Biography of Adam Stroh, pages 512/513/514. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. Under a popular government like that of the United States, where the democratic idea of equality is as fully developed as the present imperfect condition of mankind will permit, we expect as its legitimate result the triumph of individual worth and energy over all the competition that wealth and class may array against them. Here the avenues of wealth and distinction are fully opened to all, which fact enhances rather then detracts from the merits of those whose energy and integrity have triumphed over all obstacles intervening between an humble position and the attainment of these laudable ends. Obscurity and labor, at no time dishonorable, never assume more attractive features than when the former appears as the nurse of those virtues which the latter, by years of honest an persevering effort, transplants to a higher and richer soil; hence, the biography of those men of sterling worth whose active enterprise has won for them distinction, pre-eminence and commanding influence in the society in which they move must be replete with facts which should encourage and instruct the young. Such was the subject of this sketch, who held marked prestige among the successful self-made men of his county and who by the exercise of those talents and qualities which were cultivated from his youth, reached an honorable position and earned the respect and high esteem of his fellow citizens. The Stroh family, of which the subject of this sketch was an honorable representative, originated in France near the border line between that country and Germany. Tradition has it that there were three brothers whose family name was spelled Strow. Of these, Adam came to America with the French army during the war of the Revolution. Henry went to Germany and later, after the close of the war of the Revolution, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. Henry, owing to his German associations, changed the spelling of the family name to is present form, Stroh. He married Catherine Ulrich, and the third son born to this union was William, who was born at Millersburg, Dauphin county Pennsylvania, on January 22, 1815, and died on June 28, 1890. When he was but a child his parents moved to Wayne county, Ohio, of which they were among the early settlers, and there he was reared and educated. In 1843 he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of timber land, but little of which had been cleared. In 1844 he brought his wife and two children, locating on the land which he had bought and where he resided during the remainder of his life. At that time the entire country was new and practically undeveloped, there being no towns or urban facilities and the only transportation being ox teams which wended their way over crooked and almost impassable Indian trails. His father died in 1846 and his mother in January, 1874, aged eighty-six years. Their family consisted of eight children. William Stroh came to DeKalb county a poor man, but by perseverance and industry became very well-to- do. At one time he had but three cents in money, but soon afterwards collected one hundred dollars for a man in Ohio who owed him, and that was the beginning of his prosperity. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and became a man of prominence in his community, holding positions of trust and responsibility such as supervisor and school trustee. In Ohio William Stroh married Sarah Husselman, to which union were born nine children. Mrs. Stroh died in 1860, and in 1868 Mr. Stroh married Mary A. Raber, widow of Daniel Raber, and to this union were born four children. William Stroh was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church for over fifty-two years, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school and an office in the church. He was a good neighbor and honest man and an honor to his community. Adam Stroh, the immediate subject of this sketch, who was born to his father's first union, with Sarah Husselman, first saw the light of day in Sugar Creek township, Wayne county, Ohio, on February 1, 1842, and his death occurred at his home in Waterloo, Indiana, on April 12, 1913, at the age of seventy-one years. He was reared amid pioneer surroundings and was early inured to had work and privation and from his youth was an industrious, hard- working man. His education was such as could be obtained in the schools of that early period, and was liberally supplemented during his later years by much reading and close observation. In young manhood he bought a tract of land in Michigan, which he afterwards sold and bought eighty acres of land in Jackson township, DeKalb county. On this he erected a log house and then rented the land. After his marriage he went to housekeeping on his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the southern part of Grant township, this county, but about ten years later he bought eighty acres from his father. He and his father worked together, the subject taking the largest share of work off his father's hands during later years, and they under-drained the land and made of it and excellent farm in every respect. After his father's death Mr. Stroh bought the interests of the other heirs and this became sole owner of the homestead. There he followed farming until about 1900, when, feeling the weight of advancing years and having accumulated a competency, he moved to Waterloo, leaving his son, Marvin Stroh, in charge of the farm. After moving to Waterloo, Mr. Stroh became quite active in local affairs and was elected councilman from the third ward, in which capacity he served four years, during which time he showed a progressive spirit in everything pertaining to the advancement of Waterloo, being found on the right side of every question involving business, social, educational, or moral advancement. Politically, he was a Republican, while in his religious belief he was affiliated with the Evangelical church, standing stanchly for the Christian verities. He was liberal in his support of the church, being a class leader and Sunday school superintendent for a number of years, and in every phase of life in which he appeared he stood foremost among his fellows. He enjoyed a large acquaintance throughout this part of the county, and among those who knew him best he was considered a man of unusual character, one who impressed his personality upon the locality which he had honored with his citizenship. On November 25, 1874, Adam Stroh was united in marriage with Ellen M. Hempstreet, who was born in Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, the daughter of Jeremiah and Marion (Smith) Hempstreet, who are referred to specifically elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Stroh was born a son, Marvin, whose birth occurred on November 13, 1875. The latter married Leona Albright on December 23, 1900, and since his marriage he has operated his father's farm except two years when he rented the Barth farm in Smithfield township. He has one son, Russell J. Stroh. Thus in this brief outline it may be seen that the Stroh family record in DeKalb county has been an honorable one and one that has not only been creditable to the family, but of direct advantage to the community, for they have been instrumental in the development and improvement of the county and in the upbuilding of the best interests of the people in every respect. Mrs. Stroh is a woman of many fine qualities of head and heart, and in the circle of friends in which she moves she enjoys unlimited confidence and universal respect. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com