Other Events:

• Cause of Death: Hypertension

Notes:

Gordon was a self-made, self-taught man who began in the insurance business as a salesperson, and ended as a highly valued and respected consultant for a very large international consulting company, LIMRA out of Hartford, Connecticut, which consulted to insurance companies to help them to become more profitable by instituting more humane personnel policies and procedures, thus improving motivation of all employees. His job required that he travel most weeks of every month, and he was inWashington, DC providing consultation and seminars to a company there when he died unexpectedly. After a dinner at a local hotel with clients, he went for a walk, and died suddenly, dropping to the sidewalk, beyond resuscitation.

He was widely loved and respected in Collinsville and within his professional communities for his generosity and wisdom. As a recovering alcoholic, he worked with others who needed the proper guidance for dealing with their own addictions, even bringing them into his home to live.

He unofficially adopted the surviving widow and child of one of these men, guiding them out of poverty and lack of education into self-reliance and higher learning.

His obituary in the Hartford (Connecticut) Courant reads:
KRATZ, Gordon A. Gordon A. Kratz, 63, of Timber Lane, Collinsville, diedThursday, (November 18, 1999) in Washington, D.C. He was born September20, 1936 in Cincinnati, OH, s/o the late Laurence and Elaine (Adams) Kratz, and had lived in South Windsor, prior to moving to Collinsville,25 years ago. He attended the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Kratz was employed as a Health Insurance Consultant by LIMRA International. Funeral service will be Monday, November 29, 11:30 a.m. at the Vincent FuneralHome, 120 Albany Turnpike, Canton. Friends may call at the VincentFuneral Home, Canton, Monday, November 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Burial will be in South West Cemetery, Collinsville. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Other Events:

• Occupation: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Notes:

s/o William Henry KRATZ & Kathryn DELANEY

Lawrence married Ruth Elaine ADAMS. Ruth (daughter of Newton J. ADAMS and Annette Nettie L. GIBBS) was born on 24 Jun 1896 in Kentucky; died in Jan 1973 in Houston, Harris, Texas; was buried in Catholic Cemetery, Houston, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Cause of Death: Hypertension, heart attack

Notes:

Ruth cared for both her sister Bessie, in ill-health, and her mother, Nettie, paying all their expenses while trying to raise her two sons from Lawrence Kratz. There are a large number of receipts that Ruth kept, documenting some of the quite large expenses Nettie ran up and which Ruth had to pay. Her sons all sent her money regularly to help.

In later years, Ruth Elaine, changed her name to Elaine, and as a song-writer and musician (per family lore) she actually changed her birthdate, which, when she was ready for Social Security, took some considerable straightening out on the part of her son Gordon.

Ruth had a stroke in her mid-70s and while visiting with her son Richard's family in Houston in 1973, she had a heart attack and died at their home. Richard arranged that she be buried in the Catholic cemetery in Houston, and later, after his death, he was buried beside her.

Other Events:

• DAR#: A047825
• Military Event: American Revolution - Road overseer, Feb 1781
• Served American Revolution?: Y
• Military Flag: Y
• Will Written: 2 Jan 1800, Montgomery County, Virginia

Notes:

Revolution source:
KEGLEY, EARLY ADVENTURES ON WESTERN WATERS, VOL 1, P 292
——
In 1775, there was a general exodus from Kentucky Co., VA due to Indian attacks. The remaining Kentuckians moved to Ft. Harrod and it is there that John Grayson was found in 1775 along with 55 others, occupying the cabins which were built by the first explorers of Kentucky.
History records the misadventures of these Kentucky Indian battles which were preludes to the American Revolution. John Grayson took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Virginia 10 November 1777 with Stephen Trigg and was sworn into Captain McCorkles' Company of Fincastle Militia. Grayson's and their kin were immediately "in the thick of it". In late August, 1776, American Colonel John Bowman arrived at Boonesboro with 100 militia from Botecourt and Montgomery Co., VA. John Grayson was probably among them, since his son Ambrose was killed there 22 August 1777.

A band of savages surrounded Logan's fort and began a second siege; several men ventured out to get a supply of corn. Six of Colonel Bowman's Militiamen, well in advance of the larger body were approaching the fort. The retiring Indians fired on the advance party and three casualties were sustained; Ambrose Grayson, John's son, and Jonas Menefee and Samuel Ingram were wounded.

