My Genealogy Hound

PETER STREHLE, Secretary of the Three Oaks Exchange Company, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 5, 1841, and is the son of Joseph and Theresa (Deng) Strehle. His father was born in Bavaria in 1802, and in his youth learned the trade of a cooper, which had also been the occupation of his father, Peter. He married the daughter of Xavier Deng, a blacksmith in the Old Country, and in 1852, accompanied by his wife and three children, emigrated to the United States. After a sojourn of four months in Detroit, Mich., he came to Berrien County and settled on a farm in Three Oaks Township, on section 3. After clearing the land, he purchased other property on section 9, and gradually acquired the ownership of an extensive and valuable estate.

Upon the old homestead Joseph Strehle resided until his death, which occurred November 12, 1883, at the age of eighty-one years, nine months and six days. His wife, who was born in Nesselwang, Bavaria, Germany, July 9, 1812, died at her home in Three Oaks, December 22, 1889, aged seventy-seven years. This worthy couple were devoted members of the Catholic Church and took a deep interest in the progress and growth of that denomination. They were the parents of three children: our subject, Alphonso and John N. As pioneers of Berrien County, they labored indefatigably to promote the welfare of their community and experienced the usual hardships incident to life in a newly-settled country. Politically, Mr. Strehle was a Democrat during the early years of his residence in America, but at the commencement of the Civil War he became a Republican and ever afterward voted the ticket of that party. His land was located on sections 3 and 9, and comprised fifty-six acres.

At the time the family came to the United States, Peter Strehle was a lad of eleven years, and he afterward devoted his attention to the work of clearing the home farm. He had received some educational advantages while in Germany, but coming to Michigan he was unable to attend school but a few months, so that his education has been acquired principally through experience and observation. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Miss Adelia, the daughter of John Alexander. She became the mother of three children and died on the 24th of March, 1871. The children are: Alma, the wife of Rolla Taber, a conductor on the International & Great Northern Railroad, her home being in Galveston, Tex.; Louise, who is the wife of W. S. Whitehead, a druggist of Boise City, Idaho; and Joseph, who is a cooper by trade and lives in Galveston, Tex.

After his marriage, our subject located on section 33, Three Oaks Township, where he engaged in farming for two years, and also carried on an extensive lumber business. In 1870 he removed to Chase County, Kan., and located in Bazaar, where he engaged in the general mercantile business for about ten months. From that State he returned to Three Oaks, and here engaged in the grocery business for fourteen years, after which he took H. L. Hess into the firm and added a stock of dry goods to the store. In 1889 he retired from the mercantile business, and since that time has spent his time principally in looking after his farming interests. He owns on section 24, Chickamung Township, Berrien County, a fine farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and has about one hundred acres cleared, where he engages in the raising of grain and live stock.

The lady who on the 24th of March, 1873, became the wife of our subject was formerly Miss Rhoda A. Benson. She was born in Hudson Township, La Porte County, Ind., where she was reared and educated. Her father, Roland Benson, was born May 22, 1808, and became one of the earliest settlers of La Porte County, Ind., whither he removed from Livingston County, N. Y. He became a prominent farmer of La Porte County and resided there until his death, which occurred on the 29th of July, 1861. His wife, whose maiden name was Bessie Cowens, was born October 20, 1820, and died July 3, 1848, leaving three children, of whom Mrs. Strehle is now the only survivor. Mr. Benson was afterward again married, becoming the father of three children, two now living. One of Mrs. Strehle’s brothers, Jesse Benson, enlisted in the Union army during the late war and died at West Point, Ky., in 1861.

The Benson family was originally from Vermont. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Strehle, Roland Benson, removed from the Green Mountain State to Livingston County, N. Y., but afterward came to Michigan and settled near Niles, becoming one of the earliest settlers of that part of the State. Afterward he went to Indiana and from there to Illinois, where he died in 1850, at the age of seventy-five years, having been born May 18, 1775. He possessed the sterling traits of character of the Green Mountain boys, as did also his son, the father of Mrs. Strehle.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Strehle is now serving as Village Assessor and as member of the Board of Education. He was President of the Village Board for five terms and a member of the Common Council for a number of years. He was also a Supervisor for two years, and has been Treasurer of the township for about seven years. In 1880 and 1890 he took the census for Three Oaks Township. Socially, he is identified with Lodge No. 44, I. O. O. F., at Three Oaks, of which he is Past Grand. He was a member of the Catholic Church until 1880, when he united with the Congregational Church and has since been one of the most earnest workers in that denomination. He takes an active interest in the affairs of church and Sunday-school, being a teacher in the latter. The comfortable residence he and his wife now occupy was erected under his personal supervision in 1874 and is an attractive and cozy abode.