THE STROUS
FAMILY. Jacob Strous, born in Mifflin
county, Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 1775, came to Ohio in the fall of
1799, performing the journey on foot. He remained with his
brother-in-law, Adam Defenbaugh, six miles below
Chillicothe, until 1802, when he settled near where the village of
Laurelville, in Hocking county, now stands. He and
Defenbaugh, who also settled there, put up, on Laurel
creek, a short distance above the present mill, the first grist-mill
in this region. The mill consisted simply of forked stakes
driven into the ground and covered over with slabs.
In June, 1807, Jacob Strous was married to
Mary Reichelderfer, and resided in the neighborhood of
Laurelville until his death, which took place in 1845. He was
an active and industrious pioneer, and did much for the improvement
of his neighborhood.
He was the father
of five children as follows: John, born Jan.
28, 1808; Mary, born Aug. 16, 1812; Samuel,
born Aug. 9, 1814; Elizabeth, born Aug. 12, 1824;
Allen, born Dec. 26, 1826.
John married, Nov. 13, 1832, Angeline
Holderman, born Feb. 22, 1811, and settled where his son,
David, now lives. He followed milling and
farming during his life, which was one of great industry and
usefulness. He died July 23, 1875, and his wife, Mar. 21,
1879.
Mary Strous
married Hiram Flannagan. She is now a widow,
and resides at Laurelville.
Samuel
married Mary Swoyer, Jan. 24, 1841, with whom he is
now living in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, Ohio. They
have had five children, four of whom are living.
Elizabeth is the wife of William Webster,
and resides in Pickaway township.
Allen Strous lives near Laurelville on the old
homestead.
John Strous
had eleven children, who are all now dead but three, and it may here
be mentioned as a somewhat remarkable fact that, since 1850, there
were occured at the house which is now the residence of the son,
David H., and a view is elsewhere given, no less than
fourteen funerals.
David H. Strous,
one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Salt Creek
township, was the third child of John and Angeline Strous,
and was born Feb. 11, 1837. At the age of twenty-one he took
an equal interest with his father in the mills and farm, and at the
death of his father, succeeded to the entire ownership.
Mr. Strous' career has been a very successful one;
his energy, industry and good management being rewarded by the
accumulation of a good property.
Mr. Strous was united in marriage April 22, 1858, with
Ann Bochart, and to them the following named
children were born, viz.: Jane Almeda, born Sept.
10, 1858, is now the wife of Levi Lutz, of Pickaway
township; Susannah, born May 29, 1860, is now the
wife of Byron Mowery, of Salt Creek township;
John Elsy, born Aug. 15, 1862 - died Aug. 26, 1863;
Charles, born June, 3, 1864 - died Sept. 9, 1865.
Mrs. Strous, the mother of these children, died
Sept. 23, 1866. Aug. 20, of the following year, Mr.
Strous was again married, to Rebecca J. Dillon,
who was born May 19, 1842. The result of this union is five
children, as follows: Olive D., born Aug. 18,
1868 - died Dec. 7, 1870; Frank D., born Sept. 3,
1869; Eddie D., born Mar. 3, 1872; Eva
Grace, born Oct. 16, 1874; Lizzie May,
born Apr. 8, 1876.
Just west of his
residence, Mr. Strous has a beautiful grove of
forest trees, containing about fourteen acres. The ground is
very pleasantly situated, being higher than the surrounding land,
and is skirted by Salt Creek, on the bank of which is a beautiful
mineral spring. A company has been formed who contemplate the
improvement of the place next season as a pleasure resort. |