ON THE BODY OF GRAYSON, THE SAVAGES HAD LEFT SEVERAL COPIES OF THE BRITISH PROCLAMATION SIGNED COLONEL HAMILTON, WHO IN 1777 HAD RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE KING TO EMPLOY INDIANS AGAINST THE COLONISTS. THE REVOLUTION HAD BEGUN ON THE FRONTIER.

During the period 1777-1780 it can be imagined how neighbors had to decide against or for neighbors to determine who would remain loyal to the King (Tory) and who would become a rebel(Patriot). The Graysons had been in good standing with the British authorities in America and had held office and worked with them, so it can be expected that they would be hesitant to cast their lot with the "rebels" who were trying to overthrow the King. Even though the Graysons and their neighbors did not refuse to fight the Indians, they at first refused to join the "rebels". By 1780, the Graysons and many of their friends and neighbors who had remained loyal to the King, were tried as "loyalists" and labeled "Tories". In August, 1780 they were tried by the Justices of Botecourt and Montgomery Counties. There is no proof of outcome of their trial, but it is proven that at that time, they all enlisted in the Army of the Revolution of General George Washington. John Grayson was in Captain Stephen Trigg's Virginia Militia.

John Grayson made his will 2 January 1800, Montgomery Co., VA, Will Book 1, pg. 156.
Military Service: 1777 Virginia Militia in Revolution.

John married Barbary MNU. Barbary died in ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Cause of Death: Poor health

Notes:

He was known to have run away from home according to family oral history. "We are aware of a rift between Newton Adams and his family since he ran away from home. Newton was said to have been a strong headed, rebellious man." (Letter from Gordon Kratz.)

Norton was 24 years old at the time of his marriage to 16 year old Nettie Gibbs.

He signs his letters to his wife Nettie as NJA, which substantiates his middle initial as being J rather than E which appears on some census records.

The copies of the correspondence from Newton J Adams to Nettie, is all from the last two years of his life. He was writing from what sounds like "baths", living as a resident in them, and seeing doctors regularly. and speaks in his letters about his health and appetite.

Newton J Adams indentured for 7500 for real estate in the County of Sedgwick, Kansas, Lots 3 and 4 of NW quarter of Section 5, and lots 1 and 2 and the south half of the north east quarter of section 5, all in Township 27 south, range 1 West of the 6th principal meridian, and containing 240 acres, more or less.

Newton died six months after this warranty deed. In 1912, Nettie transferred ownership of this land to their daughter, Bessie Faye Tyson.

Newton married Annette Nettie L. GIBBS on 7 Jul 1878. Annette (daughter of William J. GIBBS and Lidia LEATHERBURY) was born in Mar 1862 in Switzerland County, Indiana; died in in Ohio or Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Born in Switzerland County, Indiana. She had 7 children. Occupationaccording to Harold Victor Adams' birth certificate information wasrecorded as "housewife." She was 16 years old at the time of her marriageto Newton.

I have a photocopy of a news clipping with photos of her parents, Mr. andMrs. Wm. J. Gibbs of Sugar Branch, celebrating their 63rd year ofmarriage. William was 85 years of age at the time of the photo and storyand his wife, Lyidia Gibbs, was 84. A copy of that is included in thefamily album.

Nettie, after her husband's death in 1905, eventually lived with herdaughters: Bessie and Ruth each had her for a time. From correspondenceand legal papers, Nettie was extremely difficult to live with and causedproblems for her daughters. Nettie also stayed with her son Rexford for atime, but that did not work out either. For the most part, Nettie livedwith her daughter Ruth, running up very high bills and being verydifficult with Gordon and Richard, Ruth's sons, who were both living withher at the time. That ended when Ruth had to take Nettie to stay withRex, as Gordon and Richard were going to leave if Nettie didn't. Rexcould only keep her for a short time, then Nettie went to live withAlice. Alice signed a warrant for Ruth's arrest for nonsupport of Nettie.The judge asked to see Nettie and was told she was in far too ill-healthto come to the court, and without any warning the court adjourned toNettie's house, where Nettie was discovered to be quite healthy and fit.After learning that Ruth was supporting herself and two sons, heexonerated Ruth from the arrest warrant and the charges of non-support ofNettie, her mother.

Josie Kratz, daughter-in-law of Ruth Elaine Adams Greenwood Kratz,recalled meeting Nettie when Nettie was 89, and found her vigorous,difficult and controlling.

I have a copy of a Deed of Conveyance transferring ownership (for $1) ofthe property in Kingman County, Kansas, which Newton purchased 6 monthsbefore his death, to Bessie Faye Tyson, in June of 1912. The Deed ofConveyance was performed in the County of Carroll, state of Kentucky.

