Paul Kreft, Kate McIntyre and their children

The fifth child of Patrick McIntyre (c1831-1901) and Bridget Stevens (c1829-1908) is Catherine/Katherine/Kate McIntyre (1861-1914). Kate married Paul Ludwig Ferdinand Kreft (1848-1900) in California in 1878. Paul and Kate had eight children together.

Paul and Kate Kreft

Kate McIntyre Kreft (1861-1914)
Born in Lislea, County Sligo, Ireland, she was baptized at St. Attracta Church in the Catholic Parish of Kilmacteige, County Sligo on 04 May 1861. She died 01 May 1914 in The Dalles, County Wasco, Oregon.

"Mrs. Kate Kreft (nee McIntyre) was born in county Sligo, Ireland on March 17, 1862.  While she was still a baby her parents emigrated to America, arriving in San Francisco early in 1864. In 1877 Miss McIntyre was married in San Francisco to Paul L. Kreft. Of eight children, the issue of this union, four survive their mother.  They are Mrs. Henrietta Burchtorf and Mrs. William Wells of this city, Mrs. James Keane of Portland and Paul L. Kreft of Pendleton.

Mr & Mrs. Kreft came to Oregon in the year 1879, residing for a short time on a ranch, the property of the McIntyre family. In 1880 they came to The Dalles where Mr. Kreft engaged in business until a serious illness forced him to retire.  He lingered on in an invalid condition for over a year, and passed away on July 23, 1900.

Of Mrs. Kreft's faithfulness and loyalty as a wife and mother; her devotion to Mr. Kreft during his last illness when for many months she never left his bedside; of the energy and industry she displayed in providing and caring for her family, it is needless to write, as all the persons concerned are well acquainted with the facts.

It is chiefly an account of her indomitable courage, patience and cheerfulness in the face of veritable mountains of sorrows and misfortune that her memory will be cherished by her numerous friends and acquaintances. This is not the place in which to recount the many vicissitudes through which Mrs. Kreft and her family passed. Suffice it to say that seldom does it fall to the lot of one mother or one family to be visited as they were. But, through all, Mrs. Kreft maintained a brave and cheery disposition, with which was combined Christian charity, and a generosity that was almost a fault - every ready to nurse the sick, aid the needy, console the unfortunate.

Surely, if charity be the greatest virtue, this sweet and noble soul has earned and received the welcome greeting of its maker - "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Source: The Dalles Daily Chronicle, May 4, 1914. Received from Dolly Purcell, via email, May 4, 2014

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Photo Source: Find A Grave memorial #44992852, created by Dolly Purcell, 1 Dec 2009.


Paul Ludwig Ferdinand Kreft (1848-1900)

Born 20 May 1848 in  in Neufahrwasser, Westpreussen, Preussen, Germany (Prussia) to Carl August Kreft and Dorothea Henriette Stein. Paul arrived in California when he was a teenager. Paul died 23 Jul 1900. 

"After a long and painful illness, Paul Kreft died at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at his home in this city, aged 52 years, 2 months and 3 days.

Mr. Keft (sic) was born in Danizer, Prussia, May 20, 1848, and came to California when 16 years of age, residing there until 1881, when he came to The Dalles, making this his home until the time of his death. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Kate McIntyre in San Francisco.  She and six children, Henriette, Bertha, Charles, Edward, Paul and Nellie, survive him, while two children have preceded him to the grave, one daughter having been killed in a runaway accident here four years ago.

Mr. Kreft was a painter by trade, and for several years conducted a paint store here.  For the past years his health has been failing, and a few months since he went to San Francisco, hoping to gain relief, but his malady was incurable, and since his return home he has patiently awaited his final summons.  He was an honored member of Mt. Hood camp, W. O. W., and was universally respected by the entire community.

During his residence in The Dalles Mr. Kreft held a number of official positions, and on the death of Dr. Rhinehart, who was major, he was selected by the council to serve the unexpired term as chief executive of the city."

Source believed to be: The Dalles Daily Chronicle, July 24, 1900. Original copy provided by Dolly Purcell, May 5, 2014.

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Photo Source: Find A Grave memorial# 15203681, created by Piper 9 Aug 2006, maintained by Dolly Purcell.

