GatheringGardiners: Charles Agustus Kroksh 1859

Charles Augustus Kroksh was born 23 December 1861 at Freeheine, Germany. His mother, Anna Elizabeth Guisler, was born on 4 July 1836, at Dresden, Saxony, Germany. His father , Charles Ferdinand Kroksh, was born in 1832 in Freeheine, Germany. They were married 10 May 1856. Charles Agustus Kroksh was one of three children, his sister, Auguste Kroksh was born in 1863 at Freeheine, Germany. His brother, John Ferdinand Kroksh, was born on 13 January 1865, at Freeheine, Germany.

They were what was called High German. His father, Charles Ferdinand Kroksh, was a professional musician and played the organ and the violin. He was also a violin maker.

The Kroksch (as name appeared on ship records) family left Hamburg, Germany for America in June of 1862 and arrived in New York in 1866. According to the manifest of the ship Robert Teel, the family was listed as Kroksch (Germany spelling of Kroksh), from Prussia. The log further states that their intent was to become inhabitants of Wisconsin.

Listed on the shp log was:

Kroksch, C. age 30, Taylor, Prussia

Carl age 4 Male Prussia

Aguste 3 Female Prussia

Ferdinand 5 mo. Male Prussia

Charles Ferdinand Kroksh died at sea from sea fever and was buried at sea. Charles A. Kroksh told his daughter Lestie Kroksh he remembered his father being wrapped up and being slid down a board into the water.

His mother, the children : Charles, Anna, Ferdinand, stayed in New York for a period of time so his mother could go to school to be instructed in English speech. There was a period of years when Charles A. Kroksh lived with his brother, sister and mother in Wisconsin in or near Waukesha. His mother worked in a boys reformatory. John Schneiderheinze delivered groceries to the place where she worked.

John Herman Gottlieb Schneiderheinze served in the Union Army in the Civil War from 13 Oct 1862, until 23 August 1865 in the infantry of the 28^th regiment of the State of Wisconsin. According to his discharge papers he was released from the service in Ottawa Waukesha Co., Wisconsin where he lived at his time in the service. In 1869, or 1870, Anna Elizabeth Guisler Kroksh married John Herman Gottlieb Schneiderheinze.

Sometime before 1871 they moved to Elk Point, South Dakota. In Elk Point, South Dakota, John and Anna had four children: (1) John born 3 April 1871, (2) Anna Elizabeth born 18 January 1873, (3) Frederick Welheim born 2 April 1875 (4) Henry born 22 October 1878.

John married Esther Anderson on 12 December 1917. Anna Elizabeth married August John Erickson on 14 April 1915. Frederick Wilheim married Naomi Reams on 17 August 1958. Henry never married. These were half borthers and half sister to Charles A. Kroksh.

Elk Point was the place where Charles A. Kroksh, his stepfather, mother, half brothers, and half sister grew up. His mother and step father bought the place in Elk Point, South Dakota to homestead a timber claim. (Put up buildings, setting out trees on land, 3 rights in taking up land) and a pre-Emision or they may have bought some one out. It seems like they did buy some one out.

The first big flood was in 1880-1881. The Missouri River flooded. There was a gorge on the Missouri river. In March the water flooded the country for several miles around south of Elk Point, S. Dakota. They moved stock into Hammonds and lived upstairs. Their farm near Elk Point was flooded many times at night they would have to get out.

There were no water Currants so they rowed boats all over. Then it turned cold and froze and they skated everywhere. Charles Augusta Kroksh used to run roller skating in Elk Point, S.D. He used to do considerable dancing with a girl by the name of Cora Nims. He was a very good at ice and roller skating.

He was in the National Guards about six years. He was discharged in 1885. They moved onto the Kroksh place about 1885. They were on this place for about three years. Then they moved to a place and paid $10.00 an acre. They had 350 acres 9 1/2 miles North West of Akron, Iowa. It was in 1891 that they moved here. The place is still standing.

This is about the time Charles Augustus started freighting. He used to freight between Elk Point, S.D. and Sioux City, Iowa a distance of 28 miles. Frank Chapen used to run the route.

Iced in some winters. Two winters watchman, one a Bismark, N.D., one at Sioux City, Iowa. One year watchman only $80.00 month foreman. Four years railroaded-Nebraska for Jim Ross. Sioux City, Iowas to Fort Benton, Wyoming. River boated from St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River to Fort Benten, Wyoming. He was foreman on the boat over the loading crew.

Then he used to steamboat on the Missouri River between Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, to Sioux City headquartered Fargo, N. Dakota.

They used to have to pull into the bank and stop so the buffalo could cross. Between Bismark and Fort Bufford laid over 2 days for herd to cross the river. One winter a herd was caught in the bend of the river and the next spring for 40 miles you couldn't step on the for the remains of the buffalo carcass. On steam boat we co up loaded with supplies, come back loaded with buffalo hides $ 5.00 and $ 2.50 tanned hides. Then they retailed for $ 50.00. They made the trip fro Texas in the spring then back in the fall.

On one of his trips they stopped for 3 days to let the buffalo swim the river. The herd was about a mile wide. They were stampeding. That went on for 24 hours a day and lasted 3 days. He picked a young buffalo out of the river. He kept the meat. He kept the hide and someone stole the hide.

Charles Crouse Canal Contract 12 years-then went home, graded hills in Sioux City , Iowa-last year. Watson construction-road from Salt Lake, Utah to Butte, Montana.When he left the boat he worked for a man named Hammond who built railroad grades. Sometime in his life he worked the railroad as a brakeman.

He stayed with Hammond and he wanted him to come to Utah as a foreman digging a canal. Hamond Canal, Deweyville, Utah. After some time Hammond went broke buying dinamint (dynamite) to get through the rocks. Dineamint was very expensive at that time. They used mule teams to take the dirt ouf of the canal.

He came to Utah with Mr. Charlie Krouse from Elk Point to do construciton work on the railroad. He stayed in Utah and did not return to Elk Point, S.D.

In 1889, a post office for the settlement was applied for. At that time it was discovered that there was already a town in Utah named Fairview. The name Manila was suggested, but again, there was already a town Manila in Utah. The U.S. Mail Service suggested the name of Elwood. The name was accepted by the community, but it wasn't until 1898 that a post office was established at the home of Charles Kroksh. This was the first and only post office in Elwood at the time.

Charles full history

Documents and videos related to Charles Augustus Kroksh:

Charles holding the flag

Martha Vilate, Charles and Martha Lestie

1910 US Census

1920

Charles and Martha's home in Elwood,
this was also the local post office.

Charles Augusta, John and their wives

1910 US Census, Utah

LtR back Daniel , Martha Lestie, Ferd
front, Augustus Kroksh, Martha Vilate, Glen Arthur Kroksh.

1937 Alice Boothe, Charles Augustus, Martha Lestie Kroksh Boothe,
Darrel (Alice son) Laguna. CA

1937 Alice Boothe, Charles Augustus, Martha
Lestie Kroksh Boothe, Darrel (Alice son) Laguna.

1954 Augustus with Gerry on the right

Standing: Henry Carl Woerner (my grandpa), Alice Boothe Frambes, Donna May Boothe Woerner (my grandma), Charles Meredith Booithe, Lestie Kroksh Boothe, Winnifred Boothe Woods, Clyde Boothe. Sitting: Charles Augusus Kroksh, holding Judy Mae Woerner Stevenson (my aunt), Gary Carl Woerner (my dad). C Payne