Today’s random image is of the Krueger blacksmith shop in Bern, Kansas.
The local newspapers provide a bit more information about Otto Krueger and his blacksmith shop.
Washington Items.
Married! married! married! Four weddings in one week; but the most notable was the marriage of Otto Krueger, the blacksmith at the coal mines, and Miss Harvey, on Friday, April 16. The boys gave them a grand Charivari, and Mr. Krueger treated them to a keg of beer and some cigars and all went merry. (Courier Democrat 30 April 1886)
OTTO KRUEGER,
Blacksmith shop. Does everything in the blacksmithing line. Horseshoeing a specialty. All kinds of plow work done to order. Call and see him. (Seneca News 11 June 1891)
Krueger’s blacksmith shop was a very busy place last Saturday. Farmers came in early and late with plows and listers for repairs. Three men were busy at the forges from early morn until 8 o’clock in the evening. (Bern Press, 8 May 1896)
O. F. Krueger, the blacksmith of Bern, was in this city last Tuesday on business. Mr. Krueger has been having very poor health the past year and contemplates retiring from business in the near future.
—Seneca Courier-Democrat. (published in the Bern Gazette 13 Sept 1901)
How little is this world was exemplified the other day when Otto Krueger, formerly of Bern, moved to this place to make it his home. Otto Krueger and Bill Herman, the garage man and bridge-builder, were young men on the same farm near Berlin, Germany. Otto tended the still, and William looked after the cows. After forty years they meet in Sabetha. (Seneca Tribune 29 Jun 1911)