Arnold Krekel facts for kids

Arnold Krekel (born March 12, 1815 – died July 14, 1888) was an important United States District Judge. He served in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Early Life and Career

Arnold Krekel was born in a place called Langenfeld, which was then part of Prussia in the German Confederation. This was before Germany became one country. In 1832, when he was 17, he moved to the United States.

He went to St. Charles College in Missouri. Instead of going to law school, he studied law on his own. This was a common way to become a lawyer back then. He became a lawyer in 1844.

Working in Missouri

Krekel worked as a surveyor in St. Charles County, Missouri. A surveyor measures and maps land. He also served as a justice of the peace from 1841 to 1843. A justice of the peace is a local official who handles small legal cases and keeps the peace.

From 1846 to 1850, he was a lawyer for the city of St. Charles and St. Charles County. He also worked as an editor for a newspaper called the St. Charles Democrat for many years, from 1850 to 1864. In 1852, he became a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, which is part of Missouri's state government.

Civil War Service

During the American Civil War, Arnold Krekel joined the Union Army. He was a colonel, which is a high-ranking officer, leading a group of volunteers from Missouri.

After the war, in 1865, he became the President of Missouri's state constitutional convention. This was a very important meeting. During this convention, Missouri approved a special statement that officially ended slavery in the state.

Becoming a Federal Judge

President Abraham Lincoln chose Arnold Krekel to become a federal judge. On March 6, 1865, Lincoln nominated him for a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The United States Senate approved his nomination just three days later, on March 9, 1865. He started his job as a judge on that same day.

Judge Krekel served as a federal judge for many years. He retired from his position on June 9, 1888.

Other Important Work

Besides being a judge, Arnold Krekel also taught law. He was a lecturer at the University of Missouri School of Law from 1872 to 1875.

He also helped start the Lincoln Institute, which later became Lincoln University. This school was important because it provided education for African Americans after the Civil War. Krekel worked with James Milton Turner, an African American leader, to raise money for the school.

He is also known for naming the town of O'Fallon, Missouri. He named it after his friend, John O'Fallon.

Later Life and Death

Arnold Krekel passed away on July 14, 1888, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Charles, Missouri.