My Genealogy Hound

THEODORE F. KREIPE.
Theodore F. Kreipe, one of the leading citizens and large farmers of Tecumseh township, Shawnee County, who owns a fine farm of 330 acres in section 33, township 11, range 17, on the Kaw River, was born December 8, 1860, at Big Spring, Douglas County, Kansas, and is a son of Theodore and Gertrude (Deister) (Engelke) Kreipe.

Theodore Kreipe, father of our subject, was born December 16, 1828, in Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany, a son of Conrad and Gertrude (Molle) Kreipe. His father died when he was four years old. He attended school until 12 years of age and then hired out to farmers for $13 a year and also worked one year on the railroad before coming to the United States. In 1848 he came to America with his mother and his two brothers, Frank and Conrad. The family settled in St. Charles County, Missouri, where Mr. Kreipe farmed for several years and then engaged in freighting for the government. From 1854 until 1859 he made many trips across the plains to Salt Lake City, Santa Fe and other points. An attack of mountain fever prostrated him in Platte County, Missouri, where he remained until the spring of 1860, when he removed to Douglas County, Kansas, and settled on a farm two miles east of Big Spring. When the State militia were called out to withstand the invasion of General Price, he enlisted under Col. George W. Veale.

Mr. Kreipe remained on his farm of 80 acres in Douglas County until the spring of 1865, when he sold his land there and purchased 160 acres in section 33, township 11, range 17, in Tecumseh township, where he now resides. He owns about 2,000 acres of land, the greater part of which is in this township and in Shawnee County, and he has made all the improvements on the different farms. His present farm he cleared of timber and in 1868 erected the substantial, stone residence and later all the necessary barns and buildings to carry on extensive farming. Mr. Kreipe’s remarkable success has been the result of constant industry and good judgment. His business has been farming, grain-growing and stock-raising. He raises a great many hogs and has 150 head of white-faced cattle. Mr. Kreipe is by far the most successful and one of the largest farmers of the county. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Catholic Church.

Theodore Kreipe was married to Mrs. Gertrude (Deister) Engelke, who was born in Hanover, January 2, 1826, and died December 9, 1900. The children born to this union were: Theodore F., our subject; George and Mary (twins), the former of whom farms in Tecumseh township and the latter lives at home; Conrad, of Franklin County, Kansas; and William; who lives on his father’s place.

Theodore F. Kreipe came to his present farm in 1865 with his parents and has resided here ever since, following farming. His education was secured in the district schools and his agricultural training was obtained under the guidance of his father. Like the latter, he has been very successful, both in the cultivating of his land and also in the raising of fine stock. He has a handsome residence, which he built in 1904.

Mr. Kreipe was married January 19, 1888, to Nettie Busch, who was born March 12, 1868, at Parkville, Missouri, and is a daughter of John and Gertrude (Kollman) Busch, natives of Germany. They have three children: Edmund, Bessie and Geraldine. The family belong to the Catholic Church at Big Spring.

In politics Mr. Kreipe is a Democrat. For the past 12 years he has been one of the township’s most efficient school officers and in the fall of 1904 was elected township trustee, an office for which he is well qualified.