Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Rhoda Taylor Fone for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri The Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago (1888) Pages 1179-1180 BENNETT KRATZER Bennett Kratzer, ex-judge of Schuyler County, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1828, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Still) Kratzer. The former was of German descent, and born in Ohio, in 1806. He was a farmer by occupation, and was married in Brown County, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1883. He was twice married, his second wife being Mahala (Malott) Kratzer, who survives. The mother our subject died in 1840, and was the mother of five children, of whom Bennett was the eldest. When sixteen years of age he began life for himself as an apprentice to a blacksmith, working three years for his board and clothes, and receiving three months schooling. He then worked as a journeyman a year, after which he bought out his teacher, and began business on his own responsibility. In the fall of 1855 he came to Schuyler County, Mo., and a year later purchased 160 acres of land, where he now resides, and, in connection with farming, built a blacksmith shop, and worked at his trade many years. He now owns 288 acres of land in the county, and ranks as one of the highly respected and substantial farmer citizens. October 29, 1848, he married Miss Mary Heaton, daughter of James and Elizabeth Heaton, a native of Brown County, Ohio, where she was born in 1831. To this union seven children were born, viz: Alonzo, Melissa (wife of Anderson York, of Davis County, Iowa), Leila F. (wife of Albert York), James D. (physician at Lancaster), Theresa (wife of Noah Butts), Charley F. (physician of Savannah, Iowa) and May. In politics he has long been a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, in 1852. He served as justice of the peace in 1865, and in 1880 was elected county judge, and served two years with great efficiency. Himself, wife and six children are members of the Christian Church. ===========================================================================