ANDREW KRAFT
1849-1920
HE came to this country first but my father knew very little about his grandfather (Andrew) or grandmother (Mary Johnson) Kraft. He never met his grandfather and thinks he met his grandmother only once in his memory. He didn't know where in Sweden they were from nor did he know where they died or were buried and only knew that they lived in Carver County because his father, Frank, was born in Hancock Township, Carver County. He has some memories of one of his wife's relatives (Wilbur Williams) knowing of his grandmother's family (Johnson) living in Chaska (a small town in Carver County, Mn) and doing business with the Johnson's around 1930-1940. But, again, there is no direct information nor indication of where Andrew and Mary Kraft originally were born or where they may have lived their last few years.Swedish History
Anders Kraft was born 22 Oct and christened 23 Oct 1849 in Algustorpe Parish, Älvsborg län. His parents, Gustaf Kraft and Britta Pettersdotter are listed as 'soldatfolk' (military) from Hagrungsborg (a small collection of homes or farm). Witnesses at the christening included Anders Peter Andreasson, Johannes Ericsson, both from Hagrunga., as well as Annika Ericsdtr and Maja Johansdtr. Not much is known of his early years. He probably helped on the family farm as a farmhand and received little to no education. In 1869, he, his older sister Kristina, and younger sister Karolina decided to emigrate to the United States It's unclear why they chose to leave their family and emigrate to the United States, however, this is clear: he was the oldest son in his family but crop failures and overpopulation during the late 1860's were creating hardships that may have led many to leave the country and seek opportunity and land elsewhere. . Anders, Christina and Caroline are listed as leaving Fullestad Parish May 18, 1869 with a destination listed as "Amerika". On his exit card, Anders lists himself as a "farmhand" (drange).
Emigration
The following is abstracted from the emigrant CD, CD-Emigranten:
#2
Förnamn: ANDERS
Efternamn: KRAFT
Ålder: 20 år Kön: M
Församling: FURUSTAD Län: P
Titel/Anm: ARB (MEDÅKANDE)
Utresehamn: GÖTEBORG
Utvandrdag: 1869 05 28
Destination: ST PAUL
Källkod: 1:580:1180On May 28, 1869 Anders left Sweden from the port of Göteborg on the ship "Plato" destined for Hull, England where a short overland railroad trip would then take them to Liverpool to catch their ship to Quebec. The emigrant agent was David Lyon. I found Anders and Christina as passengers onboard the S.S. Nova Scotian leaving Liverpool, England, 3 June 1869 and arriving Quebec, 15 June 1869. They left Quebec traveling by rail to Grand Haven, Michigan where they again boarded a boat for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From Milwaukee they traveled by train to their final destination of St. Paul.
Minnesota HistoryAnders, Christina and Carolina Kraft moved to Carver County after their arrival in St. Paul. The reasons that they chose this particular location to settle can only be conjecture, however, the book, "They Chose Minnesota" specifically mentions that one of two main population densities of Swedish immigrants during this period was in the West Union area of Carver county. Geographically, this area lies Southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul and to the West of the Minnesota River. Many of these Swedes were from the Vastagotland province of Sweden as were Andrew and his sisters. Regardless, they settled in the farming community of Hancock Township amongst their fellow Swedes and most probably with individuals who originated from the same general area of Älvsborg län.
Andrew is first seen on the 1875 Minnesota State census of Hancock Township, Carver County. He's listed as having been born in Sweden; he's 25 years old and is the oldest son of Anders Gustaf and Brigetta. He subsequently married Anna Charlotta Smedburg in 1878 at the West Union Lutheran Parsonage in Hancock Twsp. The Rev. Andrew Jackson presided. On the 1880 land plat for Hancock Township the Smedburg's live adjacent to the Kraft's and own 160 acres of land. On the 1880 Federal Census, we find Andrew and his family living in Hancock Township, Carver County. He's listed as being 30 years old, is the head of household and a farmer. His wife, Lotha is 21. Also shown as living with Andrew on the 1880 census is his mother, Bridgetta, age 60, his brother John, 17, and his two nephews, Charles Carlsson and Almar Johnson. We know that Anders Gustaf died in 1878, and it now appears that the other children moved to Stearns County, Mn., while Andrew, his mother and younger brother stayed in Carver County on the family farm. He lists his occupation as farmer, presumably on the same homestead listed on the 1880 land plat.
The next entry of significance to our family is a death entry for 1881. On the death register for Carver County we find "Anna Clara Kraft" age 22, who died in 1881 of consumption (TB). Lotha was probably a familiar name used in place of her more formal, Anna Charlotta.