Paul and Kate had eight children

May Alice Kreft (1879-1880)
Alice was living with her mother, Kate, and her grandparents in June, 1880 in Highland Point, Oregon. She was eight months old when she died on July 23, 1880. Alice is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, California. For information on Alice, see this post written on her.

Frances Elizabeth Kreft (1881-1896)
She was born 25 August 1881 and baptized on 13 Oct 1881 at St. John Parish, Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon. When she was just 15 years old she was dragged by a runaway horse and buggy and died from the injuries on 29 July 1896 in The Dalles, Oregon. She is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Wasco, Oregon.

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family," May 31, 2020; Ellen McIntyre Stanton (Sp) October 5, 1965 letter. Gravestone Find A Grave, memorial# 15413900, created 18 Aug 2006 by Piper, maintained by Dolly Purcell. 


Henrietta Clara Kreft Burchtorf (1883-1962)
Born 25 May 1883 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon, Henrietta married Edward Burchtorf. She died 06 Jul 1962 in Portland Oregon and is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon.

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family" May 31, 2020; Oregonian 8 July 1962 page 42; Oregon Journal 10 July 1962; and The Dalles Chronicle 07 July 1962. Gravestone from Find A Grave, created by Piper 9 Aug 2006, maintained by Dolly Purcell.



Agnes Bertha Kreft Keane (1885-1967)
She was born 29 Sept 1885 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon and baptized 08 Oct 1885 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, The Dalles. She married James Keane.  She went by the name Bertha during her life and died 06 May 1967.  She is buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon with her husband, James.

Mount Calvary Cemetery, Portland, Oregon

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family" May 31, 2020; FindAGrave memorial 134709413 created by J McL, 22 Aug 2014; US SS Application and Claims Index for Bertha Kreft Keane on Ancestry.com.



Charles August Kreft (1887-1904)

Charles was born 7 August 1887 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon and was baptized on 04 Sep 1887 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in The Dalles. He died from a drowning accident at 16 years of age on 10 July 1904 in The Dalles. He is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles. 

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family" May 31, 2020; FindAGrave memorial 15203666, created by Piper on 9 Aug 2006; maintained by Dolly Purcell.



Edward William Kreft (1890-1910)
Born on 20 Feb 1890 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon, Edward died of tuberculosis on 26 Nov 1910. He was only 20 years old. Edward is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles.

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family," May 31, 2020 including Oregon State board of Health #3638 and Wasco County Vital Statistics; FindAGrave, memorial #44828039, created by Dolly Purcell, 26 Nov 2009.




Paul Louis Frederick Kreft (1893-1975)
Paul was born in The Dalles, Wasco County Oregon on 30 Mar 1893. He married twice, once to Ella Luella Lewis in 1913 and then to Anna Elizabeth Jones on 04 Sep 1927. He died in Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho on 22 Jun 1975. He is buried in Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho with his second wife, Anna.

Twin Falls Cemetery, Idaho

Sources: Find A Grave, memorial# 44824576, created by Dolly Purcell, 26 Nov 2009. Photo by ForeverRemembered.

Ellen Marie "Nell" Kreft (1895-1918)
Born on 09 Mar 1895 in The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon, she married William Wells on 11 Feb 1913 and when they divorced, she restored her maiden name. She died on 27 Jan 1918 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Her death record states it was a suicide.  She is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles.

"Kreft - January 26, Nell Kreft, aged 23 years, sister of Mrs. James Keane, Mrs. Etta Burchtorf and Paul Kreft. Remains at Dunning & McEntee's parlors, from where they will be forwarded to The Dalles, Or., today (Monday) at 10 A. M."  The Morning Oregonian, 28 Jan 1918, page 12.

Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon

Sources: Dolly Purcell email "Kreft family," May 31, 2020; FindAGrave memorial #15413581 created by Piper 18 Aug 2006; maintained by Dolly Purcell; 


Special thanks to Dolly Purcell who provided the bulk of the information on the above.

Letter from Ellen McIntyre Schantin to Ella Luella Lewis Stratford, 1965

This letter written on October 5, 1965 by Ellen McIntyre Schantin, daughter of Dominick McIntyre (c1856-1932) and Mary McDonald (1868-1936), is in response to an inquiry of Ella Luella Stratford (1898-1993), the first wife of Paul Kreft (1893-1975). Ella and Paul divorced 8 Nov 1924.

