Lawrence Kruse

Lawrence Albert Kruse, 601 W. Main St., Deshler, Ohio, was born April 3, 1938, at Wauseon, Ohio. The first six years of his life he lived on a farm with his parents in Ridgeville Township, Henry County. In 1944 his family moved to Liberty Center, then Swanton, and finally in 1950 to a farm three miles west of Wauseon, Ohio. Lawrence graduated from Pettisville High School in 1956 after which he served in the Six Month Army Reserve. In 1957 he enrolled as a student at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and graduated in 1961 with a B.S. degree in Education and Liberal Arts with a major in biology and a minor in German. He taught science for five years at Deshler High School and then returned to Bowling Green to obtain a master's degree in guidance and counseling. He is presently a counselor at Pandora-Gilboa High School in Putnam County. Lawrence married Geraldine Graber of Stryker, Ohio, in 1966. From this union two children have been born, David on October 23, 1967, and Mary on May 30, 1970. Geraldine is the daughter of the late Clarence and Wilma (Yoder) Graber who still live at RFD Stryker, Ohio.

Lawrence is the son of Arthur and Leona (Korte) Kruse now residing at RFD, Wauseon, Ohio. Arthur was born on Jan. 26, 1908, to the late Albert (1883-1952) and Mary (Schlotz) Kruse (1886-1952). Arthur had one brother, Elmer, and a sister, Isabelle (Wesche), both deceased. Arthur was raised on the farm located at the intersection of Routes 66 and 34. William Wesche now lives on this farm. Arthur is a carpenter by trade. Leona, born on Feb. 28, 1913, is the daughter of the late Albert (1890-1943) and Leah (Schulty) Korte (1892-1964). Leona had one brother, Victor, who died three days after birth.

Johann and Sophia Kruse

Albert and Mary Kruse

Albert Kruse (Lawrence's grandfather) was the son of John (1860-1939) and Josaphine (Hinze) Kruse (18601950) of Ridgeville Twp. Albert's living brothers and sisters are William, Edward, Nettie (Brandt), Bertha (Schroeder), and Freda (Locke). Deceased brother and sisters are John, Mary (Detter), Gertie (Nagel), Pauline, Martha, and Ida. Albert was raised on the Kruse homestead across from St. John's Lutheran Church in Ridgeville Twp. His brother Ed still resides on this farm. Albert was one of the first residents of the area to own a 1916 Ford Model T touring car. Until that time horse and buggy were their only means of travel.

Albert's father and mother, John and Josephine, (Lawrence's great grandparents) and family resided with John's parents, Johann (1827-1908) and Sophia (Wendt) Kruse (1825-1917). John had one brother, Fred, and a sister, Minnie (Rohrs). John's parents immigrated to the U.S. from the province of Hanover-Prussia, Germany, in the 1850's. In 1861 they purchased 40 acres in the N.E. corridor of Ridgeville Twp. from Richard McFarran of Jefferson County, Ohio, for $285.00. In 1878 Johann bought an additional 80 acres adjoining the 40 acres from Henry Myerholts for $3,500. Johann Kruse became known as a prosperous farmer during his lifetime. Johann and Sophia (Lawrence's great, great grandparents) were among the first members of St. John's Lutheran Church. The majority of the Kruse family still continue to embrace the Christian Faith as Lutherans. Josephine's parents, Johann (18141906), and Sophia (Wilse) Hinze (18161900) emigrated from the northern region of Prussia, Germany, called Altmarkt and also settled in Ridgeville Twp.

Left to right, back row: Mary, Albert, Nettie, William, Gertie, Edward; front row: Bertha, John Kruse, Josephine Kruse, Freda.

Leona and Arthur Kruse.

Lawrence and Geraldine Kruse with children David and Mary.

Kruse Family Crest

The Kruse family continued to speak their native language of German on a regular basis until the 1920's. "Preus," a Low-German dialect, was spoken in the home while High German was used in religious instruction and in church services. The Albert Kruse family was an exception to the above. His wife Mary could only speak High German because her parents, Gottlieb and Catherine (Leinhardt) Schlotz, were natives of the southern German towns of Schlichten and Strassbourg, where only High Germanwas spoken.

On Jan. 8, 1653, the ancestors of the Kruse family were made barons, which permitted them to own property and also to be issued a coat of arms by the ruler of the land. The Kruse coat of arms is formed from two shields (see illustration). The left half of the shield represents the mother's side, two roses on white, who came from the German province of Nassau. The right side of the shield, an eagle's wing on red, represents the father's side who came from the German province of Mecklenberg. The crest above the shield shows a crown with an ox head, the symbol of the house of Mecklenberg. Family shields and crests were used for identification purposes on fields of battle and for identifying personal property.

It is with regret, because of limited space, that it is not possible to include all the names of the descendants of Johann and Sophia (Wendt) Kruse.

Submitted By Lawrence Kruse