STROUSE FAMILY HISTORY
Strauss was the original spelling although it is said that it was once Van Strauss. Lester Clayton Strouse appeared to be the only ancestor who changed the name to Strouse until one of his brother, Hermann's descendants recently contacted us and we learned that he too had changed his spelling to Strouse. The family changed the name due to hatred towards those of German descent during World War II.
Peter Strauss and Phoebe Hines, both of Germany settled in Stark County, Ohio. They had seven children and we are only certain of two, Daniel and Jacob who settled in the Laketon, Indiana area. Recently, I found some Wabash County marriage records that show an Adam Strauss married to Lavilla Eby on December 29, 1867; Abraham Strouse married to Sarah Newberger on December 27, 1871; and Daniel Strouse married to Melissa Eby on October 3, 1865. Because both Adam and Daniel married Eby sisters, I think we can safely assume that they are brothers. Also, the name Abraham would fall in with the other biblical names of Jacob, Daniel and Adam. There is no further information at this time on Peter, but Phoebe's obituary shows her as Daniel's mother and that she died in May of 1893 in Huntington, Wabash County, Indiana.
Other Wabash County records show a Clara E. Strauss married to William Sherwood on September 14, 1898 and Melliny E. Strauss married to Isaac N. Ober on November 1, 1894. These girls could be daughters of one of the other Strauss brothers.
Daniel Strauss was born October 24, 1834 at Navarre, Stark County, Ohio. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. D., 47th Regt., Ind. Vols., was mustered into service October 21, 1861 and mustered out on December 12, 1864 He married Malissa Eby on October 3, 1865 and they had ten children. Daniel died February 14, 1894 at North Manchester, Indiana.
Jacob Strauss was born in Stark County, Ohio (probably Navarre) on July 4, 1833. He enlisted in 1861 in the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a skirmish at Fredericksburg, Virginia and served eleven months until he was discharged due to failing health. He settled in Pleasant Township in 1869. He is shown in the 1870 census as 24 years old, a miller with property worth $2000 and single.
Jacob was married to Abi/Abbie (or Elizabeth) Wertenberger on December 25, 1872 probably in Pleasant or Laketon Township in Wabash County, Indiana. He died on October 31, 1926 in Wabash County, Indiana and has a Civil War marker. Abi was born May 12, 1850 at Stark County Ohio, and died July 6, 1903 in Wabash County, Indiana. Both are buried at Laketon Cemetery. There is a Wertenberger family listed in Wabash County History and I am almost positive that she is a descendant of this family. The problem is that her birth year does not coincide with the children of that family. It would seem that she was a grandchild and we will have to research a little further to determine who was her father. Because I am sure that she is related to this family, particularly since they came from Stark County, Ohio, I have included their family information. Jacob was very active in his community as he not only owned the mill in Pleasant Township but he was also school trustee, township trustee (1878-1880) and petitioned the county commissioners to run a saloon in 1883. In his will he left everything to one daughter who was crippled (Elizabeth).
Jacob and Abi Strauss had five children:
Lester Clayton Strauss (later Strouse) was born October 11, 1872 in Laketon, Wabash Cty, Indiana. Lester was a producer, director and actor in Chicago for twenty years. Family legend has it that he even booked Charlie Chaplin. His trunk which contained make-up and old scripts still exists though whereabouts are unknown. He was married to woman for several years and they adopted two daughters, one named Lulu who married a Hedstrom and lived in Duluth, MN. They later divorced and his ex-wife took one of the girls and Lester raised Lulu. While in Browns Valley he met a young lady named Rosia L. Maricle who did cooking and laundry for the troupe when they were in town. They married December 24, 1913 in Graceville, Minnesota. Lester worked for the City of Anoka, Minnesota, the last 15 years of his life but he also owned and operated a lumber and coal business for some years. Lester died November 13, 1943 in Anoka, MN at the age of 71. They had three children.
Clarence Strauss was born in 1874 and died in Laketon, Wabash Cty, Indiana on September 17, 1874.
Orra D. Strauss was married to George F. Ogden on June 30, 1896. Judging from a letter that she wrote to Rosia Strouse after Lester's death, I am assuming that her children were name Betty Ogden who married someone named Bill; Summer Ogden; and Mark Ogden who married a woman named Dora. It is interesting to note that on the papers appointment Jacob Strouse as Pleasant Township Trustee, Washington C. Ogden is listed under Sureties.
Elizabeth Strauss (Lizzie) was married to Mr. Holman and nothing else is know of her.
Hermann E. Strauss was married to a woman named Ella and they lived in California. Hermann was a corporal in the Army in the 16th Balloon Company during World War I and served time in France.
New Information from a Strouse desendant - Priscilla
? Strouse b. abt 1835 OH + ? b. abt 1936 OH
....... Elizabeth E. Strouse b. 1856 OH
..........+ Lambert A. Kerr b. 1855 OH
...................... Samuel J. Kerr b. 1878 Wayne Co, OH (lived
in Lodi, OH)
...................... John L. Kerr b. 1880 Wayne Co, OH (lived
in Galion, OH)
...................... Bert Kerr b. abt 1882 Wayne Co, OH (lived
in Burbank OH)
...................... Cora Belle Kerr b. 1885 Wayne Co, OH
...................... Metta Kerr b. abt 1886 Wayne Co, OH (lived
in Burbank OH )
She says, "I have a tin-type of an elderly couple named Kepner that I believe may be the parents or maternal grandparents of Elizabeth. "
STROUSE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS |
Peter Strauss (Strouse) was born April 30, 1802 in Germany. Phoebe (Phillipine) Heine(s) was born March 14, 1805(6) in Germany. They married November 9, 1826 in Pfalz Bayern (Germany) and had the following children:
Peter b. October 8, 1827 Kottweiler-Schwanden Pfalz Bayern Germany m. Barbara Urschel on May 11, 1851 in Stark County, Ohio, d. October 14, 1914 in Stark County, Ohio
Caroline Elizabeth b. January 23, 1830 Kottweiler-Schwanden Pfalz Bayern Germany, m. John Stahl on August 17, 1851 Stark County Ohio, d. February 3, 1917 in Massillon, Ohio
Phillipine(Phoebe) b. October 28, 1832 Kottweiler-Schwanden Pfalz Bayern Germany, m. Nicholas Poeshang on April 29, 1855 in Stark County, Ohio, resided? Huntington County, Indiana
Elizabeth b. March 21, 1836 Kottweiller-Schwanden Pfalz Bayern Germany
Adam b. July 1, 1838 Kottweiller-Schwanden Pfalz Bayern Germany (To contact the person who provided the information for Adam, click here.)
Daniel b. November 17, 1842 in Stark County, Ohio, m. Melissa Wesley(?), d. February 14, 1894
Jnc (Jacob) b. 1844 Stark County, Ohio
Abraham b. 1847 Stark County, Ohio
