The Biographical Record Rock Island County, 1897
HENRY STRUSS.— A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Struss, one of the leading German-American residents of Rock Island county and a well-known farmer residing on section 7, Zuma township. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering efforts, characteristics
which he possesses in an eminent degree.
Mr Struss was born on the 8th of February, 1844, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany, where he attended school
and continued to make his home until seventeen years of age. His knowledge of English was wholly self-acquired since his arrival in the United States. It was in 1861 that he crossed the broad Atlantic arriving in New York on the 1st of July, and he first stopped at North Dover, near Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked by the month with a friend. He then proceeded to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he worked by the month for about two and a half, and then came to Illinois, but shortly afterward went to Clinton county Iowa, where in partnership with a friend he operated a rented farm for about two years. Later he worked by the month for two or three years in Clinton and Scott counties,Iowa. Coming to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1870, he and his brother purchased one hundred twenty-seven acres of land in Zuma township, where our subject is still living. They at once began to clear and improve the place, which they operated together for some time, then Henry Struss rented his brother's portion for a few years, and subsequently purchased his interest. The brother, J. Diedrich Struss, removing to Rock Island, where he died December 18, 18S2.
To the original tract our subject has added forty acres, has added a large addition to his residence, and built a good barn, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1895, but with his characteristic energy he at once rebuilt. He has a good orchard and the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place testify to industrious habits and excellent management.
On the 15th of January, 1874, on the farm where he still resides, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Struss and Miss Frederica Magerkurth, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was reared and educated. She came to the new world with her father, who joined two sons here. Mr. and Mrs. Struss have become the parents of seven children—Helena, wife of Henry Schroeder, of Hampton township, Rock Island county;
Wilhelmina, at home; Frederica, who completed her education in the Port Byron Academy and is now one of the successful
teachers of Rock Island county; Louisa; Conrad Henry; August Carl and Eleonora.
The family are all members of the Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known. Since voting for General Hancock, Mr. Struss has been a pronounced Democrat in politics, and in 1896 supported W. J. Bryan and the free silver platform. He is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Zuma township, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Contributed by Bob and AJ
HENRY STRUSS.— A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Struss, one of the leading German-American residents of Rock Island county and a well-known farmer residing on section 7, Zuma township. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering efforts, characteristics
which he possesses in an eminent degree.
Mr Struss was born on the 8th of February, 1844, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany, where he attended school
and continued to make his home until seventeen years of age. His knowledge of English was wholly self-acquired since his arrival in the United States. It was in 1861 that he crossed the broad Atlantic arriving in New York on the 1st of July, and he first stopped at North Dover, near Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked by the month with a friend. He then proceeded to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he worked by the month for about two and a half, and then came to Illinois, but shortly afterward went to Clinton county Iowa, where in partnership with a friend he operated a rented farm for about two years. Later he worked by the month for two or three years in Clinton and Scott counties,Iowa. Coming to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1870, he and his brother purchased one hundred twenty-seven acres of land in Zuma township, where our subject is still living. They at once began to clear and improve the place, which they operated together for some time, then Henry Struss rented his brother's portion for a few years, and subsequently purchased his interest. The brother, J. Diedrich Struss, removing to Rock Island, where he died December 18, 18S2.
To the original tract our subject has added forty acres, has added a large addition to his residence, and built a good barn, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1895, but with his characteristic energy he at once rebuilt. He has a good orchard and the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place testify to industrious habits and excellent management.
On the 15th of January, 1874, on the farm where he still resides, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Struss and Miss Frederica Magerkurth, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was reared and educated. She came to the new world with her father, who joined two sons here. Mr. and Mrs. Struss have become the parents of seven children—Helena, wife of Henry Schroeder, of Hampton township, Rock Island county;
Wilhelmina, at home; Frederica, who completed her education in the Port Byron Academy and is now one of the successful
teachers of Rock Island county; Louisa; Conrad Henry; August Carl and Eleonora.
