Amador
County
Biographies
JOHN STROHM
John
Strohm, one of the best-known citizens of Jackson, has been in business here
for the past forty-four years, during which period he has enjoyed distinctive
success and is very highly regarded throughout the community. He was born in Germany, on the 4th
of January, 1850, and is a son of John and Anna (Roherer) Strohm, who were
lifelong residents of the fatherland. He
attended the public schools of his home community and then learned the trade of
brewing becoming known as an expert brew master. In 1880 he came to the United States,
locating first in Cleveland, Ohio, and after about six months went to St.
Louis, Missouri, where he was with the Hyde Park Brewery for two years. During the two following years he was in old
Mexico and other places, where he operated breweries, and also operated a
brewery in San Francisco for one and a half years. About 1886 he came to Jackson and bought the
old Jackson Brewery, which had been established in 1860, being one of the
oldest still in existence in the state.
Mr. Strohm started business in a small way, doing all of the work
himself and using one horse and a wagon for delivery purposes. He made an excellent product and the business
gradually increased until, at the time when he sold his horses to install motor
trucks, he was using twenty-six horses.
The coming of national prohibition compelled the closing of the brewery,
but, in association with his son-in-law, William Krabbenhoft, who had joined
him in 1916, they planned to meet the changed conditions, the plant being
modernized and developed into an ice manufacturing plant, in connection with which
ice cream and creamery products are made and sold and a bottling department is
maintained. Twenty men and fifteen
trucks are required in the operation of the business, which is now one of the
most extensive of the kind in this part of the state.
Mr.
Strohm was united in marriage in Oakland, California, to Miss Bertha Schmidt, a
native of Germany, and they came to Jackson on their honeymoon. Mrs. Strohm passed away in 1925. To them were born four children, namely: Anna, who is the wife of William Krabbenhoft;
Jacob, who died in infancy; John, who died at the age of two and a half years;
and Bertha, who died at the age of five years.
Mr.
Strohm is a Democrat in his political affiliation and for sixteen years was a
valuable member of the board of supervisors of Amador County, for he took a
deep interest in public affairs, and particularly in the building of good
roads. Mr. Strohm is a member of the
Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is greatly esteemed. Now, past four score years of age, he is
taking things easy, the active management of the business having been assumed
by Mr. Krabbenhoft. Mr. Strohm enjoys an
extensive acquaintance throughout this section of the valley and all who know
him recognize in him a man of marked business ability and sterling personal
qualities.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 26-27. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies