hilda graduated from Jud high school in 1935, and lived with her parents in 1940. She became a registered nurse, enlisted in the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing on 13 Sep 1943, and scheduled to graduate on 14 Sep 1946.

In 1950, Hilda lived with another nurse from ND, also named Hilda, in apartment 305, at 1983 NW Flanders, Portland, OR. 

The 1958 Portland city directory has "Freymark Hilda L Mrs" in apartment 306, at 1983 Premier Apartments, on Flanders St, near NW 19th av. In apartment 305 was "Tirral Denny".

Fredrick Harlan HADLEY was a graduate of Stanford (1935, AB), and Harvard Business School (1940, MA?).

2.v. Bertha KRUEGER

Little seems to be known about Bertha, who remained in Germany. She married someone named KRENZKE. The photo below may be of her. Another brother "fled to Australia," according to family lore. 

I will open up sections for each of these, if I find more data.

3. Emiline Henriette KRÜGER, b: 12 Feb 1844 in Straduhn
    + Ludwig MIDDELSTRADT b: 1839, m: 1869 in Straduhn
4. Carl Ferdinand KRÜGER b: 26 Jan 1846 in Straduhn
5. Gustav Wilhelm KRÜGER b: 13 Dec 1847 in Straduhn
  + Albertine KAPITZKY b: 1853, m: 28 Jun 1874 in Straduhn
  + Emilie Sophie KASS b: 28 Aug 1859, m: 27 Apr 1887 in Stieglitz, Preußen
6. Caroline Wilhelmine KRÜGER b: 13 Aug 1854 in Straduhn
  + Gustav Hermann JASTER b: 1856, m: 1880 in Schonlanke
7. Ludwig KRÜGER b: 5 Jan 1856 in Straduhn
8. Theodore KRÜGER b: 29 Mar 1858 in Straduhn, d: 15 Apr 1858 in Straduhn, age 17 days
9. Hermann KRÜGER b: 27 May 1861 in Straduhn, d: 6 Oct 1862 in Straduhn, age 16 months

Note: I was adopted as an infant, and I have researched both my adoptive and genetic ancestries. The KRUEGER line is part of the ancestry of my adoptive mother. This page started with my g-grandfather, Albert KRUEGER, and grew as I discovered his parents and grandparents. Hence most of the page is still covering Albert and his descendants. 

Please take a look at the unidentified photos that I found in Albert Krueger's trunk.

Back to Bill's Genealogy page

[BC] Benton County IAGenWeb

[CH] Community History Archive has the Keystone Bulletin (1912-1938)

[GJ] Jud, North Dakota, golden jubilee, 1955 created by Edith (MALM) KRUEGER!

[MLC] Map of LaMoure County, ND, 1913

[MT] My Town - My People, 1887-1962, History of Edgeley, ND

Updated 21 Jan 2024 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.