Bio: Krueger Family History (26 Sep 1918)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kircherer, Krueger

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/26/1918

Krueger Family History (26 Sep 1918)

F.G. Kircherer of this city formerly lived near the Kruegers at Withee and knows the family intimately. He states that there were five of the Krueger boys, one of who seemed to be of an entirely different moral character than the other four, being of a more peaceable disposition and having none of the stubborn, willful traits of the other boys. He did not agree with the brothers with the result that there were frequent quarrels. He finally left home, secured a position in a store at Withee and proved himself a capable and conscientious young man. His health failed him, however, and a change of climate became necessary. He died on the train in crossing the Rocky Mountains.

The most interesting recollection of Mr. Kircherer bears upon the family history of the Kruegers. He states that a grandfather of the Krueger boys was a brother of Oom Paul Krueger, head of the Boer South African War. He took a prominent part in the Boer War and as the result of his activities was hanged by the British soldiers. Bitterness against England has dominated the Krueger family ever since and this hatred was handed down to the Krueger family of Withee. They inherited the hatred of the English which made itself manifest in their recent battle to escape service in the Allied army, and those who know them well say that this unwillingness to fight for the United States was caused primarily because England is our ally. Their stubborn dispositions would not permit them to be convinced of their duty to their country as against their dislike for England.

A visit to the Krueger home near Withee shows best the peculiar disposition of the Krueger mother and her boys. The home itself is possibly the finest farm home in Clark County and was built entirely by the boys, all of whom were splendid mechanics. But the Krueger’s lived almost apart from the entire neighborhood, taking no part in neighborhood affairs, seeming to adopt the attitude that if they left others alone they wished also to be left alone. To this end they had equipped their entire farm with machinery and devices which made them practically independent of any other person. They owned their own saw mill, had equipped a small planning mill throughout with which to dress the lumber for their house, they owned their own threshing outfit, and two or three buildings about the farm were equipped with machinery of various kinds. Some years ago they used their saw mill and threshing machine for the benefit of neighbors, but of late years had done only their own work with their machinery. There is no doubt but this practice of living among themselves only, brooding over fancied grievances and entirely cutting themselves off from friends was in a great measure the cause of their recent fight against the authority of the United States.