FRANK KROTH
by Lorah Kroth
     Early pioneer, born in Civil War period, came to Buck's drove community in a covered wagon at the age of four to the old homestead. How often in later years of his life has he sat and told the stories to his children and granchildren and others, of the advancement and development - the changes that have taken place from the early pioneer period to the present day. He saw oxen-team at work, the first roads laid out, schools, churches, post offices, stores and railroads built. He saw fine homes replace log cabins, new machinery take the place of the old cradle for grain, prices of laborers change from fifty cents per day to the present wage. People in later years began to come to ask him for the history of some development in the community or to inquire of the coming of their family to the neighborhood. This "Uncle Frank" knew and loved to think back over it and tell it. After his conversion (at the age of nineteen), Christ had first place in his life. He established the family alter in his home, and after his children had left for homes of their own, he sat and read his Bible each day and sought God's abiding presence and guidance, not only for himself but for all for whom he thought "he should pray". He served in almost every capacity of his church and community, rendering sixty-six years of faithful ser- vice to his Master. After old age and infirmities crept upon him, he was forced to give up most community activities, but spent many hours by his radio and in his gardens which he enjoyed so much. His honesty, generosity, friendship and advice won for him a place of highest esteem in associations which today has become a "most beautiful memory" as we look back and say he truly loved to live. No greater tribute could be paid than that of boys of his former Sunday School class, who while in service of World War II wrote him; "We realize now in our association with other boys that we received in a little country church at Buck's Grove under your Christian leadership, a training that many others never had. The memory of your influence has been to us a source of strength."


FRANK JACOB KROTH

Family Memoirs
by
Lorah Kroth
and
Lilah Kroth Huffman

    Our parents went to housekeeping September 1, 1891, on the Jacob Loughmiller homestead which our father, Frank Kroth, had previously farmed for several years. Our mother, Fannie Graham, was born in Ohio and came to Kansas at the age of eleven. Before


38


Next Page
To the Table of Contents
To Roger Kroth's Homepage