Alexander Strausz

Alexander Strausz (1829-1905) was a Hungarian-born American brewer, cartographer, architect, mining engineer, industrialist and school superintendent.

Early life

Strausz (pronounced "strooss") was born to a well-to-do family in Budapest, Hungary, as evident by his educated abilities. During the Hungarian War of Liberation in 1848, he served as a lieutenant under Gen. Artúr Görgey, surrendering with him after the Battle of Világos in 1849. He later sought refuge in Russia, but was deported from that country in 1850. On 18 April 1851, he arrived in the United States at the port of Boston, MA, with a letter of introduction to Edward Everett. He was supposedly also acquainted with Daniel Webster. He worked briefly for an architectural firm in Boston, but did not receive adequate compensation. By the end of the year, he was working for the US Coast Survey.

Personal Life in America

He met and married the former Annie Young (1837-1889) of Washington, D.C., one of the daughters of Noble Young, M.D. They had one son, Philip H. (1861-1907) prior to his service in the Federal Government, and a few other children after the war: Minnie, Julian, Alex Jr. (1872-1915) and Henry (1877-1922).

Philip would later attend the University of West Virginia between 1881 and 1883, and earned his medical degree from New York University's Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1885. His years of medical service included serving on the American Volunteer Medical Corps' Yellow Fever Experts in 1888. He was married to the former Lida Davis. Upon his death in Toledo, Ohio, he was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Morgantown, WV.

Alex Jr. would later become an auditor for various railway companies in Texas, the Philippines and Mexico City. He married the former Mary H. Hubbard. He died from medical complications while working in the Philippines. They had two children, Fenton and Mary.

Henry Noble "Harry" Strausz would serve in the 6th Ohio Infantry during the Spanish War, and later became a dental technician. He married an Englishwoman names Agnes. They had one son, Julian.

Strausz's in-laws were notable. Dr. Young had five surviving children, Albert, Annie, Elizabeth, Minna and Ellen. Elizabeth married Felix Nemegyei, another Hungarian revolutionary and refugee. Minna married Col. Edward Field, son of Richard Stockton Field. Ellen married Gen. Harry C. Egbert. Sons-in-law to the last couple included Gen. Charles E. Kilbourne and Adm. Yates Stirling Jr.

huter’s Hill Brewery

In 1858, he partnered with John Klein to set up Shuter’s Hill Brewer, which is located at the base of Shooter’s Hill in Alexandria, VA, close to Hooff’s Run, where King and Duke Streets now extend. This venture introduced lager beer to Virginia. In 1860, he sold out his interest in the company for US$2,000.

U.S. Coast Survey

In 1851, he joined the U.S. Coast Survey as a draughtsman. This post was secured by Edward Everett. He participated in one significant campaign in the American Civil War - the Vicksburg Campaign.

Vicksburg

As the Mississippi Campaign focused on Vicksburg, Admiral David Dixon Porter required updated and accurate navigational charts of the area in November 1862. In December 1862, Porter sent Strausz to reconnoiter the riverside defenses of that city. Under a flag of truce, he was able to sketch out the battery positions, convincing Porter of the impracticality of attacking the place by water alone. He was active during the venture of Steele’s Bayou of March 1863 until Porter decided to call it off. It was during this time that he met and become good friends with Julius H. Kroehl. In June 1863, he was detached to survey the Confederate works from Lauman’s extreme left until it would meet up with survey teams of McClernand’s Corps. He came down with malaria, and would have to recuperate for several months.

Other USCS Activities

Post-War

Wilmington

In 1867, taking advantage of the building surge in Wilmington, NC, Strausz and his family relocated there. He partnered with Lawson E. Rice to form the Cape Fear Building Co. A few structures that he either designed or built still remain and are listed in the National Register of Historical Places. These places are the Strausz House, the Hasell-Parsley House, the William A. French House, the Temple of Israel and the Tileston School. These can be viewed at http://wwwtmpapps.nhcgov.com/LIB/PortCityArch/Search.asp. He was also building railway cars.

Irondale

In 1878, a fellow émigré and brother-in-law, Col. Felix de Nemegyei, met him in North Carolina, and hired him to manage the Irondale Furnace near Independence, WV, producing wrought iron. Both their wives were also sisters. He continued to live and work there until 1885, when the plant was closed down. The primary causes were the increasing competition from Bessemer steel and workers' demand for higher wages. In 1879, he provided a statement to Sophia Kroehl on the nature of her late husband’s illness to be included in her pension application.

Palatka

In 1885, he and his family relocated to Palatka, FL, buying convert|4|acre|m2 near the St. Johns River. He was the secretary and treasurer of the Palatka Milling Company. He also served as superintendent of schools from 1889 to 1892. In 1890, he responded again to Sophia Kroehl’s request for a statement. Shortly thereafter, he retired and left for Toledo, OH.

Retirement

Already widowed, he lived with his eldest son, Philip, who had established himself as a physician, and his family. He lived there until his death in 1905.

References

[http://www.lib.noaa.gov/edocs/CONTENTS.htm Theberge, Albert E. 1997. "The Coast Survey 1807-1867". 623 pp.] -Includes references to Strausz while serving in the US Navy in 1863.

[http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa/ Cornell University’s Making of America collection] :

a. "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies." Washington: Government Printing Office. -Assignment with the Army during the siege of Vicksburg.

b. "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies." Washington: Government Printing Office. -Service with the US Coast Survey.

[http://oha.alexandriava.gov/archaeology/pdfs/brewery12.pdf Scalley, Shirley. 1996. "Shuter’s Hill Brewery". 7 pp.]

“Prominent Personages.” "Dallas Morning News", 1 December 1901, p. 16.

[http://www.appaltree.net/aba/education/historical/ironworks/ironworks4a.htm Allen, Dave. 2006. "The Ante-Bellum Iron Industry in Western Virginia: Col. Nemegyei and the Irondale Furnace." "Antebellum Iron Works, Part 4A" Appalachian Blacksmiths Association.]

US Census reports for the Young family of DC, for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.