Clinton D. W. Cramer/Creamer

  General Notes:

It appears that Clinton and his brother, Stephen, went to live and work in Chicago: The 1910 Federal Census for Chicago, Ward 18, Cook Co., Illinois, District 818, page 177A records Clinton Cremer (55 - Illinois/PA/PA) working as a laborer. He is lodging at the Volunteers of America Lodging House on West Madison Street. The 1910 Federal Census for Chicago, Ward 20, Cook Co., Illinois, District 892, page 269A records Stephen Cremer (50 - Illinois/PA/Illinois) working as a laborer. He is lodging at the home of Frank and Mande Conklin at 2114 DeKalb Street. Both Clinton and Stephen are unmarried.

The 1920 Federal Census for Urbana, Ward 4, Champaign Co., Ohio, District 23, page 243B records Clinton Cramer (61 - Indiana/Indiana/Indiana) as an uncle living in the home of Harry (37 - Ohio/Ohio/Indiana) and Velona (31 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) Groves at 412 West Light Street. Harry and Velona have children Hazel E. (12 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), Harriet C. (8 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), Helen L. (6 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), and Harry C. (4 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio). Harry is a teamster at a Coal Yard. The places of birth are a bit strange and how Clinton can be an "uncle" is perplexing.

The death certificate for Clinton D. Cramer records his birth date as 1862 and his date of death as July 22, 1924 in the City of Urbana, Ohio. His parents are George Cramer and Sarah Gillem (?) of Pennsylvania. He died of "Atrophic cirrhosis of liver" over a 9 month period. He is to be buried in Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana on July 25, 1924. The informant was Mrs. Lizzie Gunmerman (?) [This is Clinton's sister, Lizzie Cramer Zimmerman ... see Clinton's obit below] of Springfield, [in Clark Co. just south of Urbana] Ohio. From the mother's name I was able to determine Clinton's maternal grand parents ... see note on his mother, Sarah J. Gillem.

Email on April 10, 2007
From: Pat Stickley <pats@ctcn.net>
Subject: cramer research
To: lhagen@vt.edu
Obit from 'Urbana Daily Citizen' Thurs 24 July 1924 Clinton Cramer who lived alone in a room in the Wicker-Warnock-Brand building on N Main St died Tuesday at the county hospital where he was taken some time ago for medical treatment; death due to liver problems. He was 66 years of age and never married. Survived by sister Mrs Zimmerman of Springfield and nephew Harry Groves Urbana. Buried in Oak Dale Cem. Urbana.

The 1930 Federal Census for Urbana, Ward 4, Champaign Co., Ohio, District 24, page 234A records Harry C. (48 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) and Velora (42 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) Groves at 653 London Street. Harry and Velona have children Catherine (12 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), Harry C. (15 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), Warren G. (8 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio), and Howard E. (1/12 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio). Harry and Velora have been married 24 years.

For a real twist ... in trying to determine how Clinton Cramer can be an "Uncle" to Harry Groves this researcher looked for the family in the 1910 census and found the following: The 1910 Federal Census for Urbana, Ward 4, Champaign Co., Ohio, District 23, page 264A records Harry C. (27 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) and Velora (22 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) Groves with their daughter Hazel E. (3) living at 412 West Light Street. Harry is a Teamster in a Lumber Mill. Also in the household is Philip A. (73 - Ohio/VA/VA) and Elizabeth (70 - Ohio/VA/VA) Huff who have been married for 53 years.

Further research into 1900 reveals some interesting facts about Harry Huff/Groves: The 1900 Federal Census for Urbana, Ward 4, Champaign Co., Ohio, District 23, page 257B records the adopted son Harry Huff (March 1882 - Ohio/Ohio/Ohio) with his parents Philip A. (Jan 1838 - Ohio/VA/VA) and Elizabeth (Dec 1838 - VA/VA/VA) Huff living at 544 North Russell Street. Harry and Philip are Day Laborers. Philip and Elizabeth have been married for 43 years. Philip dies on 21 Jun 1914 while Elizabeth dies on 21 Mar 1911. Harry then probably goes back to his "real" surname. Perhaps Harry is the illegitimate child of Clinton's brother. Actually, the 1860 and 1870 census for Urbana records a Grove family living with Clinton's uncle Henry Cramer. This could be a possible connection as well.