This story was told by Alois Kruse about a time in
1919-1920 following the death of his mother, infant
brother, and grandfather of the Spanish Flu in January
1919. Walt & Dee Kruse had found in the 1920
Census that Alois (6) was living with his Uncle
Alois Siebold & Aunt Josephine Kruse Siebold in
Floresville Texas and Gerard (4) & Barbara (2)
were living with their Uncle Clemens Kruse & Aunt
Anna Real Kruse also living in Floresville Texas.
Following the death of his wife, Anna Maria Hillmeyer
Kruse, Nickolaus decided to keep the family together
on his farm near Selma Texas. But taking care of such
young children proved to a bigger job than he had
expected, since he was often away – working in
the fields and such. After they got out of school each
day, Dorothy (11 years old at the time) and Marie (10)
had to keep an eye on the younger children. Leonard
(8) would help Nickolaus with farm chores after he got
out of school. During the day there was no one to
watch the three younger ones. Even so, it appeared to
be working out alright until one day when two of his
kids were up to a little mischief. Alois and Gerard
were playing in the attic of the old farmhouse where
some cotton bales were stored. They struck a match and
lit the cotton. Nickolaus was out working in the field
(luckily he happened to be pretty near the house at
the time), saw the flames, ran home and threw the
cotton bales out the window before the fire caused too
much damage. It very easily could have burned the
house down and maybe been catastrophic for the two
young boys.
The incident with the fire caused Nickolaus to have
doubts about being able to take care of the little
children by himself. He decided it would be better for
all if he had some help. So Alois went to live with
his Uncle Alois & Aunt Josephine and Gerard &
Barbara went to live with their Uncle Clemens &
Aunt Anna. This arrangement lasted about a year and a
half until Dorothy finished school, probably in May
1921. Now she was home all day and could take care of
the younger kids. So Alois, Gerard, and Barbara moved
back home and the family was together again for good.
This story has been brought to you Alois B. Kruse,
through Clay Kruse and Walt Kruse.
