Streu Surname

Johann Streu was born and died at unknown dates in Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

There were (at least) two different Johann Streus in Cammin Parish at the same time, and it is not clear which one was the father of Jacob Streu born circa 1720-1725 (second generation, below). The two Johann Streus were:

1. Johann Streu lived in the village of Kossow. His documented children included Johann (baptized January 22, 1716), Jurgen Hinrich Streu (baptized November 11, 1722), and Margaretha Streu (baptized May 17, 1730).

2. Johann Streu ("the younger") lived in the village of Neu Kätwin. He married Sophia Rost(en) on February 4, 1718. Their documented children included: Catrina Maria Streu (baptized January 14, 1719), Ilsabe Streu (baptized January 31, 1722), and Gustavus Herman Streu (baptized November 30, 1729).

He married unknown.

He had at least one child:

1	Jacob Streu

Jacob Streu was born circa 1720 ⁹, probably in Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. He died on May 6, 1796 in Kossow, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁹.

Jacob's burial record provided his age as 76, which calculates to a birth of about 1720. But the only possible baptism entry in Cammin Parish was for a Jacob Streu, who was baptized sometime in the year 1725 (the month and day was not listed on the record), the son of Johann Streu ⁹. Although we know his father was probably named Johann, his mother is unknown. There were two different Johann Streus who were alive at the same time and having children during the 1720s in Cammin Parish. One 1) was Johann Streu who lived in Kossow; and 2) the other was Johann Streu ("the younger") who lived in Neu Kätwin. Because Jacob's 1725 baptism didn't indicate which village they were from, it might be impossible to pinpoint which Johann was his father. However my educated guess is that Jacob's father was Johann Streu of Kossow (option #1 listed above) whose wife was unknown.

Jacob was probably raised in either Kossow or Neu Kätwin; which were neighboring villages in Cammin Parish. After his first marriage in 1758, they lived in the village of Teschow. Then at some point between 1766 and 1771, they moved to Kossow, where they remained.

They had the following children:

1

Christina Maria Streu was baptized on August 6, 1759 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. She died on March 1, 1811 in Alt Kätwin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. She married Johann Behr/Baer on October 13, 1780 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. He was born circa 1752 and died on April 5, 1808 in Kossow Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. They had children: Jurgen Hinrich Johann Behr (1784-1805) Sophia Maria Augusta Behr (1790-) md. Carl Friedrich Kampcke

2

August Friedrich Streu was baptized on February 18, 1766 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. He was buried on May 31, 1766 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9.

3

Gustav Jurgen Streu was baptized on December 27, 1767 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. He probably died on February 17, 1831 in Teschow, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. He married Catharina Elisabeth Rost on October 9, 1795 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9. She was born in Alt Kätwin and baptized on October 6, 1776 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9 and died on February 28, 1817 in Kossow, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 9 They had at least two children: Johann Friedrich Streu (1796-) Joachim Christian Gustav Streu (1799-1866) Gustav and his family lived in the village of Kossow. It is unclear what happened to him after his wife died in 1817. He was probably the Gustav Streu who died in nearby Teschow in 1831, but there were multiple Gustav Streus in that parish.

4

Hans Friedrich Streu

Hans Friedrich Streu was born in Kossow, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany and was baptized on November 10, 1771 in Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁹. He died on November 12, 1825 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁶.

He went by his middle name, Friedrich. He was born and raised in the village of Kossow. He was married to the younger sister of his brother's wife. After his marriage, he and his family apparently moved frequently. They were in Groß Lantow, Kronskamp and Striesdorf; neighboring villages in Laage Parish which was just south of where he had grown up in Cammin Parish . Throughout his adulthood, Friedrich was described as a tagelöhner (day laborer). He died from "Brustkrankheit" (a chest or lung illness).

According to the 1819 census, he was born on November 10, 1771, but that was his baptism date.

Friedrich married Augusta Maria Rost(en) on October 10, 1800 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁹. She was born in Alt Kätwin and baptized on February 7, 1779 in Cammin, Cammin Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁹. She died on January 11, 1836 in Neu Goldewin, Lüssow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ¹⁴.