After Lotha's death in 1881, Andrew married Mary Johnson in 1883. This second marriage also took place in the West Union Parsonage of Carver County and was witnessed by Frank Johnson. The Rev. Andrew Jackson also presided at this wedding. Mary Johnson was born August 18, 1863 and is the daughter of Jöns Johnson and Johanna Nord who lived in Dahlgren Township. Both Jöns and Johanna were native to Sweden, although their native parish has not been determined at this time.
Andrew and Mary had a total of 7 children, 5 of who survived to adulthood. Frank Sydney Kraft was born Dec. 1885, the second of the five children and my grandfather. In addition to Frank there was Andrew (1884), George (1887), Ellen (1890) and John Edward (1892). Sometime after 1895 but before the 1900 census the family moved to the Brookfield Township of Renville County, Minnesota.
A short article in the Weekly Valley Herald dated 12-26-1895 describes the sale of Andrew Kraft's farm of 160 acres so I think the move date was probably in the spring of 1896.
Renville County was a farming community made up predominantly of German and Swedish immigrants. The family is again found on the 1910 census for Renville County but Frank is not at home and Ellen is also gone. Andrew's occupation is again listed as farmer and he lives on a farm that he rents. Interestingly, Frank Bretall and family, my grandmother's family, appears to live but a short distance from the Kraft's on the 1910 census in the same township. Almost certainly, this is how Frank met Minnie, my grandmother. They probably went to church and school together until Frank left to make his own way. Andrew, Mary and two of his sons, George and John Edward, moved to Kamsack, Sask, Canada around 1916 to homestead and farm wheat. Andrew remained there until his death in early July 1920 from cancer. His body was returned to Hancock Twsp, Carver County for burial in the West Union Church Cemetery. The following is the obituary from the July 8, 1920 edition of the Carver County Weekly Valley Herald:
Andrew Kraft Buried at West UnionAndrew Kraft, whose death was mentioned in last week's issue, was born in October, 1849 in Westgotland, Sweden. He came to this country in 1869 and was a resident of this community until about twenty years ago when he moved to Hector. From there he moved to Canada about four years ago.
The deceased was a victim of the dreaded disease cancer and his sufferings were intense the last few weeks. He is remembered here by his friends as a generous and good-hearted man and a helpful neighbor and friend.
He is survivied by his broken-hearted wife, Mrs. Mary Kraft, one daughter, Mrs. Grimm of Hector, and four sons, Edgar, George, Edward of Canada and Frank of Minneapolis.
The following accompanied the remains here: Mrs. Mary Kraft and sons George, Edward and Frank and family and Mr. and Mrs. Grimm and children.
Rev. Hegstrom of St. Peter conducted the funeral. Rev. Nelson was in attendence at a synodical meeting in New York.-Belle Plaine Herald.
Andrew is found in the West Union Graveyard lying next to his wife, Mary, who followed him in death in 1932.
©2001. J.Kraft
The marriage record is as follows:
Marriage License Records, 1856-1910; Marriage indexes, 1856-1944
Minnesota. District Court at Chaska, Carver CountyMarriages, v. E-G 1879-1893..............Film # 1434897
Register: Marriage Record F
1883
Page 162Witnesses:
Frank A. Johnson
William Lundquist
As the result of a long search at Dolgellau RO today I found
the birth entry for Catharine Jones in the Bethel chapel
non-conformist register for Llanfihangel y Traethau (the parish
name of Penrhyndeudraeth) where, on the '81 census Catherine said
she was born. I checked the parish church registers (Cof E) but
no Catherine Jones to match parents and dates :PRO ref. RG 4 / 3848 entry 109
Catherine daughter of William and Jane Jones, formerly Jane EVANS,
spinster. Parents residence: Cae Gwyn Gate, Llanfihangel.
Mother's parish before marriage : Llanfihangel. Father's parish
:Llanfihangel. Father's occupation : boatman. Child born : 13th
April 1835 Baptised : 5th July 1835 at Bethel Chapel by John
Jones, Tremadoc.Entry 96
Also a brother : William son of William and Jane Jones (Jane
Evans, spinster) Parents residence : Bertheirin. Mother's
parish : Llanfihangel. Father's parish : Llandegai. occupation :
boatman. Child born 30th March 1833. Baptised 28th April 1833.Re.Owen Lewis, father of L.G.Lewis. According to the Marriage
Index for Merioneth, the ONLY Owen Lewis marrying in the County
between 1813 and 1837 was at Llanycil near Bala i.e.:
"Owen Lewis bachelor of this parish to Sarah Evans spinster of
this parish, by banns on 29th July 1817 at Llanycil parish
church."..........there was no record in the PR's of any children
of theirs being baptised in this church, so they may have moved to
another area. Without an exhaustive search of ALL
Caernarfonshire Parishes, it is not possible to say that this is
YOUR Owen Lewis. In view of the time this would take, and the
distances involved I feel it would be better if you were to try
and contact somebody living in that locality to carry on the
research.
