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View Tree for John Kraus/August FalkJohn Kraus/August Falk (b. October 11, 1842, d. December 17, 1915)

John Kraus/August Falk (son of Charles Ludwig Falk and Marianne Vensky Kuss) was born October 11, 1842 in Prussia, and died December 17, 1915 in Danville Vet. Hosp. Illinois. He married Mary Ellen Sweeny on January 24, 1866 in St Patricks 9511 4th Ave Brooklyn NY, daughter of Owen Sweeny and Barbara Hallinan.

 Includes NotesNotes for John Kraus/August Falk:
I found your user home page when I entered my grandfather's name, Julius Falk, on a genealogy search. Julius was listed as the half 2nd great-granduncle of Lee Ann Jackson. Then I looked further on your site and found my great grandfather, (Charles) Ludwig Falk. I have been researching the Falk family for a number of years and believe we may be able to help each other.
Since I am descended from Ludwig's second marriage I naturally have more information about that part of the family, but have done some research on the first marriage family as well.
I suspect you may have his birthplace incorrectly listed, but I don't know where he was born.
The first location where I have found him is in the Protestant church records for Grabau, today known as Grabowno, located about 30 to 35 kilometers west of Nakel. This is his marriage 2 Apr 1839 to Marianne Vensky, the widow of Stephen, maiden name Kuss on FHL Film #0245526. There is a baptism of a child at that church, Rosalie, born 30 Aug 1840, FHL Film #0245525. The residence location is very difficult to read, but my best reading is that they probably lived at Niezychowko.
I did not locate a baptismal record for August yet. The next child I found for Ludwig and Marianne was Wilhelmine, born 19 Sep 1845, baptism 5 Oct 1845, and this was at the Protestant church in Nakel, FHL film #0245495. Ludwig's residence was listed as Bielawer Kolonia, which would be Bielawy. Since August was born between the two locations, it might be that he was baptized at a church between the two. Then on the Nakel film, I found Henriette who was born 21 May 1849. I have not yet searched the death records, but it is logical than Marianne died soon after this because Ludwig married my great-grandmother 24 Nov 1850 at Nakel.
I have not found them on any passenger list, but haven't worked at it very hard. I did check the Germans to America series and didn't find the family. It appears that they arrived in America sometime between March and December of 1858, since we have a copy of a document made in Prussia dated March and a child is listed in the Wisconsin church record as born there in December.
The first census where they are found is 1860 in Muscoda township, Grant County, Wisconsin. It was a little difficult to find since Ludwig was listed as Lewis Fauk. But I'm confident that it is the correct family, with wife Anna L, and children: Wilamena, age 14, August, age 17, Carl, age 5, Caroline, age 3 and John, age 1.
All except John were listed as born in Prussia.
I have recently been corresponding with a descendant of Wilhemina, who married August Schrader 29 October 1865, just after he was mustered out from Company G, 27th Regiment Infantry of Wisconsin Volunteers. August Schrader enlisted in that Company 12 August 1862, and John Krause, aka August Falk, enlisted in the same Company 16 August 1862. Then after the war, August Schrader married August Falk's full sister. They had at least eight children and later lived in Kossuth County, Iowa.
According to another cousin the sister Rosalie/Rosalia married John Schmidt and they had six children and lived in the Milwaukee area.
I could find no further record of Henriette, so she may have died about the same time as her mother.
When I began working on the Falk family in the middle 1980s, some of my cousins living here in Oregon, shared copies of letters from two of August's descendants, Arthur Dornaus and Richard Priller. So I was aware of some of the situation about August. One of them stated that August's service record stated he was divorced and said they had checked county records and did find one. They noted that he had died in the veteran's hospital in Danville, IL. I ordered and received a copy of his death certificate and found very little information other than about his death and burial.
I don't have a scanner, but would be happy to send paper copies of any of the documents I have mentioned if you would like. I do have a copy of a photo of Ludwig also. I would be happy to share any more information about Ludwig's second family if you are interested.

Sincerely,

Joanne Skelton


More About John Kraus/August Falk:
Fact 1: John Kraus came to the US as a small child..
Fact 2: His name was August Falk..
Fact 3: He became a substitute in the Civil War.
Fact 4: for a John Kraus, received $300, and never.
Fact 5: Changed his name back to Falk..
Fact 6: Ent. the military in Highland Wisc..

More About John Kraus/August Falk and Mary Ellen Sweeny:
Marriage: January 24, 1866, St Patricks 9511 4th Ave Brooklyn NY.

Children of John Kraus/August Falk and Mary Ellen Sweeny are:
  1. +Mary Ellen Kraus, b. January 16, 1867, Fort Hamilton, New York, d. November 16, 1937, Bloomington, Illinois, Park Hill Cemetery.
  2. Anna Krause, b. Abt. 1875, Illinois, d. date unknown.
  3. Stasia Barbara Krause, b. Abt. 1875, Illinois, d. date unknown.
  4. Theresa Krause, b. Abt. 1873, Illinois, d. date unknown.
  5. Wilhelmina Krause, b. Abt. 1871, Illinois, d. date unknown.
  6. Thomas Krause, b. Abt. 1877, Illinois, d. date unknown, Illinois.
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