Ambrose married Alice SHARPE. Alice was born in 1704 in Fairfax, Fairfax, Virginia; died about 1752 in Culpeper, Culpeper, Virginia; was buried in unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Tanner and currier, farmer
• Military Event: Civil War - 50th IN Inf, Co 3, Sharpshooters: Sgt
• Served Civil War?: Y
• Military Flag: Y

Notes:

Thomas Frederick Adams was born four months after the death of his father, Thomas Adams.

Thomas Frederick had two brothers, Albert and Charles, and two sisters, Caroline and Harriet, who were all likely born in York County, Limerick, Maine, where their parents, Thomas Adams and Betsey Dolloff lived on a farm. He also had 7 half-brothers and sisters, born to his father's first wife, Mary Perry.

The early Maine census records only name heads of households. No children names and ages, or spousal names are listed. Having "run away" from home at the age of 13, Thomas Frederick Adams never appears in the Maine Census records.

Following his youthful adventures at sea, Thomas Frederick Adams established himself in Indiana, where his mother and his brother Albert (and his wife and two children) had previously moved, and in December of 1847, Thomas F Adams married Lucy Cole, in Switzerland County, Indiana, per the Indiana Marriage Index. There were many large Cole families in the county at that time.

The children of Thomas Frederick Adams and Lucy (Cole) Adams listed in the 1860 Indiana census for Switzerland County, Cotton Township, were Lewis J. age 12, Harriet E. age 10, John W. age 7, Newton E. age 2, and Charley A. age 1. In the previous census, in 1850, Thomas Frederick Adams is not listed, but Lucy Adams is listed, with her one year old son,Lewis.

Thomas Frederick Adams' second wife was Melissa Downey, who was listed with him in that 1860 census record. Information for that marriage came from the Indiana Marriage Index 1851-1900. At the time of the 1860 enumeration, Melissa was age 25, born in Indiana and a daughter, Leora is mentioned for the first time in that census record, along with all the previous children in that 1860 census. It is not known why Leora was not in previous census listings with the family. Dates would indicate that Leora is a child of Thomas Frederick Adams by Lucy Cole.

Following the death of Melissa, in 1864, Thomas Frederick Adams marriedf or the third time, to Rebecca Dickerson. (Her last name is seen to have at least four various spellings in the various records.) She had six children following their marriage, and those children's names are listed in the 1880 Switzerland County, Indiana, census: Thomas, Rebeca (sic), and the children, Elsie, Edith, Silvester (sic), Charlotte, Lenny, and Alma.

What records exist, indicate that Thomas Frederick had six children by Lucy Cole, none by Melissa Downey, and six by Rebecca Dickerson.

The 1880 Switzerland County, Cotton Township, Indiana Census, (microfilmT9-313), also lists Thomas' father as being from Maine, and for the first time provided the information that his mother was from New Hampshire. That census stated his age to be 52, 53 or 55. The age is barely legible. His occupation is listed as farmer. His Dwelling # was 83 in 1880.

The following "history" was passed down through Deborah Ray Piper's lineof descent from Albert C Adam Sr. This story of Thomas Frederick Adams was first an oral family history which eventually was committed to writing and published in a genealogical reference: "History of Switzerland County, Indiana from their earliest settlement" Chicago: Weakley, Harraman & Co., Publishers, 1885 - page 1185 & 1186, Biographical Sketches.

"A retired representative of the agricultural interest of Pratt County, Kansas, Thomas had seen much of life, and that in many climes. At the age of 82 he was still in active and robust health. At the age of 78 he was living on Section 2, Township 28, of Valley Township, near the village of Cunningham, Kansas.

"He was a native of Maine, of a mixed English and Irish descent. He was a tanner and a currier (sic) by trade.

"As a boy, at the age of 13, Thomas Frederick Adams was apprenticed tothe trade of carpentry, being bound to a carpenter at Randolph,Massachusetts. Being a lad of independent spirits and the service to thecarpenter not to his liking, he ran away, and at New Bedford,Massachusetts, at the age of 13, he shipped out in a whaler. This ship,called the "John Howland," (see Family Album) was bound for the SouthPacific on a long cruise. Thomas spent the following three and one-halfyears on this cruise. The voyage took in many of the islands of thePacific. On one occasion, while the ship was putting into the "SocietyIslands" for water and provisions, the cry of "Thar She Blows" came fromthe man on lookout, and boats were quickly lowered. All haste was madetowards a school of whales led by an enormous specimen. Thomas was in theprow of a boat, and pulled the after-oar, and his boat was fortunateenough to get to it first, succeeding in killing the whale. It was a 100foot long whale, yielding 100 barrels of oil. It will be of interest inpassing that one tooth of this gigantic monster weighed two pounds andmeasured eight inches in length, and eight inches in circumference. As asouvenir of his life at sea, he brought home such a whale's tooth, onwhich was neatly engraved a picture of the ship on which he had sailed.During his voyage, he passed through many exciting and dangerousadventures, at one time being in a boat when it was stove-in by an angrywhale, and he came near to being drowned.

