Emil Bernhard Krausse (1827-1886) was born in Loessnitz, Saxony, and he learned the art of engraving from his oldest brother, possibly his brother Alfred. He joined the Brockhaus firm in Leipzig and accepted the opportunity when the Belcher Sugar Company requested a Brockhaus engraver to produce an engraving of St. Louis and its riverfront, particularly the company’s steamboats. Emil arrived in St. Louis in 1851 with the intention of completing the job and returning home. However, by the time he finished the engraving six months later, he had decided to remain in St. Louis.

Emil’s obituary in the Westliche Post states that his 1852 aerial view of St. Louis was his last engraving, as the profession was too hard on his eyes. He instead entered his father’s trade and opened a factory to produce dyes and other chemical and metal products. The company had a succession of names between 1857 and 1864, including Krausse, Kueck & Co. and Missouri Barytes Works, but was known as Page & Krausse from 1864 until 1902/1903, when it became Nulsen, Klein & Krausse.

Emil became a naturalized citizen in July 1854, and married Anna Louise Veerkamp (1832-1906) in 1855. Anna was brought to the United States from Germany when she was three years old. Anna’s mother, Louise Veerkamp, and sister, Mary (Maria) Hall, lived with the couple for a time around 1860.

Emil and Anna had six children, although Clemens and another child died in infancy. The four surviving children were Cornelia Louise (1859-1928); Emil Berhnad, Jr. (1862-1936); Hedwig “Hattie” Alwina (1867-1927); and Selma Ottilia (1871-1957).

Cornelia married Louis D. Vogel (1853-1929). They had at least one son, Clifford Vogel.

Emil married Annie Blue (1864-1941) and entered into the family business, working for a time at Page & Krausse.

Hedwig married Albert Stocker (1859-1920). Their daughter, Cornelia Louise Stocker (born 1896), married Albert Plumer. Cornelia and Albert had at least one daughter, Alberta Plumer Schlesinger.

Selma married Frederick Charles Papendick (1865-1946). Their only daughter, Lucille, was born in 1900.

Biographical information taken from a family history written by Lucille Papendick in 1971 (see Archives Department: Alphabetical File - Krausse, Emil).