Butte County
Biographies
MARTIN STROEHL
MARTIN STROEHL.--One of the oldest
residents of Chico Vecino, Butte
County, Martin
Stroehl has watched that thriving community grow from
a small beginning to its present prosperous condition and has helped materially
in the building up of his section of the county. Born in Munich,
Bavaria, September 22, 1865, he is a son of
Martin and Mary (Margrof) Stroehl,
both natives of that country, where the father was a carpenter and
builder. Both parents died in Bavaria.
To them were born three children, two of whom now reside in Chico.
Martin
Stroehl, the first child born to his parents, was
reared in Munich and educated in
the public schools of that city, finishing his education with a course at the
Gymnasium. He then learned the molder's trade, and in 1883 came to the United
States and located in St. Louis,
where he worked two years as molder in the Missouri Car Wheel Foundry. In 1885,
he came to California and obtained employment in San
Francisco as molder at the Union Iron Works. He had
saved some money, with the desire to engage in business on his own account,
and, in 1888, came to Butte County
and engaged in the horticultural business, two and one-half blocks from
Bidwell, in Chico Vecino. He built on what is now the
corner of Seventh and Spruce Streets, and here his son, William, was born--the
first boy born in Chico Vecino. Mr. Stroehl set out orchards (prunes and almonds), and while
the trees were growing worked for the Sierra Lumber Company until they reached
maturity, when he gave his full attention to his business affairs. In 1909, he
laid out the block into lots and sold them off. He built five houses on Spruce
Street, and sold them, and also erected two large
two-story residences on Esplanade, which he rents. He built eight houses in
all, and set out English walnuts around the property, twenty-seven years ago,
some of the largest in this section. He still owns four of these houses, having
disposed of the remainder. Mr. Stroehl built his own
residence, on Spruce Street.
He has always had an abiding faith in the possibilities of this section of the
state and his success has borne out the good judgment shown when he selected it
as a place to make his home and engage in business. He has been a willing
worker for the upbuilding of his community and has
profited thereby.
The
marriage of Mr. Stroehl, which occurred in San
Francisco, united him with Miss Mary Harms, who was born near Bremen,
Germany, and two sons have blessed
their union: William, who is a master mechanic at Mills Orchard, Hamilton,
Glenn County; and
Adolph, who is a government mail-carrier at San Diego.
In politics, Mr. Stroehl is a Republican.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 706-709, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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