Orange
County
Biographies
SAMUEL KRAEMER
Samuel Kraemer, a prominent rancher
residing on Kraemer Avenue in Placentia, has lived within the borders of Orange
County for two-thirds of a century. He
has been a witness of and participant in the wonderful series of events which
have marked the evolution of this section of California from a frontier
wilderness to one of the most advanced and prosperous sections of the entire
west, and he may well be proud of the part his family has played in this great
drama of civilization.
Samuel Kraemer was born in Saint
Clair County, Illinois, July 9, 1857, his parents being Daniel and Elenora (Schraw) Kraemer, both of
whom were natives of Germany, the former born at Saint Johannes and the latter
at Landau, on the Rhine. They immigrated
to the United States in early years, became California pioneers in 1867 and
spent the remainder of their lives in the Golden state. Having decided to establish a home on the
Pacific coast, they began their journey at St. Louis, Missouri, and at the end
of four days’ travel reached the city of New York, where they boarded a steamer
for Panama, landing at the Isthmus after a tedious voyage of sixteen days. Three days were spent in unloading on the
eastern side, crossing the Isthmus and loading up on the Pacific side, after
which they took passage on the steamer bound for San Francisco. This voyage consumed fifteen days and the
only stops made by the steamer were at Acapulco and Manzanillo,
Mexico. The fact that the ship did not
anchor at any port in Southern California cause extra expense and delay to the
Kraemer family, who were forced to wait for twenty-one days in San Francisco
before any vessel started for the southern part of the state. Eventually they landed at San Pedro, Los
Angeles County, after a voyage of five days from San Francisco, and from San
Pedro proceeded to Anaheim. At that time
Los Angeles County embraced all of what is now Orange County. The environment was uninviting, for Americans
had not settled in sufficient number to embark
on any improvements; wild stock roamed the ranges. Immediately after his arrival the elder
Kraemer bought thirty-nine hundred acres of land, which was the smallest land
tract that could be purchased. This is
located in what is now known as the Placentia district. This land was originally owned by A. D.
Ontiveras, a Castilian gentleman, a native of Spain who received his grant from
the Mexican government. Mr. Kraemer
found the Ontiveras ditch, which ran eastward from his house, the intake being
close to the old Trinidad Yorba house, was being seriously interfered
with. He then built a ditch of his own
to the Santa Ana River, which intersected the Ontiveras ditch one and one-half
miles east of his home, and this was the first individual canal to be
constructed in this section. In 1875 he
became one of the builders of the Cajon canal, which carries water through the
entire Placentia district, through Fullerton and Orangethorpe
and much of Anaheim. Mr. Kraemer was one
of the organizers of the Cajon school district in 1874 and donated an acre for
school purposes. This later became known
as the Placentia school district. He
brought the first mowing and sewing machines here and improved between four
hundred and five hundred acres of his estate.
Very optimistic concerning the future development and prosperity of this
section, Daniel Kraemer engaged extensively in ranching, setting out vineyards,
and set out the first walnut orchard here.
He was the first white settler to live in the old Ontiveras abode in the
Placentia district and his was the first white family to settle outside of the
willow fence enclosing the Anaheim settlement.
His death occurred February 6, 1882.
His widow died in Anaheim.
Samuel Kraemer, whose name
introduces this review, was a lad of ten years when brought by his parents to
Orange County, California. He assisted
his father in the improvement and cultivation of the home ranch, eighty acres
of which had been fenced in. At that
time the entire country was open with the exception of twelve hundred acres of
the Anaheim settlement, into which admission was gained through a gate on each
of the four sides of the tract. Eight
years later a fence law was enacted, which greatly aided in bringing in
settlers. Samuel Kraemer attended the
Yorba School for a time and has continually augmented his knowledge through
reading and close observation, thus gaining a wide and accurate fund of
information. He has always resided on
the original tract owned by his father, five hundred acres thereof being now in
his possession, and he has devoted a large part of this to the growing of
citrus fruits. He was associated with
William Crowther, A. S. Bradford, H. H. Hale and C.
C. Chapman in promoting the town of Placentia, for which they gave the right of
way to the Santa Fe Railroad. Mr.
Kraemer donated ten acres of land for the station and side-tracks and erected a
large packing house. He served as
president of the Walnut Association for twenty-five years, was president of the
Placentia Mutual Citrus Association for twenty years and president of the board
of Anaheim Hospital for twelve years.
However, he has resigned all directorships and public offices and at
this time is serving only as a director of the Bank of America at Fullerton, at
Anaheim and at Placentia.
On the 30th of September,
1886, Mr. Kraemer was united in marriage to Miss Angelina Yorba, a native of
California and a daughter of Prudencio and Dolores (Ontiveras) Yorba, both of whom were of old Castilian
stock. Mr. and Mrs. Kraemer became the
parents of ten children, named hereafter. Adela, the eldest, is the wife of Walter Muckenthaler, of Fullerton, California. Samuel P. married Miss Edna Wentz, of
Ohio. He saw active service in the World
War and is now an orange grower at Placentia.
Gilbert U., who is engaged in ranching on Kraemer Avenue, Placentia,
married Miss Esther Munger, of Santa Ana, California. Angeline is the wife of Edward Backs, of
Placentia, California. Arnold R., a
successful orange grower of Placentia, served in the United States Naval
Reserves during the World War, being stationed in New Jersey. He married Miss Elena Maurie,
of Oakland, California. Lawrence P.
married Miss Kathleen Cottom. Geraldine and Louis are the two other
surviving members of the family, and two are deceased. Samuel Kraemer gave each of his sons one
hundred twenty-five acres of citrus land and all are well known citrus growers
of the Placentia district.
Fraternally Mr. Kraemer is
affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and also with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, belonging to Lodge No. 1345 at Anaheim. At the age of seventy-six years he is still
keenly alive to modern achievement in every field, and his aid and cooperation
can be counted upon in the furtherance of all projects looking toward community
advancement. An earlier biographer
said: “In 1867, when Samuel Kraemer
arrived in California, vast tracts were then untrodden by the foot of man, but
were given over to countless herds of wild cattle and horses. Travel was almost wholly on horseback through
pathless fields in which the wild mustard at time hid the animal and rider from
view. Now his swift automobiles convey
him over perfect roads and through a country densely populated. Then he aided in the cultivation of the
ground with such rude implements as could be obtained. Now his land is cultivated by workmen having
the most modern machinery money can buy.”
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 279-282, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S
ORANGE COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES