Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/718

 632 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI The sons all reside in this city, — Louis is the immediate subject of this review; Martin 0. is most successfully engaged in the hardware business and is mentioned on other pages of this work; and William H. is janitor of the Federal building. Louis Krueger was reared to adult age at Cape Girardeau, where he attended the Loir- mier Public School until he had reached the age of seventeen years. He then entered the State Normal School, and later Bryant & Stratton's Business College at St. Louis. After completing his education he taught school for two years, and then entered the office of Cape Girardeau Water Works and Electric Light Company where he remained for two years. He gave his attention to the hardware business for a short time. For a number of years he was secretary of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson Gravel Road Company, but a few years ago resigned that position. He has an interest in a farm, and as above stated, is the clerk of the common pleas court at Cape Girardeau at the present time. In his political convictions Mr. Krueger is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the prin- ciples and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor. On the 1st of Jan- uary, 1911, he was honored by his fellow citi- zens with election to the office of clerk of the court of common pleas, in discharging the duties of which important position he is acquitting himself with all of honor and dis- tinction. Mr. Krueger is a man of sterling worth and unquestioned integrity; he looks upon a public office as a public trust and as a result of his varied experiences and broad information is eminently well fitted for pub- lic honors. In fraternal circles Mr. Krueger is affiliated with the local lodges of the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Sons of Veterans, he being eligible for membership in the last organization by reason of his father's serv- ice as a gallant and faithful soldier in the Union army of the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger are noted for their geniality and in their comfortable, attractive home hospice is given to all comers. They are held in high regard by their fellow citizens and possess scores of friends. At Jackson, Missouri, in the month of March, 1903. was solemnized the marriage of ]Mr. Krueger to IMiss Helen Jaeger, who was born and reared in this place and who is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Jaeger, the former a native of Germany and the lat- ter a native of Cape Girardeau. Mr. and Mrs. Ki'ueger are the parents of two daughters: Helen, whose birth occurred in 1905, and Louise, born in 1908. Alfred A. Vitt, of Union, represents one of the pioneer families of Franklin county. His father, John T. Vitt, was a native of Prussia, born at Siegen in 1809. A man of university training, Mr. Vitt was induced to come to America by the "Giesener Auswan- derings Gesellschaf t, " a society for the pro- motion of immigration to the United States. The opportunity to become a citizen of the republic and to enjoy its privileges appealed to John T. Vitt and in 1834 he came to Franklin county. Four years later he re- turned to Prussia for his bride, Cornelia Schmidt, and the couple formed the nucleus of a family that has been modestly identified with Franklin county's history for more than seventy years. John T. Vitt had entered a tract of gov- ernment land in 1834, but later became a merchant in the town of Union and re- mained in the mercantile business until 1856. In 1859 he built a steam grist and merchant mill at Union and he continued to operate the mill with the assistance of three of his sons until 1868, when he retired. Always an active business man, he was an equally con- scientious public official. A resident of Union when it was incorporated, he was made one of its first trustees. In the early days he filled the office of justice of peace and was several times chosen county judge. He was among the original Fremont Repub- licans and had few colleagues here during that memorable campaign. Three of his sons served in the Union army: Adolphus H., who died in Union, leaving a family of six chil- dren ; Herman W., whose home is still in Union ; and Alfred A. The other children of John and Cornelia Vitt are Edwin, who passed away in 1878, and Mrs. Bertha E. Clark, of Union. Cornelia Vitt died in 1884 and John T. Vitt in 1889. Alfred A. Vitt was born near Union, Mis- souri, February 28, 1844, the historic "high water" year. His education was concluded before the outbreak of the Civil war and he gave evidence of his patriotism by enlisting in Company A of the rifle battalion attached to the First Regiment, Missouri Infantry