P E T E R      S T R A U S S    FAMILY

 

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63139-1537

E-mail:  rgb7847@aol.com

[Revised: 6 April 2009]

 

[This information corrects and updates the family sketch that was published on page 533 of the HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL, VOLUME 1, published in 1988]

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Peter STRAUSS was a carpenter and undertaker for over 30 years in Millstadt, St. Clair County, Illinois.

 

According to his birth certificate recorded in the Civil Records of Niedermohr, Peter STRAUSS was born at Niedermohr, Canton Landstuhl, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany at 6 o'clock in the morning on Thursday, 24 January 1822.  He was the legitimate son of farmer Michael STRAUSS (then age 27 years) [ca. 1794 - 1834] and Philippina ULRICH (then age 26 years) [1794 - 1888].  His father died at Niedermohr in 1834 when Peter was only 12 years old. 

 

Niedermohr is a small village in the Rhineland-Pfalz that lies about 20 kilometers (12 1/2 miles) west of Kaiserslautern and 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Kusel.  In July 1993 after the reunification of Germany, its postal code number was "66879 Niedermohr".  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has filmed the Civil Records ["Zivilstandsregister"] for this town from 1799-1957.

 

Peter was married on Wednesday, 5 February 1845 at Niedermohr to Katharina BARTH.  She was born at Waldmohr (a neighboring village) on 18 Feb. 1819, a daughter of Jacob & Katharina (FRIES) BARTH.  Peter and Katharina had the following 2 children while residing in Niedermohr: Peter born in Jan. 1847 and Nicholas born in Aug. 1850.

 

The Peter STRAUSS family came to the United States in 1853 on the ship the "Heidelberg" which sailed from Havre, France, and arrived at the port of New York on 22 August 1853  [1].  The family was listed on the ship's passenger list as :

 

                                                Pierre [French for Peter] STRAUS, age 31, farmer

                                                Catherine STRAUS, age 35

                                                Peter STRAUS, age 6, child.

 

All three were listed as being from Hesse and all listed their destination as "New York".  For some unknown reason, their youngest child, Nicholas (born in 1850), is not listed, although he certainly came with them.

 

This family then journeyed to the village of Millstadt [then called Centerville/Centreville] located in St. Clair County, IL, where they settled.  They probably chose Millstadt because Peter's mother (Phillipina) along with 3 brothers and 3 sisters had previously settled there in 1847.

 

On 7 November 1853, shortly after they settled in Millstadt, Peter's wife died and was buried in Freivogel Cemetery, south of Millstadt.

 

Peter STRAUSS married his second wife, Mrs. Katharina (VOGT) WEYGANDT at Millstadt on Thursday, 30 August 1855.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. Jacob KNAUSS of the Zion Evangelical Church.  The marriage is recorded both in the records of the church and with the Clerk of St. Clair County, IL (Marriage License # 4571]

 

Katharina VOGT was born at Erlenbach (Germersheim), Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany on Friday, 24 August 1827 and baptised at the Evangelical Reformed Church there on 26 August.  She was the first child of Peter and Margaretha Catharina (LEPERE) VOGT.  She immigrated to the United States with her parents supposedly in 1835 and the family settled in Stookey Township, north of Millstadt.

 

Katharina's first husband was Adolph WEYGANDT, whom she married on Thursday, 16 May 1850 at Millstadt by Rev. Jacob KNAUSS of the Zion Evangelical Church.  The marriage is recorded with the Clerk of St. Clair County, IL (license # 2743). Adolph was born at Wiesbaden, Germany on 7 April 1823 and died in Millstadt on 25 June 1854 with burial in the Old Millstadt Cemetery.  The couples only grown child was Charles G. WEYGANDT who was born in Millstadt on 27 June 1851 and died in Belleville on 30 January 1918.

 

Peter STRAUSS supposedly began as a carpenter about 1840, while still residing in Germany.  After he settled in Millstadt in 1853, he worked as both carpenter and undertaker.  Since he was already a master carpenter, he used his skills to build coffins for the deceased of Millstadt.  His obituary in 1897 stated that he "began at the age of 16 years in the undertaking business in the old country and has been connected in the same occupation ever since.  He has been in business here in Millstadt for 36 years".  It is also reported that as a carpenter, Peter helped to build Zion Church at 117 West White Street, Millstadt in 1863.  [More information about Peter and his undertaking business will be found in a later article about the Metzger Funeral Home.]

