John B Strouse

STROUSE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/11/2010 at 14:06:00

John B Strouse who throughout life has always made the best use of his advantages and is now able to lay aside all business cares and live retired in Luther, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, June 3, 1837. His father was John Strouse, who was born in Pennsylvania of German parentage and was left an orphan at an early age. When young he removed t Ohio and was there married to Miss Mary Reed, by whom he had six children, but four of these died in early life. The others are: Alpheus, who is living in Dakota, and John B of his review. The mother was born and reared in Ohio. Soon after their marriage the parents removed to Terre Haute Indiana, and subsequently made their home at another place in that state. Later they became resident of Milford, Illinois, but spent their last days in Iowa, the father dying in Pocahontas county at the age of eighty-three yeas, and the mother passing way at the home of our subject at the age of eighty-six.
John B Strouse was five years old when the family left his native town, but they remained residents of Indian until he was seven, at which time they removed to Milford, Illinois. There he pursued his studies in a schoolhouse built of hewed logs with slab seats for benches. His educational advantage were meager, owing to the pioneer conditions of the county that time, but he pursued his studies until about twenty years of age and at the same time assisted in the work of the home farm. He then started out to make his own way in the world by working for neighboring farmers. He was married in Milford, Illinois, arch 1, 1863, to Miss Cynthia Jane Peed, of Salty Mound, Indiana, and they became parents of eight children. Lee the eldest has been twice married, his first wife being Annie Ramsay. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College and is now engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Covington, Kentucky. Mary is the wife of Benjamin Jennings of Gove, Kansas, John married Emma Likely and lives in Thornton, Iowa, Montgomery is a resident of Los Angeles, California, Frank died in infancy, Noah married Emma Barker and lives in Boone county, Annie a resident of Des Moines, and Wilbur died in infancy.
In 1865 Mr Strouse came to Iowa and located on his father’s farm near Drakeville in Davis county, where he spent a year and a half. He then removed to Macon county, Missouri, but after residing there for a short time retuned to Drakeville and one year later became a resident of Warren county, Iowa, where the following year was past. Eight years were then spent in Pocahontas county and in 1877 he became a resident of Boone county. In his farming preparations here he met with most excellent success and became the owner of a well improved place of 320 acres in Garden township, which he sold four years ago. He continued to carry on farming until April 1900, when he removed to Luther and has since lived retired. Here his wife died April 1911, and was laid to rest in the Clarke cemetery. She was a devout Christian lady and was lied and revered by all who knew her. Mr Strouse in life, not only dividing his farm of 320 acres among them, but also giving them many thousands of dollars. On starting out in life for himself he was in limited circumstances but he steadily worked his way upward and by industry, enterprise and good management became one of the prosperous citizen of his community.

1914 Boone County History Book