The family are all members of the Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known. Since voting for General Hancock, Mr. Struss has been a pronounced Democrat in politics, and in 1896 supported W. J. Bryan and the free silver platform. He is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Zuma township, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Contributed by Bob and AJ
The Biographical Record Rock Island County, 1897
HENRY STRUSS.— A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Struss, one of the leading German-American residents of Rock Island county and a well-known farmer residing on section 7, Zuma township. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering efforts, characteristics
which he possesses in an eminent degree.
Mr Struss was born on the 8th of February, 1844, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany, where he attended school
and continued to make his home until seventeen years of age. His knowledge of English was wholly self-acquired since his arrival in the United States. It was in 1861 that he crossed the broad Atlantic arriving in New York on the 1st of July, and he first stopped at North Dover, near Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked by the month with a friend. He then proceeded to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he worked by the month for about two and a half, and then came to Illinois, but shortly afterward went to Clinton county Iowa, where in partnership with a friend he operated a rented farm for about two years. Later he worked by the month for two or three years in Clinton and Scott counties,Iowa. Coming to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1870, he and his brother purchased one hundred twenty-seven acres of land in Zuma township, where our subject is still living. They at once began to clear and improve the place, which they operated together for some time, then Henry Struss rented his brother's portion for a few years, and subsequently purchased his interest. The brother, J. Diedrich Struss, removing to Rock Island, where he died December 18, 18S2.
To the original tract our subject has added forty acres, has added a large addition to his residence, and built a good barn, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1895, but with his characteristic energy he at once rebuilt. He has a good orchard and the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place testify to industrious habits and excellent management.
On the 15th of January, 1874, on the farm where he still resides, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Struss and Miss Frederica Magerkurth, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was reared and educated. She came to the new world with her father, who joined two sons here. Mr. and Mrs. Struss have become the parents of seven children—Helena, wife of Henry Schroeder, of Hampton township, Rock Island county;
Wilhelmina, at home; Frederica, who completed her education in the Port Byron Academy and is now one of the successful
teachers of Rock Island county; Louisa; Conrad Henry; August Carl and Eleonora.
The family are all members of the Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known. Since voting for General Hancock, Mr. Struss has been a pronounced Democrat in politics, and in 1896 supported W. J. Bryan and the free silver platform. He is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Zuma township, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Contributed by Bob and AJ
HENRY STRUSS.— A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Struss, one of the leading German-American residents of Rock Island county and a well-known farmer residing on section 7, Zuma township. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering efforts, characteristics
which he possesses in an eminent degree.
Mr Struss was born on the 8th of February, 1844, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenberg, Germany, where he attended school
and continued to make his home until seventeen years of age. His knowledge of English was wholly self-acquired since his arrival in the United States. It was in 1861 that he crossed the broad Atlantic arriving in New York on the 1st of July, and he first stopped at North Dover, near Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked by the month with a friend. He then proceeded to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he worked by the month for about two and a half, and then came to Illinois, but shortly afterward went to Clinton county Iowa, where in partnership with a friend he operated a rented farm for about two years. Later he worked by the month for two or three years in Clinton and Scott counties,Iowa. Coming to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1870, he and his brother purchased one hundred twenty-seven acres of land in Zuma township, where our subject is still living. They at once began to clear and improve the place, which they operated together for some time, then Henry Struss rented his brother's portion for a few years, and subsequently purchased his interest. The brother, J. Diedrich Struss, removing to Rock Island, where he died December 18, 18S2.
To the original tract our subject has added forty acres, has added a large addition to his residence, and built a good barn, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1895, but with his characteristic energy he at once rebuilt. He has a good orchard and the well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of his place testify to industrious habits and excellent management.
On the 15th of January, 1874, on the farm where he still resides, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Struss and Miss Frederica Magerkurth, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was reared and educated. She came to the new world with her father, who joined two sons here. Mr. and Mrs. Struss have become the parents of seven children—Helena, wife of Henry Schroeder, of Hampton township, Rock Island county;
Wilhelmina, at home; Frederica, who completed her education in the Port Byron Academy and is now one of the successful
teachers of Rock Island county; Louisa; Conrad Henry; August Carl and Eleonora.
The family are all members of the Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known. Since voting for General Hancock, Mr. Struss has been a pronounced Democrat in politics, and in 1896 supported W. J. Bryan and the free silver platform. He is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Zuma township, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Contributed by Bob and AJ
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