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Biography - CHARLES STRUEVER

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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