Ellen was a first cousin to Paul Kreft (1893-1975), the first husband of the now Mrs. Stratford.

Letter transcription:

                                                                                                                                Portland, Oreg

                                                                                                                                Oct 5^th, 1965

Dear Mrs. Stratford: -

                Am sorry not to have answered your nice letter sooner, but it seems this is the year that everyone decided to visit me.

Had company from Calif, Wisconsin and Virginia and when the tourist season was over found had not even started the things I had intended to do.

I am the youngest (Ellen McIntyre Satantin) of the family (though not young). Am sixty seven and a widow and live alone. I have four children, seven grandchildren and soon will be Great Grandma.

Grandpa McIntyre (Patrick) lived with us for several years, but I was only three years old when he died so of course do not remember him. So about all I know is hear say.

I asked my sister (Sarah) who is six years older than I if she knew Grandma McIntyre’s maiden name and she said it was Bridget Stevens. She did not know what part of Ireland they came from or when they came over. But that they had several (5 children Edward, Bartholomew, Mary, Dominick, Kate) children when they came.

Page 2

The last aunt on the McIntyre side passed away two and a half years ago. But in the last seven or eight years she was very confused and senile. Her name was Ellen Frances Flaherty. They had no children so when her husband died, I was appointed her guardian. I put her things in a closet upstairs and there may be some family pictures among it. If there are I will send them to you. I haven’t gone through her things since she died, but must get at it sometime.

My sister (Katherine), my aunt & husband all died within eight months and it has kept me busy ever since untangling their affairs. My sister (Sarah) and I went to see Bird (Agnes Bertha Mattie Kreft) about a month ago and she was in the Hosp. so we went there and found she had fallen and broken her arm. She used to phone me about every week, but I haven’t heard from her since and hate to call her for fear she might try to answer the phone and fall again.

Page 3

She is very senile and was eighty years old Sept 30^th.  She too is quite confused. My sister says there were no other children in the Kreft family. One named Alice who died as an infant and another named Frances who was killed in a horse and buggy runaway. She also said the one you have listed as “Nettie” was Nellie. Our grandfather McIntyre’s first name was Patrick. She says she recalls hearing Bird say her father (Paul L. F. Kreft) was a seaman in San Francisco before becoming a painter.

We had our first rain in six weeks last night. So I guess our summer is over and it was a very hot one.

I don’t think I have been much help, but it is about all I know not that is hear say.

Sincerely yours,

Ellen Schantin

Notes: 

1. The red inclusion of information was provided by Dolly Kreft Purcell. 

2. The letter transcription was done by Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin.

3. Agnes Bertha Mattie Kreft, nicknamed "Bird," is the sister of Paul Kreft (1893-1975)

4. The Alice referred to in the letter is believed to be the first born child of  Paul (1848-1900) and Kate (McIntyre 1861-1914) Kreft.

Source: The original letter is held by Dolly Kreft Purcell, granddaughter of Ella Luella Lewis. It was scanned and made available on May 26, 2020.  Ellen McIntyre's married name was updated July 12, 2020.

Paul Kreft Family c 1920s

Patrick and Bridget's daughter Kate (1861-1914) married Paul Louis (Ludwig) Frederick (Ferdinand) Kreft (1848-1900) in the late 1870s/early 1880s. They had eight children, the seventh child was Paul Louis Frederick Kreft (1893-1975) and is pictured here with his first wife, Ella Luella Lewis (1898-1993).  They applied for a marriage license on 23 Jan 1913 in Wasco County, Oregon, with permission to marry granted by Paul's mother Kate, as Paul was under 21 years of age.  They later divorced on 8 November 1924 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Their two children pictured with them are Catherine Kreft Call (1915-2003) and Paul Frederick Kreft (1918-1967).

The photo was taken in the early 1920s, possibly in Idaho.

Photo source: Dolly Kreft Purcell, via email May 26, 2020. Thank you Dolly for this beautiful photo of your grandparents, father and aunt and the additional family information you provided.