 

The following land purchases by Peter STRAUSS have been found at the Recorder of Deeds Office, St. Clair County:

 

§         Jan. 12, 1855 - from Jos. BECKI; lot 85 and more in block 10 in Glass and Stookey addition to Centreville [Millstadt]; recorded in Book L-2, p. 160.

 

§         June 20, 1859 - from Ad. WEYGANDT; lot 8 in Centerville [Millstadt];  recorded in Book Y-2, page 615.

 

§         Jan. 28, 1864 - from Henry ABEND for $606; lot 16 in Randlemann's third addition to Centreville [Millstadt].  This is the building at 220 West Washington where Peter lived and also conducted his undertaking business.  It later became the Metzger Funeral Home and then the Creason Funeral Home in 1960.  Recorded in Book Y-3, page 120 & 121.

 

§         Feb. 18, 1865 - from Wm. WEYGANDT; lot 46 and more in Henkler's 4th addition to Millstadt; recorded Book C-4, page 69.

 

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

    1860 is the first U. S. Census in which the Peter STRAUSS family is listed: [Roll 224; St. Clair County, IL; Town of Millstadt; page 45; line 13; dwelling/family # 316/336; census taken 12 June 1860:

 

STRAUSS, Peter    [Note 1];                   36;                  Male;  Master Carpenter;   Bavaria

STRAUSS, Cath.;                                   33;   Female;   Bavaria

STRAUSS, Peter  [Note 2];                   13;    Male;    Bavaria

STRAUSS,  Nicolaus [Note 2];           10;    Male;    Bavaria

WEYGANDT, Chas.  [Note 3];                    9;    Male;    born Ill.

STRAUSS, Cath.    [Note 4] ;                    4 ;    Female;    born Ill.

STRAUSS, Wm. ; [Note 4] ;                    1 ;    Male;    born Ill.

BRANDT, Christn.;    age                 17 ;    Male;    Appr. Carpenter;    born Nassau

 

        NOTE 1 - Peter's "real estate" was listed as $600 and his personal  estate as $100.

        NOTE 2 - Peter & Nicolaus were children from Peter's first marriage to Katharina BARTH in 1845.

        NOTE 3 - Chas. WEYGANDT was the son of Katharina (VOGT) STRAUSS' first marriage to Adolph                 WEYGANDT in 1850.

        NOTE 4 - Cath. & Wm. were children of Peter's second marriage to Katharina (VOGT) WEYGANDT in                    1855.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

    The family is listed as follows in the 1870 Census [Roll # 280; St. Clair County, IL; Centreville [Millstadt]; page 24 handwritten; printed page 597 back; dwelling # 181; family # 193; census taken 18 June 1870]:

 

                                                                   AGE  SEX                  OCCUPATION                  NATIVITY

        STRAUS [STRAUSS], Peter       45                    M                   Carpenter [NOTE 1]                Bavaria

                               Catharine              42                    F                 Keeping house                      Bavaria

               Nicholas                             20                    M                   At home                            Bavaria

                               Catharine              14                    F                   At home                           Illinois

               William                              10                    M                   At home                            Illinois

                                Jacob                                 9                    M                   At home                            Illinois

               Louisa                                6                    F                   At home                            Illinois

               Mary                                  4                    F                   At home                            Illinois

                               Elisabeth              6/12                    F                   At home                           Illinois

               Philppi  [NOTE 2]                 71                    F                   At home                            Bavaria

 

        NOTE 1: Peter's value of real estate was 300/500 ?

 

        NOTE 2: "Philppi" should be Philippina, who was the mother of Peter STRAUSS.  She died in Belleville on 11 July 1888 at the age of 93 years.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

 

    The STRAUSS family [mispelled as "STRAUTZ"] is found in the 1880 Census [Roll 247; St. Clair County, IL; Millstadt;  page 31; dwelling # 46; family # 54; census taken 17 June 1880]:

                                

                                                                AGE                           OCCUPATION                      NATIVITY

        STRAUTZ, Peter                       56                           Carpenter                               Bavaria

                                 Katy                           52                    wife                  Keeping house     Bavaria

                                 Nicolaus                       28                    son                  Teamster                               Bavaria

                                 Jacob                          18                    son                  Carpenter                               Ills.

