Person:Louis Strahl (1)

Clifton Couple Celebrates Golden Wedding Date Mr. and Mrs. Louis Strahl of Clifton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday when their children and other relatives and friends gathered in the Clifton Congregational church to honor them. The couple and nine of their ten children are shown in the accompanying picture. They are (left to right, bottom row): Leo Strahl, Mr. and Mrs. Strahl, and William Stralh, former and latter of Kankakee; top row: Rosella L. Strahl of Chicago, Mrs. Evelyn Hardwick of Paris, Illinois; Mrs. Ada Schultz of Gladwin, Michigan, Mrs. Edna Sonnickson of Maywood; Elmer and Leslie Strahl of Kankakee and Mrs. Elsie Gelling or Yale, South Dakota. Arthur Strahl of Fairbault, Minnesota was unable to attend. The days festivities began with a church service at 10:30 a.m in the Clifton Lutheran Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Strahl are members. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon a dinner was served to the immediate members of the family and from 3 to 5 p.m. "open house" was observed. A magic show was presented by Andrew Sonnickson of Maywood, a son-in-law of the couple. Mr. and Mrs. Strahl were married on Sept. 9, 1896, at the farm home of the bride, six miles southwest of Chebanse. Rev. F.W. Seehausen, who then was pastor of the Chebanse Lutheran Church, officiated. For a period of more than 25 years, Mr. Strahl operated a livery stable in Clifton. He also has engaged in farming and road construction work at various times. The couple has resided in the same home in Clifton for nearly 40 years. Mr. and Mrs. Strahl are both 71 years of age and are in fairly good health. Mrs. Strahl is quite active in her household duties.

Clifton Advocate - June 24, 1948: Retired Local Trucker Dies at His Home Here Louis Strahl, 72, retired Clifton trucker, died Friday at his home here after a lingering illness. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Cloke-Croxen Funeral Home here and at the Danish Lutheran Church at 2:30 p.m. Internment was in the Clifton cemetery. Mr. Strahl who was born in Chicago had been a Clifton resident since 1908. Survivng are: his wife, Margaret; five daughters, Mrs. Elsie Gelling of Leola, S.D., Mrs. Edna Sonnicksen of Maywood, Mrs. Ada Schultz of Gladwin, Mich., Mrs. Evelyn Hardwich of Parish, Illinois, and Miss Rozella Strahl of Oak Park; five sons, William, Leo, Elmer, and Leslie Strahl of Clifton, Arthur Strahl of Fairbolt, Minnesota; a brother, William Strahl of Clifton and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Elliott and Mrs. Henry Meier, both of Clifton.

He was called "Dutch Louie" and for many years his business, L. Strahl Livery & Feed Stable, was a fixture in the village of Clifton. The Advocate, Clifton, Illinois, issue of 20 July 1911 reported, "Louis Strahl, proprietor of the CLifton West Side Livery, has purchased a new automobile. He went to Adrian, Mich. with Joseph Frooninckx, of the local firm of Reid & Frooninckx and purchased a 1911 "lion 40", and motored home in it, reaching here Tuesday night. Mr. Strahl has been using a "Reo" in connection with his livery and has made a reputation as a competent, careful driver, and will undoubtedly increase his business with the new up-to-date "Lion 40". The same newspaper reported on 12 February 1929, "L. Strahl & Sons have moved into their Westside livery barn, and the building vacated by them, ong occupied as the Klondike livery, is now being filled with farm implement, tractors, etc. by Beardslee, Sanderson & Co." On 19 February 1925 The Advocate, Clifton, Illinois reported, "Louie Strahl held a sale at his livery barn last Saturday afternoon and was attended by a big crowd. Most all of the items brought good prices." On 28 February 1930 the newspaper reported, "FOR SALE I will offer for sale my Livery barn, 92x52 feed situated on two lots, to interested party. Reason for selling, have gone out of the livery business. I also have about 24 bu. yellow seed corn tested 98%, early variety; part of a stack of straw and 5 or 6 tons extra good timothy hay - Louis Strahl, Clifton, Ill." The same newspaper in an issue of 17 June 1937 told, "Louie Strahl has purchased a 1937 Chevrolet truck with oversized tires which he intends to use for gravel hauling and road oiling. He went to Chicago Thursday and got a hydraulic hoist as additional equipment for the truck when it is used for gravel hauling. He expects to use another truck, a used International, for road oiling." By 24 October 1940 The Advocate carried this story, "Louie Strahl this week sold the barn he had operated for many years as a livery stable to John Overacker for a reputed price of $450. Of late years, since trucks and automobiles have displaced drays and livery rigs, the barn has stood idle, used mostly for storage of trucks and odds and end. The building was put up about 1870 by the elder Charles Lutton, who with some of his sons, operated it as a livery stable for several years. "Let the tail go with the hide," says Louie. "I might as well get rid of our house too." Which he did, selling it to Tom Wallace, of Ashkum, father of B.J. Wallace. Having disposed of his property here, both real estate and personal, Mr. Strahl plans to retire after 33 years of activity here, and live either in Kankakee where four of his sons are living, or in Chicago, where three of his daughters live." The death record of Louis Strahl (Iroquois County Death Records) gives his occupation as "Trucking and hauling live stock." He died of "Cardio Casclo".