A Kramer/Oberndorfer marriage took place on this date in 1898, and it is their story I will write today. Let’s start with the groom.
Joseph Kramer was born on April 4, 1873, the son of John and Magdalena (Bergt) Kramer. He was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, Missouri. Here is an image of his baptism record.
Joseph can be found in the only census in which he is still single in 1880. He was 7 years old.
Next, we will look at the early years of the bride. Amalia Oberndorfer was born on August 6, 1875, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Hacker) Oberndorfer. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can take a look at her baptism record.
Like her future husband, the only census in which we find her single was the one taken in 1880. She was 5 years old.
Even though Amalia, along with a few other siblings, was baptized at Immanuel, Altenburg, the family must have transferred to Concordia, Frohna sometime around the time of the above census. A brother of hers was baptized at Frohna in 1880, and the rest of the Oberndorfer children were baptized there.
That leads us up to the wedding of Joseph Kramer and Amalia Oberndorfer on June 5, 1898. The church record from the Concordia books for this marriage is shown below.
We can also view their marriage license.
According to our German Family Tree, this couple had 6 children, one of which was stillborn. All the baptisms took place at Concordia, Frohna. We find this couple in the 1900 census with their first child, Emma. Joseph and Amalia were living in the household of Joseph’s father. Joseph’s mother had died in 1898, about 5 months before his wedding. Otto Bergt, a cousin of Joseph, was a farm laborer in that household.
Next, we find the Kramer household in the 1910 census. One of Joseph’s sisters had married a Hilpert, and the George Hilpert shown on this entry was connected to that Hilpert family.
The 1915 plat maps show two parcels of land owned by Joseph Kramer. If you look at nearby property, you can find the names Oberndorfer and Hilpert. The intersection of roads shown above the Kramer land is called the Crossroads these days.
Next, we find the Kramer’s in the 1920 census. Joseph was a farmer all his life.
The last census in which we find Joseph Kramer was the one taken in 1930.
Joseph Kramer died in 1937 at the age of 64. Here is his death certificate.
Amalia can be found as a widower in the 1940 census. Her mother, Catherine Oberndorfer, was living in her household.
Amalia Kramer died in 1964 at the age of 88. Below is her death certificate.
Both Joseph and Amalia are buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna.
In 1901, three years after Joseph married Amalia, Joseph’s sister, Bertha Kramer, married Amalia’s brother, Benjamin Oberndorfer. I guess I have another “Kramer-Oberndorfer Couple” story to write someday.
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I took some photos of the Log Cabin College with its completed roof this morning. Once the surrounding area is cleaned up a little, we ought to be ready to show it off to visitors when we open our museum again on June 11th. The thumbnails are clickable.
Thanks for printing this information about my grandfather; Joseph Kramer . Emma Kramer-Bodenschatz was my mother.
Fascinating bit of history from a personal standpoint. Joseph Kramer was the brother of my grandfather Theodore Kramer. They were both farmers who lived in close proximity to each other. They had large families and many,of them went into,full time ministry as pastors, teachers and missionaries. That generation produces another group of pastors and teachers who served the synod and the Lord’s work in many ways and locations. I am privileged to number myself as one who belongs to the Kramer heritage. Thanks for sharing these glimpses of our roots. Let’s give thanks to those who blessed us with their faithfulness.
Loren Kramer, President emeritus of the Pacific Southwest District, LCMS
I saw the title and assumed I’d learn about my great-great-grandparents. Joke’s on me, my great-great-grandparents are Bertha Kramer and Benjamin Oberndorfer!
Thanks for keeping up the blog.