                                 Louisa                         16                    dau.                 at home                                         IIls.

                                 Mary                           14                    dau.                 at home                                         IIls.

                                 Elisabetha            10                    dau.                 at school                                    Ills.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************

  

 The 1900 Census [Roll # 341; St. Clair Co., IL; Millstadt Village; family # 187] lists Katharina living with her son William STRAUSS on Washington Street:

 

        STRAUSS, Kathrine; born Aug. 1826 [see NOTE below]; age 73; widowed;            mother of 12 children - 7 are living; immigrated to U. S. in 1832;  she could NOT read or write, but could speak English

 

        NOTE: according to her baptism record in Germany, she was born on  24 August 1827.

 

****************      ***************      ***************      ***************                                                                               

   

Peter STRAUSS died in Millstadt on Tuesday, 8 June 1897 from a disease of the gall bladder and his second wife, Katharina, died there at 12 o'clock noon on Sunday, 15 Feb. 1903, after suffering with stomach cancer for 2 years.  Both were members of Zion Evangelical Church at Millstadt and the church's burial records contain lengthy biographical sketches [written in German] about them.  Peter and Katharina were buried next to each other in the Old Millstadt Cemetery and  share the same tombstone in the south part of the cemetery.  The inscriptions read:

 

 

                                Peter Strauss                                                   Katharina Strauss

                                born 26 Jan. 1822 [Note 1]                      born 22 Aug. 1828 [Note 2]

                                died  8 June 1897                               died 15 Jan. 1903 [Note 3]

 

 

Their tombstone inscriptions contain the following mistakes which should be noted:

 

                NOTE 1 - Peter was actually born on 24 Jan. 1822, NOT 26 Jan.

 

                NOTE 2 - Katharina was actually born on 24 Aug. 1827, NOT 22 Aug. 1828

 

                NOTE 3 - Katharina died on 15 Feb. 1903, NOT 15 Jan.

 

    A lengthy obituary about Peter was published in the MILLSTADT ENTERPRISE of Friday, June 18, 1897, page 1.  An even more complete one was written in German and appeared in the BELLEVILLE POST & ZEITUNG (daily edition), Wednesday, June 16, 1897, page 2, column 5.  Similar ones for his wife, Katharina, were published in the MILLSTADT ENTERPRISE, Friday, February 20, 1903, page 5 and the BELLEVILLE POST & ZEITUNG (daily edition), Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1903, page 1, column 5. 

 

The following 3 children were born to Peter Stauss & Catharina Barth:

 

1A.)  Peter STRAUSS

                born:  26 January 1847 in Niedermohr, Rheinland Pfalz

                died:  1 October 1922 in Leavenworth, Kansas

                married:  Annie GILL about 1869

 

2A.)  Jacob STRAUSS

                born:  10 June 1849 in Niedermohr, Rheinland Pfalz

                died:  16 July 1849 in Niedermohr

 

3A.)  Nicolaus STRAUSS

                born:  26 August 1850 in Niedermohr, Rheinland Pfalz

                died:  10 April 1932 in Millstadt, Illinois

                married:  Louisa Sophie LEHMANN on 12 October 1885 in Belleville, IL

 

The following 6 children were born to Peter Strauss & Mrs. Katharina Weygandt, nee Vogt:

 

1B.)  Katharina STRAUSS

                born:  21 August 1856 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  7 March 1935 in Belleville, Illinois

                married:  Henry G. BANGE on 2 October 1877 at Zion Church, Millstadt, IL

 

2.)  William STRAUSS

                born:  9 December 1858 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  2 April 1912 near Millstadt, IL

                married:  (#1)  Barbara MARXER on 26 April 1887 at St. James Church, Millstadt

                                 (#2)  Barbara ALBERTER on 28 July 1896 in Belleville, IL

 