As the result of a long search at Dolgellau RO today I found
the birth entry for Catharine Jones in the Bethel chapel
non-conformist register for Llanfihangel y Traethau (the parish
name of Penrhyndeudraeth) where, on the '81 census Catherine said
she was born. I checked the parish church registers (Cof E) but
no Catherine Jones to match parents and dates :PRO ref. RG 4 / 3848 entry 109
Catherine daughter of William and Jane Jones, formerly Jane EVANS,
spinster. Parents residence: Cae Gwyn Gate, Llanfihangel.
Mother's parish before marriage : Llanfihangel. Father's parish
:Llanfihangel. Father's occupation : boatman. Child born : 13th
April 1835 Baptised : 5th July 1835 at Bethel Chapel by John
Jones, Tremadoc.Entry 96
Also a brother : William son of William and Jane Jones (Jane
Evans, spinster) Parents residence : Bertheirin. Mother's
parish : Llanfihangel. Father's parish : Llandegai. occupation :
boatman. Child born 30th March 1833. Baptised 28th April 1833.Re.Owen Lewis, father of L.G.Lewis. According to the Marriage
Index for Merioneth, the ONLY Owen Lewis marrying in the County
between 1813 and 1837 was at Llanycil near Bala i.e.:
"Owen Lewis bachelor of this parish to Sarah Evans spinster of
this parish, by banns on 29th July 1817 at Llanycil parish
church."..........there was no record in the PR's of any children
of theirs being baptised in this church, so they may have moved to
another area. Without an exhaustive search of ALL
Caernarfonshire Parishes, it is not possible to say that this is
YOUR Owen Lewis. In view of the time this would take, and the
distances involved I feel it would be better if you were to try
and contact somebody living in that locality to carry on the
research.
Bodfari:
"This place is, from its name, supposed to have been the Roman station Varis, and the opinion has been in some degree confirmed by the recent discovery of urns, ornaments, fragments of weapons, and other relics of Roman antiquity, in the grounds of Pontrifith, and some coins near the junctions of the rivers Clwyd and Whielor, the supposed site of the Roman station."
[A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, S. Lewis, 1834]Bodfari is an "ancient parish". It comprises the townships of Bodfari, in old Flintshire, and Aberwheeler, in old Denbighshire. The parish is generally regarded as being a Flintshire parish. The parish church, dedicated to St. Stephen, has a history which pre-dates the Norman conquest. It was extensively rebuilt in 1865.
In 1831- the population was 873. In 1901- the population was 756.
*****************************************************************
Llanasa:
"The beautiful village of Llanasa is situated in a pleasant valley at the northern extremity of the county, on the
south-western shore of the estuary of the Dee, near its influx with the Irish sea ...... In this neighbourhood are
several genteel residences."
[From A Visitor's Guide to Rhyl and its Vicinity, D. Lloyd Lewis, 1852.]Llanasa is one of the "ancient parishes" of Flintshire. It originally comprised the townships of Gronant, Gwespyr, Kelston,
Golden Grove, Picton, Trewaelod, Axtyn and Trelogan. A portion of Gronant was lost to the new parish of Prestatyn in 1860.In 1831- the population was 2373.
In 1901- the population was 1718.
**********************************************************
Regarding your old Owen.Evans, we have him quite by chance on the 1891
census for LLanasa on which one of David's relatives are also on.Llanasa Owen.Evans Head m 80 retired Blacksmith Born Llanasa.
Ll anasa John.Evans Son m 44 Blacksmith ::::Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Harriet.Ellis S 35 General Servant :::Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Maria. Ellis Niece 1 :::: Llanasa.Beryl Kenny (personal communication)
Regarding John Evans she writes:
After the death of Mary, John's first wife, in 1887, he apparently married Harriet Ellis. His headstone reads as follows:
In Memory of Mary the beloved
Wife of John.Evans
Smith Llanasa
.died June1887.aged 45 yearsAlso the above John.Evans,
beloved Husband of Harriet
Who died 21st, July 1915
aged 67 years.
Gone but not
forgotten.
Flintshire:
"The County of FLINT is 40 Miles in Circumference, contains about 160000
Acres, and is divided into 12 Hundreds in which are 3 Market Towns & only Flint the
County Town sends a Member to Parliament; has 28 Parishes & about 3150 Houses.
The Air is good but pleasant, somewhat cold by reason of the North Wind. The Soil is
not so mountainous as in other parts of Wales, for here are many Valleys and
Cornfields, loaden with Wheat, Barley, Pease, Oats, &c. Its cheif commodities are
Cattle, Butter, Cheese, Pit-Coal, Lead, Milstones, and Honey, with which they make
Metheglin."
[Emanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta, 1720]After having survived for almost seven centuries, the historic county of Flintshire was
abolished in the controversial re-organisation of 1974, and was absorbed into the newly created county of Clwyd.
