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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JULIUS KRIEGER. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the men who claim Poland as the land of their birth or the home of their forefathers is a strong individualism, that gives an impetus to their lives and nobility to their characters. In whatever land they may establish homes, they display a certain energy and loyalty that endear them to their fellow-citizens. Among the men of this class some mention may properly be made of the subject of this sketch, who is a well-known resident of Berrien County, and a successful fruit-grower of Lincoln Township, residing on section 15.

A native of Poland, Prussia, our subject was born on the 1st of June, 1842, being the son of Martin and Polina Krieger. It was his misfortune to be orphaned in childhood, his father having died when he was a lad of six years, and his mother passing away five years afterward. His education was limited to a brief attendance at the schools of his native land, but he has gained an education which is not to be learned from books or acquired by literary training. His is the more practical education daily given to each of us in our homes or at our offices, and which can be secured only as the result of experience.

In his youth, Mr. Krieger learned the trade of a tailor, at which he was employed prior to his emigration to the New World. He was married in Mankerudt, Poland, to Rosalia, the daughter of John Rudnich, and they were the parents of two children at the time they crossed the Atlantic and established their home in the land of the free.

It was about the year 1867 that they came to Chicago, Immediately after landing in this country, and Mr. Krieger found employment in that city, working at his trade, for eight years. From Chicago he came to Lincoln Township and, purchasing ten acres, commenced its improvement and cultivation. At the present time (1893) he owns fifty acres, of which about thirty-four are well improved. He devotes his attention to fruit-raising and gardening and makes a specialty of berries, which he raises with success. All the farm buildings have been erected under his personal supervision and are adapted to their various uses.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Krieger has resulted in the birth of nine children, as follows: Katie, who married John Kaloorkins, a farmer residing in Lincoln Township; Theodore, Wallaria, Annie, John, Paulina, Rosalia, Julius and Alexander. A Democrat politically, Mr. Krieger has served for two years as Drain Commissioner of the township, and was elected Justice of the Peace, but refused to qualify for the office. He takes an active interest in social affairs and uses his influence to secure the progress of the community along the lines of material and commercial development. What he has and what he is may be attributed to his own efforts, seconded by the cooperation of his efficient helpmate, for when he arrived in Chicago he had only $12 in his possession. Now he occupies a position among the substantial men of the township. He is a stockholder in the Commercial State Bank of St. Joseph. In his religious belief, he is a Roman Catholic, and is identified with the church at St. Joseph.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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