CRAMER FAMILY HISTORY
Idje- Diedri'ch Cramer, born March 16, 1854, in Zetel Germany, and his wife Margaretha
Catharina Oltmann Cramer, born April 12, 1849, in Oldenburg, Germany, and four
children; Anna, Harmon, Amos, and John, booked passage with the Roland Lines for
the U.S.A., June 19, 1893; settling in Tallula, Illinois. This booking was done by the
eldest son Gerhard Diedrich who had arrived in Illinois on April 1, 1890 with his step-
Catharina Oltmann Cramer, born April 12, 1849, in Oldenburg, Germany, and four
children; Anna, Harmon, Amos, and John, booked passage with the Roland Lines for
the U.S.A., June 19, 1893; settling in Tallula, Illinois. This booking was done by the
eldest son Gerhard Diedrich who had arrived in Illinois on April 1, 1890 with his step-
. grandfather Fred Schafer and his grandmother Anna Margaret Cramer Schafer.
Idje and his family departed from Zetel. Germany, which was a part of Wilhelmhaven,
located near the North Sea. They boarded one of the new speedy liners designed in
the early 1890's at Bremenhaven, Germany, and landed in America five days later on
August 16, 1893. Reports state that this liner sank on its return trip to Germany.
located near the North Sea. They boarded one of the new speedy liners designed in
the early 1890's at Bremenhaven, Germany, and landed in America five days later on
August 16, 1893. Reports state that this liner sank on its return trip to Germany.
Idje Diedrich and his family not only left behind many friends and relatives, but also a
rich heritage. Idje Dietrich Franzen Cramer, and his twin brother, Albert Gerhard
Franzen Cramer, were born to Anna Margaret Cramer (later Schafer) February 22,
1854, in Zetel, Germany. He was a member of the Martine Gerhard Cramer family.
Martin Gerhard's father was Albert Tobias Cramer, a burgermeister (mayor), born
September 3. 1800, at Neustadt-Godens, Germany, of the Mennonite faith. He was
confirmed into the Evangelical Lutheran faith at the age of 28.
rich heritage. Idje Dietrich Franzen Cramer, and his twin brother, Albert Gerhard
Franzen Cramer, were born to Anna Margaret Cramer (later Schafer) February 22,
1854, in Zetel, Germany. He was a member of the Martine Gerhard Cramer family.
Martin Gerhard's father was Albert Tobias Cramer, a burgermeister (mayor), born
September 3. 1800, at Neustadt-Godens, Germany, of the Mennonite faith. He was
confirmed into the Evangelical Lutheran faith at the age of 28.
The lineage has been traced to Emden, Holland with the birth of Johann Van Lingen,
born 1463. He later became a burgermeister.
born 1463. He later became a burgermeister.
The name Van Lingen was changed to Kremer with the birth of Johann Van Lingen.
Records state that by 1607, Albert Lubberts Kremer was living in Neustadt-Godens,
Germany where the Cramers changed their faith from Mennonite to Evangelical
Lutheran. They became instrumental in the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran
church.
Records state that by 1607, Albert Lubberts Kremer was living in Neustadt-Godens,
Germany where the Cramers changed their faith from Mennonite to Evangelical
Lutheran. They became instrumental in the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran
church.
The name Cramer appears in 1618 with the birth of Tobias Alberts Cramer. The
spelling is then recorded as Kramer until 1795 with the birth of Albert Tobias Cramer.
The Census was established in 1790 and families were required to maintain permanent
spellings.
spelling is then recorded as Kramer until 1795 with the birth of Albert Tobias Cramer.
The Census was established in 1790 and families were required to maintain permanent
spellings.
The names Cramer (Cramar - old German), Kramer, Kraemer, Kremer, and Cremer
mean merchandiser. Their shield was a gold background with a black, gold-collared
ram's head. Perhaps their business was the reason for the name change from Van
Lingen. Also the spellings of the names of the Cramers in the records support the
meaning of merchandiser, for their trades are recorded as bookmaker
(bockeramtsmeister), musicians (muskier), and artists.
mean merchandiser. Their shield was a gold background with a black, gold-collared
ram's head. Perhaps their business was the reason for the name change from Van
Lingen. Also the spellings of the names of the Cramers in the records support the
meaning of merchandiser, for their trades are recorded as bookmaker
(bockeramtsmeister), musicians (muskier), and artists.
This new life at Tallula, Illinois in the Cottington community was quite different for
grandfather, Idje Diedrich Cramer, who was a cooper in Germany and now assumed the
role of a farmer with the Diers and Stiltz families. They would reside in this community
grandfather, Idje Diedrich Cramer, who was a cooper in Germany and now assumed the
role of a farmer with the Diers and Stiltz families. They would reside in this community
until 1,,906 when they moved to the Marbold farm approximately four miles northeast of
Greenview., About 6 years later, they returned and moved to Greenview, where they
purchased their retirement home.
Greenview., About 6 years later, they returned and moved to Greenview, where they
purchased their retirement home.
The paternal heritage of the Cramers appears to remain dominant, for the majority of
the descendants are professionals or business people. The Cramers have kept their
genetic characteristic, in regards to a love for books. They represent many universities
in the United States as bachelor and master degree graduates. Their strongest quality
lies in the area of mathematics.
the descendants are professionals or business people. The Cramers have kept their
genetic characteristic, in regards to a love for books. They represent many universities
in the United States as bachelor and master degree graduates. Their strongest quality
lies in the area of mathematics.
The descendants now represent many churches in membership. This trend was
brought about chiefly by the Ecumenical movement and marriages.
brought about chiefly by the Ecumenical movement and marriages.
As to physical characteristics, they are chiefly sturdy, tall, blonde, blue-eyed people who
have a deep respect and bond between their family and family members.
have a deep respect and bond between their family and family members.
This history was written by Louise Hawkins, daughter of John G. and Margaret W.
Cramer
Cramer