Ironically, the county of Clwyd was itself abolished on 31st March 1996, after a brief existence of twenty-two years. At the
same time, four new "unitary" authorities were created. These were given the names: Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham County
Borough and Conwy County Borough.Llanasa:
"The beautiful village of Llanasa is situated in a pleasant valley at the northern extremity of the county, on the
south-western shore of the estuary of the Dee, near its influx with the Irish sea ...... In this neighbourhood are
several genteel residences."
[From A Visitor's Guide to Rhyl and its Vicinity, D. Lloyd Lewis, 1852.]Llanasa is one of the "ancient parishes" of Flintshire. It originally comprised the townships of Gronant, Gwespyr, Kelston,
Golden Grove, Picton, Trewaelod, Axtyn and Trelogan. A portion of Gronant was lost to the new parish of Prestatyn in 1860.In 1831- the population was 2373.
In 1901- the population was 1718.**********************************************************
Note #1:Thomas noted on census 1841 for Llanasa Parish. Parents living at Groes Onnen, Thomas age 5.
Note#2:
Thomas noted on 1851 census for Llanasa now living at the Schoolhouse and working as a Blacksmith, age 15.
Note#3:
Regarding your old Owen.Evans, we have him quite by chance on the 1891
census for LLanasa on which one
of David,s relatives are also on.Llanasa Owen.Evans Head m 80 retired Blacksmith Born Llanasa.
Ll anasa John.Evans Son m 44 Blacksmith ::::
Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Harriet.Ellis S 35 General Servant born ::::
Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Maria. Ellis Niece 1
:::: Llanasa.
Flintshire:
"The County of FLINT is 40 Miles in Circumference, contains about 160000
Acres, and is divided into 12 Hundreds in which are 3 Market Towns & only Flint the
County Town sends a Member to Parliament; has 28 Parishes & about 3150 Houses.
The Air is good but pleasant, somewhat cold by reason of the North Wind. The Soil is
not so mountainous as in other parts of Wales, for here are many Valleys and
Cornfields, loaden with Wheat, Barley, Pease, Oats, &c. Its cheif commodities are
Cattle, Butter, Cheese, Pit-Coal, Lead, Milstones, and Honey, with which they make
Metheglin."
[Emanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta, 1720]After having survived for almost seven centuries, the historic county of Flintshire was
abolished in the controversial re-organisation of 1974, and was absorbed into the newly created county of Clwyd.
Ironically, the county of Clwyd was itself abolished on 31st March 1996, after a brief existence of twenty-two years. At the
same time, four new "unitary" authorities were created. These were given the names: Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham County
Borough and Conwy County Borough.Llanasa:
"The beautiful village of Llanasa is situated in a pleasant valley at the northern extremity of the county, on the
south-western shore of the estuary of the Dee, near its influx with the Irish sea ...... In this neighbourhood are
several genteel residences."
[From A Visitor's Guide to Rhyl and its Vicinity, D. Lloyd Lewis, 1852.]Llanasa is one of the "ancient parishes" of Flintshire. It originally comprised the townships of Gronant, Gwespyr, Kelston,
Golden Grove, Picton, Trewaelod, Axtyn and Trelogan. A portion of Gronant was lost to the new parish of Prestatyn in 1860.In 1831- the population was 2373.
In 1901- the population was 1718.**********************************************************
Note #1:William noted on census 1841 for Llanasa Parish. Parents living at Groes Onnen, William age 3.
Note#2:
William noted on 1851 census for Llanasa now living at the Schoolhouse and working as a Laborer, age 13.
Note#3:
Regarding your old Owen.Evans, we have him quite by chance on the 1891
census for LLanasa on which one
of David,s relatives are also on.Llanasa Owen.Evans Head m 80 retired Blacksmith Born Llanasa.
Ll anasa John.Evans Son m 44 Blacksmith ::::
Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Harriet.Ellis S 35 General Servant born ::::
Gwaenysgor.
Llanasa Maria. Ellis Niece 1
:::: Llanasa.
I got all the records and put them on a disk for now I can open them but my
memory is so low it won't let me print them so until I figure out what is
wrong I viewed them.
Here is what I have to add to your information.
There is another sister Elizabeth to Barbara who came to US in 1740.The father of Hans, Emanuel, Barb, and Eliz. was married to Engel Stohler on
Nov. 18 1690. Engels B-day is Feb. 7 1669. I have the names of her parents
also.Adams wife's name was Elssbeth Detweiler. They were married on Aug. 20 1695.
I have no children for them.Peter did have a daughter Barbara and another daughter Elizabeth born infamy
of 1540. The name I have for his wife is Frieda Spinnler. They were married
on July 22 1534-35 depending on which record you use.I will go over my records again and see if now I can find a father for Hans
who is married to Engel.