It
is a fact freely conceded that America has no better citizens than those
sons of the Fatherland who have cast in their lot with the people of this
country, becoming thoroughly identified with every institution, upholding
our laws and working for the good of the community in which their home is
made. Such a valued citizen is Charles Struever, a member of the firm of
Struever & Son, of Peru, LaSalle county.
Born in Gottingen, province of Hanover, Germany, July 15, 1816, our subject
is a son of George and Dorothea (Biel) Struever, both of whom were natives
of the province of Hanover, Germany, where they passed their entire lives.
The father was a forester by occupation, and for half a century was in the
employ of a wealthy landholder, von Bodenhausen, whose extensive forests he
looked after. He was honest, industrious and faithful to the interests of
his employer, and was respected by all who were associated with him in any
manner. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and reared their
children in that faith. The father died about 1886, when at an advanced age,
and the mother departed this life in 1871. Of their four sons and four
daughters but two are now living, — Charles and William, — the latter being
a resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Those who have passed away are Augusta,
who died unmarried; George, who died in the war of the rebellion; Sophia,
who became the wife of Mr. Schimmelpfennig; Betty, who married a Mr.
Scheidermann; Louis, whose widow still lives in Strasburg; and Jeannetta,
who married a man named Annaker.
Charles Struever obtained a liberal education in the common schools of his
native land, and later received private instruction in special lines of
study, and spent two years in Gottingen University. When he had arrived at
his majority he was called home in order to draw cuts that it might be
determined whether or not he was to serve for a period in the regular army,
the result being that he was absolved. For six years he held a responsible
position as overseer of a farm in Mecklenburg, after which he acted in a
similar capacity for Minister von Trott. While there he became acquainted
with the late Mr. von Baumbach, of Milwaukee, who induced the young man to
accompany him to the United States, in 1849. Von Baumbach purchased a farm
in the vicinity of Elyria, Ohio, in Lorain county, and his son, aided by Mr.
Struever, attended to the cultivation of the place. At the end of two years
our subject removed to Wisconsin, where he bought a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in Winnebago county, not far from Oshkosh. Subsequently he added
another quarter section of land to his original farm, on which he made
material improvements. In 1854 he sold the property to Mr. von Baumbach, and
soon afterward he came to Peru, where he has dwelt ever since, engaged in
various enterprises. At first he carried on a grocery for a couple of years.
Becoming local agent for the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, in the
purchase of coal lands, he bargained for several farms, and thus was
initiated into his present line of business. For many years he has been one
of the leading real-estate men of this section of the state, and he also
represents most of the first-class insurance companies.
Almost half a century ago Mr. Struever was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Minthorn, who is still sharing his joys and sorrows. Their marriage was
celebrated at Elyria, Ohio, September 17, 1851, and they became the parents
of two children, Doretta and Rudolph F. The daughter wedded Charles Bolster
and lived on a farm at Sugar Grove, near Aurora, Illinois. She died, leaving
a little son, who was taken to the home of our subject, but when he was
about two years and a half old he was called away to the better land.
Rudolph F. has been associated with his father in business for the past
eleven years, and is an able young man. He married Miss Mary Huntoon, and
they have one child, Charles, named in honor of his grandfather.
A few months after his coming to Peru Mr. Struever bought a house on Fifth
avenue, and, since remodeling it, has now made it his home for about
forty-five years. He is active as a Republican; was one of the first city
marshals of Peru, and for four years served the public as county coroner.
Socially he has been a member of Mokena Lodge, No. 34, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, for many years. Though Lutherans in religious faith, Mr. and
Mrs. Struever have not identified themselves with any church. They enjoy the
friendship of all who know them, and few are better known in Peru. Mrs.
Struever was born in Torringford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, February
15, 1828. Her parents were Hiram and Hulda (Cowles) Minthorn; father born in
Torrington, Connecticut, of Holland ancestors, and her mother was born in
Litchfield, same state, of English descent. When eight years of age her
parents removed to Elyria, Ohio, where she was married. Mrs. Struever was a
school teacher in early life, in Ohio for a time and in Peru five years.
Extracted 17 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 490-492.
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