3.)  Jacob STRAUSS

                born:  31 October 1861 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  3 May 1940 in Saint Louis, Missouri

                married:  (#1)  Wilhelmina MUELLER before 1888

                                (#2)  Anna ZILKER between 1900 & 1910

 

4.)  Louisa Julia Esther STRAUSS

                born:  15 January 1864 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  10 June 1945 in Millstadt, IL

                married:  (#1.)  Philipp LIPPERT on 30 July 1885 in Belleville, IL

                                (#2.)  George METZGER Jr. on 31 January 1888 in Millstadt, IL

 

5.)  Maria “Mary” STRAUSS

                born:  8 July 1866 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  7 March 1941 in Millstadt, IL

                married:  (#1.)  Frank ZAHN on 25 August 1886 in Millstadt, IL

                                (#2.)  William WEYGANDT in February 1899

 

6.)  Elisabeth STRAUSS

                born:  9 November 1869 in Millstadt, Illinois

                died:  24 May 1964 in Belleville, IL

                married:  Jacob H. LIPPERT on 6 September 1891 at Zion Church, Millstadt, IL

 

[The following will of Peter Strauss was filed on 11 June 1897 in Book N, page 41, St. Clair County, IL, Probate Records.  Corrected information is found within brackets.]

 

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF PETER STRAUSS, DECEASED  (Translated)

 

In the Name of God, Amen!

 

    I, Peter Strauss of St. Clair County, State of Illinois, 68 years of age, of sound mind and memory, mindful of the uncertainty of life, declare the following to be my last Will and Testament, to wit:

 

    I direct that all Personal Property and Real Estate which I may possess at the date of my death shall thereafter be under the control and management of my beloved wife Katharina, for her to manage the same as she may wish to the best interest of herself and the children.

 

    After the death of my wife all property shall be divided as follows, to wit:  Karl Weygandt, son of my wife by her first marriage, shall receive $50.00 Dollars, My son Peter Strauss, shall receive the sum of $50.00 Dollars, and my grandson Phillip Liepert [Lippert], son of my daughter Louisa, shall receive $50.00 as a remembrance from me, his grandfather.

 

    The remainder and residue of my estate shall be divided among our remaining seven (7) children, to wit: Nicholas, William, Jacob, Katharina, wife of Henry Bange, Louisa, wife of George Maetscher [Metzger], Maria, wife of Frank Zahn, and Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Liepert [Lippert], share and share alike, conditioned however, that the share coming to our daughter Katharina, wife of H. Bange, shall belong to her children, but, should her husband, said Henry Bange, be deceased at the time distribution is made of my estate as above provided, the said share shall belong to her, the said Katharina Bange, absolutely.

 

    I nominate and appoint my sons William and Jacob, Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do not require them to give bond as such executors.

 

    In witness whereof I have signed my name thereto on this 19th day of July 1892.

Peter Strauss

 

    The above was signed by Peter Strauss in our presence and was by him declared as his last Will and Testament, and we have at his request and in his presence, signed our names as witnesses thereto, this 19th day of July 1892.

 

Louis T. Miller

John Hahn

 

    Whereas, I, Peter Strauss, in my last Will and Testament of July 19th 1892, directed that Karl Weygandt, son of my wife, shall receive $50.00 and my son Peter Strauss the like sum of $50.00, Now, I direct that Karl Weygandt shall receive $100.00 instead of $50.00 and that Peter Strauss, instead of receiving $50.00, shall share equally with the balance of the children.

 

    In witness to this addition I have signed my name thereto this 6th day of June 1897.

Peter Strauss

 

    This addition was signed by Peter Strauss in our presence and declared by him as his wish and we have in his presence signed our names thereto as witnesses this 6th day of June 1897.

 

Signed in presence of                           Louis T. Miller

Henry Boemer                                    John Hahn

Justice of the Peace

 

    A correct translation of the last Will and Testament of Peter Strauss, deceased, and the Codicil thereto,

 

                                                                Geo. K. Thomas, County Clerk

                                                                                  by Ernest Hilgard  Dpy [Deputy]

 


[1]  Glazier, Ira A. & P. William Filby; Germans to America, Volume 5, May 1853 - Oct. 1853, page 298; published by Scholarly Resources Inc., Wilmington, DE, 1989