John Krauss and Rosina Yeakel [11-17]

[11-17] JOHN KRAUSS, b Mar. 1, 1770; d Feb. 12, 1819; s Balthasar and Susanna (Yeakel) Krauss [11-5]; m May 11, 1795, by a Justice of the Peace to ROSINA YEAKEL, } Oct. 29, 1771; d Dec. 8, 1834; dau Melchior and Regina (Schultz) Yeakel [38-19].

Children (9):

' 7. Son, b Jan. 23, 1813; d Jan. 27, 1813.

John Krauss, probably the most scholarly of the Schwenkfelder pupils who attended the Hosensack Academy, was born, lived, and died in Kraussdale, Pa. After leaving the Academy Mr. Krauss attended a private school at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, where he became associated with David Rittenhouse, the astronomer. John Krauss was a man of many activities; he is said to have become a surveyor in 1784, at the age of fourteen, probably as a pupil of his neighbor, David Schultz. He also served as teacher in the Hosensack Academy as a young man. He is said to have been a farmer by occupation, a pipe organ builder by trade, and a surveyor by profession, spending his spate time in the study of higher mathematics including navigation and astronomy. Tradition says that he was never known to be idle, that he always had a book in his hands when sitting down. Thus by improving his spare moments he became a very learned man for his time and became a prominent surveyor, a skillful mechanic, and an accomplished mathematician. He is said to have calculated an eclipse of the sun that took place forty years afterwards, the time of the eclipse verifying his calculations. It is also said that as a young man when hauling farm products to Philadelphia he stopped at a hotel where a group of sailors were also putting up for the night. These sailors were gathered around a table evidently in deep thought. Young Krauss stood back of them looking over their shoulders for a time, and noticed that they were trying to solve a problem in navigation, but after spending a long time in making their caleulations they were forced to give up the problem. The young man volunteered to solve the problem for them—they looked at him in amazement, thinking that it would be impossible for this rough, country lad to solve a problem in navigation that they could not master, but in a short time Mr. Krauss solved the problem to their complete satisfaction. ,

John Krauss and his brother, Andrew, first started the building of organs for which the Krauss family long had a fine reputation. He also built wool carding machines when not busy with surveying and farming. There are preserved in the Schwenkfelder Historical Library at Pennsburg more than a dozen books written by John Krauss. His great-great-grandson, Charles O. Krauss of Philadelphia, has in his possession diaries kept by John Krauss covering a number of years. His books are models of neatness and accuracy. The most unique is a book describing the making of sun dials. This is illustrated

with most exquisite drawings and explains the method of making sun dials at various angles, and consists of fifty-four pages.

The year 1791 must have been an exceedingly busy one for this young man. We find at least seven manuscript books which he wrote during this period. The following are some of the interesting titles:

Die Téologische Dogmatic oder algemeine Einleitung in die Glaubnessen unsern allerheiligsten Christlichen Religion, aus einem lateinischen Compendio, ins Teutsche tibergetragen, und die Feder dictiert.

Unter dem Segen des Herrn angefangen den 21 Jultus 1791. Per Jno. Krauss.

Translation from the Gospel of John. From German to Latin. Mss. 4 to 76 pp. 12 chaps. of John to the 24th verse. JI Translatio Evangeliz Joannis e Textu germano in Linguam latinam Opera ac Studio. Joannis Krouss. Duce Georgio Carlo Stock in Schola Die XXV Mensis Januarii MDCCLXXXXI.

M. Tullii Ciceronis Laetius sive de Amicitia Dialogus ad Tu. Pomponium Praefacio. MDCCLXXXXI. Aus dem lat, tiberseizt, angefangen den 80ten Julit A. D. 1791. 4 to 76 pp. Finished August 27. Part II, contains a translation of “De Senectute.’’ 82 pp. Begun on September 5th and finished October 13.

a Joanne Krouse, Moderante G. C. Stockio opus Translationis. Part III. contains Georg. lb. 1, and lib. 2,44 pp. Finished March 14, 1792.

In 1794 he wrote a manuscript folio in English consisting of one hundred and thirty-two pages, entitled “John Krauss—his Practical and Theoretical Arithmetic.’’ Many of his drawings made while surveying are preserved, as are also his compass and chain afterwards used by his son, Anthony, and grandson, Isaac, who also followed the occupation of surveyors.

In 1812 he began the manufacture of agricultural machinery. This business was carried on successfully by his son, Anthony, and his grandsons, Isaac, Harrison, and James, until recent years. As a surveyor, scrivener, manufacturer, neighbor and citizen, John Krauss stood high in the estimate of his fellowmen.