Title
FRIEDRICH KARL KRUGER (KRUEGER) FAMILY
Creator
Magdalene Gerhardt
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 141N RANGE 93W
Text
FRIEDRICH KARL KRUGER (KRUEGER) FAMILY
Fred C. Kruger was born in Kublank, Mecklenburg, Germany Sept. 3, 1855. After finishing his schooling (a profession was required by German custom), he started the business of cabinet making.
In May 1884 Fred came to America and settled in Dundee, Ill., for one year. He then moved to Elgin, Ill., where he met Miss Aurelia Faustmann and mar-ried her Dec. 31, 1888.
Aurelia Faustmann was born Feb. 5, 1862, in Saa-bor, Silesia, Germany. She attended cooking school and graduated in 1880. In 1888 she came to America.
Fred and Aurelia had nine children. Six were born in Elgin: Therese (Mrs. Fred Deeken) Dec. 21, 1889; Aurelia “Rae” (Mrs. Ernest Jahrman and later Mrs. Sivert Erickson) Dec. 1, 1891 died Feb. 6, 1967; Fritz, Feb. 1, 1894 died Nov. 18, 1896; Magdalene “Maggie” (Mrs. Rudolph Gerhardtj, Oct. 13, 1896; Hor-tense “Tenzie” (Mrs. Fred Muecke) Mar. 11, 1898 died Nov. 26, 1968; and Karl July 26, 1899 died April 9, 1968.
While in Elgin, Fred worked first at an ice house and later at the Elgin watch factory.
In 1902 the Krugers decided to move to North
Dakota for Fred's health. “Pa" rented an immigrant car from the railroad company, loaded all our furniture, horse, buggy, cow and dog, also the two oldest girls (this was not legal), and started for Taylor, N.D. At night Pa bedded the girls down. The brakeman came to check, flashed the lantern around and said “I’ll be back.” The girls’ heads were covered but Pa became worried. He took the top boards off a large wardrobe for air and put the girls inside. When the brakeman returned, he saw only Pa. The girls stayed in the wardrobe by day and out at night. They were held up at Jamestown by flood water, arriving at Taylor April 4, 1902, after a long hard three week trip.
“Ma” came with the three younger children. As she couldn't speak English, she was sent to Tyler, S.D. She knew she was to be met by Schmidts and Hechts. In Tyler there were Smiths and Hakes, but they were not people of German descent. This was not the right place. She finally got on her way to Taylor, N.D., where Mrs. Chris Schmidt met her at the train. The next day they went to Will Hecht Sr.'s. Mr. Deeken and son Fred were there building a barn. Mr. Deeken said, “We need a housekeeper, ” and Ma took the job. When pa came he worked for them too. We stayed at Deekens a year.
Pa filed on a homestead N.W. ¼ sec. 34, twp. 141, r. 93. He built a two room house. Three children were born here: Alexandrine “Siss” (Mrs. Ray Peterson) Jan. 30, 1903; Herbert June 23, 1904 died Dec. 29, 1970; and Harold July 8, 1905.
When Magdalene was eight years old, she had typhoid fever and a tumor. Dr. Perkins came from Dickinson by horse and buggy and performed an emergency operation right in the farm house. She remained an invalid for a year.
The country was being settled more and more. Since there were no railroads to the north, people came from fifty miles or more to get lumber and other supplies from Taylor. The Kruger home became a stopping place for many of these pioneers. People and horses were fed and bedded down for the night. Indians also stopped. They made moccasins for us.
Neighbors heard that Frederich had worked in a watch factory and brought watches to be repaired.
Ma always found time to help others. Her services as practical nurse and midwife were always in demand. Many a night some farmer would come to get her. She would grab her shawl and go with him to deliver the baby, usually traveling by wagon.
After her husband's death March 22, 1958, Aurelia Kruger moved to Taylor to live with her daughter Rae. She became bedridden in 1941 and passed away April 4, 1947.
By Magdalene Gerhardt
Fred C. Kruger was born in Kublank, Mecklenburg, Germany Sept. 3, 1855. After finishing his schooling (a profession was required by German custom), he started the business of cabinet making.
In May 1884 Fred came to America and settled in Dundee, Ill., for one year. He then moved to Elgin, Ill., where he met Miss Aurelia Faustmann and mar-ried her Dec. 31, 1888.
Aurelia Faustmann was born Feb. 5, 1862, in Saa-bor, Silesia, Germany. She attended cooking school and graduated in 1880. In 1888 she came to America.
Fred and Aurelia had nine children. Six were born in Elgin: Therese (Mrs. Fred Deeken) Dec. 21, 1889; Aurelia “Rae” (Mrs. Ernest Jahrman and later Mrs. Sivert Erickson) Dec. 1, 1891 died Feb. 6, 1967; Fritz, Feb. 1, 1894 died Nov. 18, 1896; Magdalene “Maggie” (Mrs. Rudolph Gerhardtj, Oct. 13, 1896; Hor-tense “Tenzie” (Mrs. Fred Muecke) Mar. 11, 1898 died Nov. 26, 1968; and Karl July 26, 1899 died April 9, 1968.
While in Elgin, Fred worked first at an ice house and later at the Elgin watch factory.
In 1902 the Krugers decided to move to North
Dakota for Fred's health. “Pa" rented an immigrant car from the railroad company, loaded all our furniture, horse, buggy, cow and dog, also the two oldest girls (this was not legal), and started for Taylor, N.D. At night Pa bedded the girls down. The brakeman came to check, flashed the lantern around and said “I’ll be back.” The girls’ heads were covered but Pa became worried. He took the top boards off a large wardrobe for air and put the girls inside. When the brakeman returned, he saw only Pa. The girls stayed in the wardrobe by day and out at night. They were held up at Jamestown by flood water, arriving at Taylor April 4, 1902, after a long hard three week trip.
“Ma” came with the three younger children. As she couldn't speak English, she was sent to Tyler, S.D. She knew she was to be met by Schmidts and Hechts. In Tyler there were Smiths and Hakes, but they were not people of German descent. This was not the right place. She finally got on her way to Taylor, N.D., where Mrs. Chris Schmidt met her at the train. The next day they went to Will Hecht Sr.'s. Mr. Deeken and son Fred were there building a barn. Mr. Deeken said, “We need a housekeeper, ” and Ma took the job. When pa came he worked for them too. We stayed at Deekens a year.
Pa filed on a homestead N.W. ¼ sec. 34, twp. 141, r. 93. He built a two room house. Three children were born here: Alexandrine “Siss” (Mrs. Ray Peterson) Jan. 30, 1903; Herbert June 23, 1904 died Dec. 29, 1970; and Harold July 8, 1905.
When Magdalene was eight years old, she had typhoid fever and a tumor. Dr. Perkins came from Dickinson by horse and buggy and performed an emergency operation right in the farm house. She remained an invalid for a year.
The country was being settled more and more. Since there were no railroads to the north, people came from fifty miles or more to get lumber and other supplies from Taylor. The Kruger home became a stopping place for many of these pioneers. People and horses were fed and bedded down for the night. Indians also stopped. They made moccasins for us.
Neighbors heard that Frederich had worked in a watch factory and brought watches to be repaired.
Ma always found time to help others. Her services as practical nurse and midwife were always in demand. Many a night some farmer would come to get her. She would grab her shawl and go with him to deliver the baby, usually traveling by wagon.
After her husband's death March 22, 1958, Aurelia Kruger moved to Taylor to live with her daughter Rae. She became bedridden in 1941 and passed away April 4, 1947.
By Magdalene Gerhardt