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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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W. S. Kramer.

W. S. Kramer carries on general farming on section 27, Lee township and is meeting with the substantial rewards of earnest and intelligently directed effort.  He was born in Polk county, Iowa, on the 6th of July, 1867, his parents being Frederick and Anna (Kramer) Kramer, both of whom were natives of Germany.  They remained in the fatherland until they came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood.  They were married in Quincy, Illinois, and subsequently removed Polk county, Iowa.  In 1875 they came to Adair county, living in Grand River township and also in Orient township for a number of years, but about five years prior to his demise Mr. Kramer went to Creston, Iowa, where he died in 1895.

With a district-school education to prepare him for life's practical and responsible duties and also with thorough training in the work of the fields upon the home place, W. S. Kramer started out in business life for himself at the age of twenty, working as a farm hand by the month.  He was industrious and energetic and recognized the fact the success must ultimately result from persistent, earnest and honorable labor.  He continued working by the month until 1893, when he began farming on his own account, renting land for four years.  In 1897 he purchased eighty acres lying across the road from his present home farm, which he owned and farmed for six years.  He then sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Lee township, adjoining his present farm on the south.  There he lived for four years, at  the end of which time he made investment in one hundred and sixty acres in Richland township, where he continued to reside for two years.  On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty acres.  His farm is conveniently situated and as the soil is naturally rich and arable, he is able to raise large crops.  He grows the cereals best adapted to climatic conditions and annually gathers good harvests.  He places no fictitious values upon life.  He realizes that industry and perseverance are the qualities that win and it is through the employment of those qualities that he has gained a place among the well-to-do agriculturists of Adair county.

In February, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kramer and Miss Mina McClain, of Orient township, a daughter of Harrison McClain.  This union has been blessed with four children,  Earl, Ima, Wanda and Audrey.  Mr. Kramer's study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to support democratic principles.  He has served for several years as a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion.  He believes in the improvement of the schools in order to meet the demands of the times.  Mrs. Kramer is a member of the Methodist church.  Mr. Kramer is a stockholder in the Fair Association and he cooperates heartily in many plans and measures which have to do with the benefit and upbuilding of the district in which he lives.  He sees the possibilities for progress here and has taken an active part in making Adair one of the prosperous counties of the state.

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