"Returning to New Bedford at the end of the cruise, Thomas again shippedout on board another vessel, this one being a US Man of War, the"Cumberland," an historic frigate which in later years, during the CivilWar, was sunk by the Merrimack at Hampton Roads. At the time that Thomastook sail on her (he was 16 years old), she was bound for theMediterranean squadron. It was her maiden cruise. She was made theflagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. Her captain was Samuel L. Breeze,and the commander of the squadron was a Commodore Smith. Thomas served onboard the Cumberland for three years, during which time he was in everyport in the Mediterranean Sea.

"He next took service at the age of 19 on the Montezuma, bound forValparizo, with a large cargo of merchandise. Thomas was engaged in thisservice on the sea and lakes for five years, until he was 24 years ofage, in 1847. His last voyage was from San Francisco to New Bedford. Uponthat occasion, he went to visit his widowed mother, who was now living inSwitzerland County, Indiana. His brother, Albert C Adams Sr and his wife,were already living there.

"He was prevailed upon to quit the sea, and he then located in that areaof Indiana. There he married Lucy Cole, who bore him six children. Shedied prior to the Civil War.

"His second marriage was to Melissa Downey, with whom he lived forseveral years, until the outbreak of the Civil War.

"He enlisted in October of 1861 in the 50th Indiana Infantry, Company 3,with Captain Percy Rouse and Colonel Ayrus Dunham commanding theregiment. This regiment was composed largely of Indiana deer hunters andsaw a great deal of service as sharp-shooters. They were in advance ofmany battles, and were later sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, where theyfought Price continuously for 42 days. There were scarcely any of themilitary leaders of the south that the regiment was not pitted against,including Forest, Morgan, and others. At the battle of Camiden, Thomasreceived a bad wound through the leg, and was also struck a glancing blowover his left eye by a mini ball.

"At the Battle of the Green River Bridge, he received a severe saberwound, having volunteered for special duty, the object being to capture16 of Morgan's men who had become isolated from their company. They weresurrounded in a farm house, but were too quick for their pursuers, andsucceeded in reaching horses. They made a bad fight of it, and one ofthem singled out Mr. Adams, and riding furiously upon him, slashedviciously with his saber, but was neatly picked off his horse by Mr.Adams' bayonet, but in the action, Mr. Adams was not able to prevent athrust from the saber of his enemy. From the effects of this wound, helater became disabled, and it was years before he recovered. He wasdischarged from Indianapolis in 1864 for disability, having served assergeant of his company during the latter part of his participation inthe war.

"During his absence, Mr. Adams' second wife, Melissa Downey, had died. Hefound a mother for his children in Rebecca Dickinson.

"In 1884, when Thomas Frederick Adams was 61 years old, he and his thirdwife, Rebecca, moved to the great state of Kansas, where they located inPratt County and homesteaded 160 acres in Valley Township. Here he put upthe usual shelter of that period, a home made of sod, 16 feet by 30 feetin size. There they lived for the next seven years while they raisedtheir new family. He then bought a house in the village of Cairo, andmoved the house to his farm. There he engaged in farming and raisingstock. The farm on which he lived was one of the most valuable farms inthe county, and it was well improved by him, and had good buildings andfences appropriate to a farm of the times. He had 70 head of fine cattleand other animals such as are found on an ordinary ranch.

"For the first few years of his life in Kansas, he engaged in active workon the farm himself, but in later years, had turned the management overto his son, Sylvester, who had taken over the responsibility for hisfather."

Thomas married Lucy COLE on 27 Sep 1847 in Switzerland County, Indiana. Lucy (daughter of Thomas COLE and Reumah) was born on 23 Oct 1831 in Switzerland County, Indiana; died on 23 Aug 1859 in Switzerland County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Lidia LEATHERBURY on 17 Mar 1844 in Sugar Branch, Switzerland, Indiana. Lidia was born on 19 May 1822. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Lyda
• Birth: 19 May 1823, Indiana