Craemer was a Norwegian Lutheran missionary. He was born in Bavaria on May 27, 1812. After studying theology at Erlangen and languages at Munich, he was imprisioned, 1833-1839. In 1845 he was ordained and left Germany for the Cass River of Michigan as the head and minister of a group of Lutherans who planned to form a mission to the Indians. He arrived in Frankenlust, on July 10, 1845. Craemer married Dorothea Benthien, an unmarried woman with a son, before leaving Germany, which promoted dissension among the settlers. Together the Craemers had at least three children. Initially the shocked congregation rejected Craemer because of his marriage, although they were later reconciled. Pastor Sievers was the mission society director. E. R. Baierlein established Bethany Mission and led it, 1847-1853. Miessler served as the Bethany Mission's leader, 1853-1866. The Bethany Mission eventually moved to St. Louis (Mich.), closing in 1860. It was particularly active, 1848-1860. It's relocation to St. Louis (Mich.) effectively stopped the conversion of Michigan Ojibwas to Lutheranism. (For further information see the book entitled, Teach My People the Truth: the Story of Frankenmuth Michigan.).
From the description of Correspondence, 1847,2005. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 42346089
