By Julie Huebel, Pierce County Historical Association
ELMWOOD, WI – Elmwood is in a valley and every single hill that surrounds the town has a name, mostly known to those that grew up in that neighborhood. A few years ago, I had asked a visitor in their 90’s where he lived and in his reply, he included “at the base of Huebel Hill.” I just happened to know where he was talking about, as it is where my grandfather was born and raised just north of Vino in the Valley. However, in my 40-something years to that point, I had no idea there was a hill that carried my surname. What an honor! With the use of map apps leading our way to everything, will these hill names cease being used someday?
I would often hear people refer to a hill outside Elmwood, I wasn’t even sure how to spell it as I would only hear people say it. I’ve even seen people spell it phonetically, themselves not actually knowing the history behind it. I’ve seen “Cramus Hill” used, but K is for Krammes…even after probably spending too much time researching this one, I still have some unknowns.
Clarence Krammes was born in 1891, he enlisted in the Army on the 19th of September 1917 and was part of Co. C of the 311th Engineers, discharged on July 7, 1919. In 1921, he married Evelyn Ailport. Clarence died November 28, 1959, and is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
His parents were Joseph Krammes and Catherine Leedy, they are also buried at the Oak Ridge Cemetery. Joseph was born in Pennsylvania in 1845. Catherine was born in Miami County, Indiana in 1849. She married Joseph in Indiana in 1868, fun fact…the officiant’s name was Mr. Cool. They were pioneer settlers near Elmwood in 1872, settling early enough for the locals to refer to the hill they lived on as “Krammes Hill.” Locally pronounced as “kram-us.”
On the 1880 census, they are living in Spring Lake Township. By 1915, they have adjacent land in both Pierce and Dunn County. Catherine died in 1915. Joseph passed away in 1925, he and Catherine are both also buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery. Their son Clarence was one of at least eight of their children, seven of them now linked to them on Findagrave: Mary Ellen “Ella?” Scritchfield (later married David Smith), George, Minda Smith, Emma Jervan, Zora Reed, Rose Bates, and Clarence. I haven’t located the resting place of Frank yet.
At the time I originally posted on this family, I didn’t know where Rose or George was buried, but Rose’s granddaughter, also Rose shared information and photos with me. This photo of siblings was likely taken in the early 1940’s and three of the siblings would sadly soon pass in 1943, 1945, and 1946. Rose is wearing a flower in the photo, perhaps they were gathered for her 25th wedding anniversary in 1939. This sort of detective work is so fun!
There is a James Lewis Krammes born in 1851 in Schulykill County, PA that is buried in Lucas Cemetery in nearby Hatchville. His parents are Amos and Catherine (Berger) Krammes per Findagrave. Amos was born in 1821 and died in March of 1866 and is buried in Weasaw Baptist Cemetery in Denver, Miami County, Indiana. His wife Catherine died in July of the same year. On the 1850 census, Amos and Catherine have children Franklin as age six mo., Joseph age five, and a David Berger age 12 living with them (maybe a younger brother or nephew of Catherine?). On Findagrave Amos and Catherine are only linked to two children, but they were born in 1851 and 1858, so they would not be on the 1850 census. But if I were a betting person, I would bet that Amos is also a father to the Joseph that we covered in the first paragraph.
Someone on the site Geneanet has Amos’ parents as Daniel Krammes (1793-1867) and Marie Strauss (1794-1875), both born in Berks County, PA. More info or photos on this family would be appreciated!
