Jay W. Strouse is at the present time one of the leading business men of Peck, being proprietor with Mr. Gaylord of the hardware establishment where they are doing a first class business and are well liked among their many patrons, whose number is daily increasing.
Jay W. Strouse was born in Ogle County, Illinois, on September 10, 1855, being the son of Peter and Rosina A. (Page) Strouse. The father was a carpenter, born in Pennsylvania in 1837 and died in 1897. He was a pioneer in northern Illinois and a soldier in Company E. Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, under General A. J. Smith, and did service in the battles of Blakely, Dalton, Island No. 10 and Mobile, being a faithful and brave soldier. The mother was born in Brattleborough, Vermont, in 1830 and lives in Wyoming.
Our subject grew to young manhood in Illinois, serving with his father and gaining the education to be had from the public schools. When nineteen, he came with the family to Creston. Union County, Iowa, and then attended Drake University, at Des Moines. He remained at Creston working at his trade of carpentering which he had learned from his father and did well for fourteen years. It was 1886 that he came to Fall River County, South Dakota. He took a homestead, worked at his trade, connected with the Oelrichs Times for five years and for five years was its editor and was also justice of the peace. In 1897 he sold his possessions there and came west to the reservation, settling first at Leland. Later he removed to Beeman, operating a store and acting as postmaster for one year. Then he came to Peck, and in 1899 he went to work for the M. W. A. as district deputy head consul, organizing camps. Before the year was out he was operating a saw mill and in this business he is still engaged, having also taken up the hardware business as we mentioned above.
On November 19, 1888, while in Dakota, Mr. Strouse married Miss Ella M., daughter of S. S. and Alary (McCallister) Pfautz, natives of Pennsylvania and Canada. The father’s ancestors were French Huguenots. Mrs. Strouse was born in Iowa and has one brother and four sisters, John, Anna, Maggie, Lou, and Alice. Mr. Strouse has the following brothers and sisters: Arthur, Jacob, Amelia Robb, Minnie Bone, Effie Campbell and Dora Lumen. To our subject and his wife have been born the following named children: Vera, Byron.
Mr. Strouse is a member of the M. W. A. and in political affiliation he is a Republican. He is especially active in this realm and is a well known figure of influence in the conventions. Mr. Strouse and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Strouse is a public spirited man of broad views and a good substantial citizen of wisdom and prestige.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903