LEWIS E. KROHE, an intelligent and enterprising citizen of Bainbridge township, Schuyler county, Illinois, was born in Cass county on May 18, 1837, and removed to Schuyler county March 13, 1859, and has lived here ever since. His father, August Krohe, was a native of Saxony, Germany, and was a son of Frederick Christian Krohe, also a native of Saxony, and a weaver by trade. His father followed the weaver trade in his native country until 1833, when he emigrated to America, making the voyage across the ocean in seven weeks, and landing at New Orleans, Louisiana. From there he came direct to Beardstown, Illinois, being a week coming from St. Louis to the former place, a distance made now in two hours. There were at that time but two houses in Beardstown, and the surrounding country was sparsely settled and deer and wild turkey, quail, prairie chicken, and other game abounded in profusion. He bought a tract of land near Virginia, which was mostly covered with timber, the rest being wild prairie land. There was a log cabin on the land when he bought it, and in this he took up his abode, beginning the life of a pioneer. He soon met and married Christiana Jockish, daughter of Gotlieb Jockish. She was a native of Saxony, where she was born, and came to America with her father. After his marriage, August Krohe went to live on his farm, but afterward bought land near Bluff Springs, where he resided many years, until he finally returned to his old home on the farm, where he now lives. They had seven children: August, Lewis, Mena, Louisa, Henry, Julia and Amelia. In April, 1889, the faithful wife and fond mother died, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. She was a woman of intelligence and generous impulses, and highly esteemed by all who knew her.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, that of Cass, and resided with his parents until the time of his marriage, which occurred on March 13, 1859, to Marie Sophia Korte. She was a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in which place she was born November 14, 1841, her parents being John Conrad and Christiana (Myer) Korte. Her father was also born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where he was reared and afterward married. He followed the trade of black smithing in his native land until 1857, when with his wife and three children he sailed from Bremen, Germany, for America, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, in August, after a voyage of fifty-eight days. From there he came directly to Illinois, spending a few months in Cass county, and moving thence to Schuyler county, where he worked at his trade, in Bainbridge, until his death, where his wife also died. They reared three children: Henry, Mrs. Krohe and George.
After his marriage, the subject of our sketch rented some land in Schuyler county, where he farmed for five years. He then made his first purchase of land, since when he has from time to time made other purchases, until he now owns upward of 700 acres. This is under a good state of cultivation, with a commodious home, besides other modern conveniences to facilitate agricultural pursuits. His home is situated on an attractive site on the bluffs, from which he has an uninterrupted view for miles around, extending across the river to Cass county. He has a large orchard. He is acknowledged to be one of the most substantial farmers in this locality. All his property he has accumulated by industry and economy.
Mr. and Mrs. Krohe have seven children living, viz.: Amelia, wife of Jacob Logsdon; Frank, Louisa, Julia, Edward, Emma and Minnie; William died at the age of thirty-one, and Adolph died in infancy.
Mr. Krohe is a Democrat in politics, but takes no active interest in political matters, other than desiring the advancement and welfare of his country. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and have contributed liberally towards its support.
Intelligent and able, industrious and frugal, enterprising and progressive, he has bent circumstances to his will, until from nothing he now stands among the first inhabitants of his community, looked up to and esteemed by all who know him.