Reno County Biographies
"The History of Reno County, Vol. 2," Sheridan Ploughe, 1917
GEORGE T. KROEKER.
George T. Kroeker, born in Russia, May 25, 1869, was the son of
A. B. and Maria (Thiessen) Kroeker, both probably natives of the same
country. The father was a wagon-maker. Because of religious persecution,
his Mennonite ancestors moved from Holland to Germany. Two
generations later Germany withdrew its promise of military exemption and the
Mennonite colony settled on the banks of the Sea of Azof in Russia.
Thirty-five years later, Russia withdrew a similar promise, and the
Mennonites, whose religion forbade military service, began to look elsewhere.
Mr. Schmidt, Santa Fe land agent, and now in Kansas, went to Russia in
1873 and induced them to settle in Kansas.
In 1874, A. B. Kroeker and family, in the colony of Rev. Dietrich
Gaeddert, a Mennonite leader, located on section 17, Little River township,
Reno county, Kansas. In 1895 they moved to McPherson county, where
A. B. Kroeker died in 1898, aged fifty-three years. His wife, aged
sixty-eight, is still living. He was a Mennonite bishop and preacher. For years
he operated a threshing machine outfit in his community. His children are
George T., the subject of this review; Abe, a farmer living in California;
Jacob, deceased; Mary, wife of H. T. Epp, a merchant of Inman, Kansas,
and John, a farmer living in McPherson county, Kansas.
At the age of six, George T. Kroeker came to Kansas. His parents
lived in a sod house with slough grass roof, and suffered the usual
hardships of the pioneer farmers of Kansas. He lived at home, attending the
neighborhood schools until grown, always a worker, money-maker and a
leader. He rented land until he had saved enough money to make a first
payment on a farm in Little River township. In 1908, he bought the
Poulton homestead, a quarter section in Medora township, and has since made
this his home. He has remodeled the dwelling and erected a large and
commodious barn. His lovely home, built on a hill, is in view for miles
around. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres in the two townships.
He was one of the builders and is a member of the official board of the
Mennonite school at Inman. He is a Republican in politics, and has served
as trustee and school board director. He started the Farmers' Elevator at
Buhler, and was engaged in the retail hardware business there from 1898
until 1902. He is a trustee and member of the Inman Mennonite church,
and is one of the most progressive men in the community. In 1907 he
and Abe Buhler went back to Russia to visit the old home.
On April 24, 1891, George T. Kroeker was married to Agnes Rampel,
a native of Illinois, a daughter of John Rampel. To this union have been
born the following children: Abe, who married Agatha Esan and lives on
his father's farm; George Jr., living at home; Mary, the wife of George
Schirling, of McPherson county, Kansas, and Edward, John, Marta, Astor
and Herbert.
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This website created Dec. 13, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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