Anne A. Krull

Anne A. Krull. - Among Sacramento's worthy citizens who have amassed a fortune by the cultivation of the soil, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch stands at the front in results attained.  He was born December 6, 1834, in Holland.  His father, Ayelts Krull, a native of Hanover, died when the subject of this article was but one year old.  During those times Holland was a scene of turbulence, and Mr. Krull's maternal uncle, Klaas Swart, who was a Liberal and opposed to a monarchial government, came to America in 1844, and traveled over a considerable portion of the United States, and determined that at some future time he would return here and make this country his permanent home.  Returning to his native country, however, it was some years before he could satisfactorily dispose of his large and landed interests and personal property; but after completing his business he came to the land of opportunity, in company with an elder brother, Folkert by name, and his mother, nee Catharine Swart.  They came by the United States mail steamer Arctic, and after many delays they reached New York city about the 1st of June, 1854.  His uncle went directly to Elkhart, Indiana, and bought a section (640 acres) of land.  The two younger Krulls purchased a small farm of forty acres near by, on time for the larger portion of the purchase, and began working by the month for the means whereby to pay the balance.  After four years of hard labor and economical management, they had not only paid this debt, but had $700 in cash, with which they determined to come to California.  Accordingly, they went to Chicago, then down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, crossed the Gulf of Mexico and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and thence to Acapulco, connecting there with the steamer Pacific, of the Panama line, and arriving at San Francisco December 28, 1858.  About the 1st of January following they came to Sacramento, went down the river fourteen miles and found employment on the ranch where Lewis Winter lives.  Afterward they purchased a ranch on Merritt's Island, and engaged in the raising of potatoes and garden products, hauling their produce to Placerville and other mining districts,  where excellent prices were obtained.  Thus they continued for six years, when Mr. Krull's brother returned to Indiana.  In the meantime, in 1866, Mr. Krull bought 336 acres additional on Merritt's Island, paying for it $1,500.  This tract he afterward sold for $30,000!  In 1868 he exchanged property for 480 acres in Lee township, and subsequently acquired property in other localities.   In 1881 he bought his present 350-acre farm near Florin, and resided there five years.  In the meantime, in the fall of 1886, he purchased a residence on the corner of Nineteenth and M streets, and moved his family into town.  In 1887 he sold this property and purchased his present place of residence, 2201 O street.  Of later years Mr. Krull has been largely interested in live stock and the growing of alfalfa, making a specialty of alfalfa seed.  His crop of the latter for 1887 alone was valued at $3,300.  In his religious relations Mr. Krull is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Prohibitionist.  In 1888 he was a candidate on the Prohibition ticket for supervisor of the county, and he expects to live to see his principles vindicated at the polls.  He was first married in 1872, to Miss Rebecca Schlater, a native of Holstein, Germany, who died in 1875.  January 1, 1879, he married Marietta Savage, a native of New Brunswick, Canada.  Mr. and Mrs. Krull have two children, Della and Albert.

 

Transcribed 9-2-04 Marilyn R. Pankey