STREBLOW, William Friedrich 1840-1930

STREBLOW, HOWELL, OSTERICH

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 6/10/2012 at 16:13:47

William Friedrich Streblow – March 2, 1840 – December 23, 1930

William Streblow was born 2 March 1840 and baptized 15 March in Tolz, Saatzig Kreis, Pommern, Prussia/Germany. His Baptismal name was "Wilhelm Friedrich Streblow". [Evangelische Kirche Massow, Tolz, Germany Church Record of Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1798-1874, (Greifswald: Staatsarchiv, 1982), 15 March 1840, No. 3, Births & Baptisms. --- FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah, Microfilm Roll 1273252, item 2]

The primary source of information for Joachim, Anna and their children in Tolz was the Evangelische (Lutheran) Church Record Book for Tolz, Germany between 1798 & 1874. The Church Records included a listing of births, baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Burials. The births of eight of Joachim and Anna's nine children, plus the deaths of a daughter, Dorothea Marie, a son, Carl Friedrich Ferdinand, and themselves were recorded.

The city of Massow, Naugard Kreis, was the Center of the Lutheran Parish which included small rural churches in Tolz, Neu Massow, Freiheide and Resehl. Massow was about three miles north of Tolz. The Pastor from Massow regularly placed his official stamp and signature on pages of the Tolz Church Record Book -- "Tolz Kirchenbuch, 1798-1874". [Evangelische Kirche Massow, Tolz Kirchenbuch 1798-1874 (Greifswald: Staatsarchiv, 1982), Family History Library (FHL), Salt Lake City, Utah, Microfilm Roll No. 1273252, item 2]

U.S. Census and immigration records indicate that the five Streblow brothers (Frank, Frederick Christian, Ludwig, William and Albert) emigrated at different times from Tolz, Prussia/Germany to the Chicago, Illinois area in the 1850-1970 period. While living in the Chicago area and working as a laborer, William volunteered for the Illinois Civil War Infantry, serving in the 88th Infantry Regiment. William joined and enrolled for Civil War service, while residing in Leyden, Cook County, Illinois on July 25, 1862. He was single at the time and was mustered in at Chicago on August 27, 1862. His service was with the rank of Private in Company I of the 88th Illinois US Infantry Regiment.

William was wounded in the Battle of Chicamunga, captured and held in the Andersonville Prison, until a group of northern soldiers was exchanged for southern prisoners. He was always lame in his left leg from the gunshot wound that disabled him. William described the terrible prison conditions and how he wrote letters for comrades who were unable to do so for themselves. Maggots were a constant problem. Daughter Carrie wrote of how her father tried to be of service to fellow prisoners. William attained the rank of Corporal, according to her. He was mustered out of the service on June 18, 1864 at Timney, Illinois, because of the wounds sustained. The Muster and Descriptive Roll of Company I of the 88th Infantry Regiment also revealed that William was single, five feet eleven inches tall, had blue eyes and a light complexion.

Information recorded about William by his daughter Olive in the 1970's had a similar account, with a few differences:

"William was born in Germany where custom dictated that the eldest son inherited the father's land and the younger sons joined the army. Choosing not to join the army and not being the eldest, William decided in 1857, at age 17, to follow his brothers to America. Two of his brothers (Frank & Frederick Christian) had already arrived in the Chicago area. Similar to William, his brothers' had several middle names, one of which was Fredrick in honor of the German emperor. " When the Civil War broke out William enlisted from Illinois on July 25th, 1862 at Fort Denbo, now called Chicago. On September 20, 1863 he suffered a leg wound in the Battle of Chicamunga, Georgia. he also suffered from malaria. William was captured and taken prisoner of war to Andersonville, Georgia. Later, he was among a group of northern soldiers exchanged for southern prisoners. His regiment was the 88th Illinois infantry, Company J or I. President Lincoln presented him with the G.A.R. Star Medal of Honor made of copper melted from a cannon. William was discharged on May 27, 1864.

"At the age of 30, William married 18 year old Clara Elizabeth Howell on May 22, 1870, in Howardsville, Iowa. The majority of their married life was spent in Wapello County and Mitchell County, Iowa. They owned 120 acres of land, of which 80 acres were farmed and 40 were unimproved acres. The females did all of the milking. Later in life Clara stayed in the north while William moved to Florida for his health. After Clara died, William married his Florida housekeeper, Mrs. Hilda Swatzer, when he was 90 years old. He died later that same year at his son Frank's home near Riceville, Iowa."
(Information in the above three paragraphs provided by Olive Streblow Osterich in the 1970's and received by e-mail in 2010 from a descendant of William Streblow.)

Note: William was buried in the Stillwater Cemetery, Mitchell Co., Iowa