She went by her middle name, Maria. Her older sister, Catharina Elisabeth, was married to her husband's older brother, Gustav Jurgen Streu. According to the 1819 census, she was born in December 1781 in Kätwin ⁸. But, the parish records indicate she was baptized on February 7, 1779. She was born and raised in the village of Alt Kätwin, which was near Kossow (where her husband was from). Later during her childhood they apparently moved to the neighboring village of Neu Kätwin. All of these locations were in Cammin Parish. Then during her marriage, they lived in the villages of Groß Lantow, Kronskamp and Striesdorf in neighboring Laage Parish. Then at some point in her widowhood (probably after 1830), she moved to Lüssow Parish with her two youngest children, and remained there until her death. She died in Neu Goldewin (now just Goldewin). She died from "Brustkrankheit" (a chest or lung illness).

1	Johann Hinrich Streu was born on January 2, 1803 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6. He died on January 10, 1803 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6.
2	Margaretha Sophia Elisabeth Streu(n) was born on August 5, 1804 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6. She died on October 31, 1809 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6.
3	Johann Jochim Christian Friedrich Streu
4	Friederica Sophia Maria Streu was born on October 26, 1810 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6. She died on February 1, 1847 in Schwiesow, Lüssow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 14. She married Joachim Christian Adolph Koster on October 22, 1830 in Laage, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6. He was born circa 1805 and died on April 1, 1845 in Schwiesow, Lüssow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 14. They had the following children: Dorothea Sophia Maria Koster (1832-1908) md. Carl Christian Heinrich Theodor Freitag Johann Friedrich Carl Koster (1835-?) Maria Dorothea Friederica Koster (1838-?) Joachim Christian Carl Koster (1843-1922) md. Sophie Marie Johanna Zollick She went by her middle name, Maria. They apparently moved often during the early years of their marriage. In 1832, they were in Striesdorf in Hohen Sprenz Parish. In 1835, they were in Suckow in Gustow Parish. Then by 1838, they had moved to Schwiesow (probably what's now Groß Schwiesow) in Lüssow Parish, where they remained.
5	Carl Friedrich Ludwig Streu was born on October 9, 1813 in Kronskamp, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 6,8. He died on July 31, 1876, probably in Blue Island, Cook Co., Illinois. He married Sophia Catharine Dorothea Reincke on November 16, 1838 in Lüssow, Lüssow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 14. She died after 1875, probably in Illinois. They had the following children: Maria Sophia Friederica Streu (1839-) Carl Johann Friedrich Streu (1842-) md. Maria Sophia Dorothea Hill Maria Sophia Christina Friederike Streu (1845-1916) md. Johann Heinrich Friederich Huebner Johann Friedrich Theodor Streu (1847-1922) md. Sophia Elisabeth Johanna Nehls Heinrich Joachim Martin Streu (1850-1907) md. Sophia Louise Friederica Loscher Ludwig "Louis" Joachim Johan Streu (1853-) md. Sophia Maria Friederika Eickhoff He went by his first name, Carl. He apparently moved with his mother and sister to Lüssow Parish sometime during the 1830s. Within the first 10 or so years of marriage, Carl and his family lived in the village of Bredentin in Lüssow Parish. Then after this they apparently moved frequently and lived in the villages of Neu Goldewin, Friedrichshof, Striesdorf and Wardow. Carl and his wife moved to America in 1875 (they sailed on ship "Pomerania" which arrived in New York from Hamburg on November 3, 1875). They then went west to Cook County, Illinois, where Carl died less than a year later. It is unknown what happened to his wife, but at least four of their children also moved to America. They all settled in the vicinity of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois.

Johann Jochim Christian Friedrich Streu was born on January 21, 1808 in Groß Lantow, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ^6,8. He was baptized on January 23, 1808 in Laage, Laage Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany ⁶. He died on July 2, 1883 in Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota ^2,13.

He was baptized with the names Johann Jochim Christian. In adulthood, he usually used the name Johann and also adopted the middle name Friedrich. In the US, he used the name John.

Johann and his family apparently moved frequently in his youth. They were in Groß Lantow in 1810, in Kronskamp in 1813, in Striesdorf in 1819 and back in Groß Lantow in 1825; which were all small farming villages near the town of Laage. After their marriage, they were briefly living in his wife's hometown of Gottin where their first child was born (just one month after their marriage). They then moved north to Kritzkow Parish, where they were documented in the village of "Levkendorfer Woland" (now Neu Woland) in 1834 and 1836. Then sometime between 1836 and 1838, they moved to the neighboring village of Levkendorf, where they remained. They were documented there between 1838 and 1855. Johann was always described as a day laborer (tagelöhner) while living in Germany.

They eventually decided to emigrate to the United States. Their reasons are unknown, but was probably for economic reasons. They were likely also following relatives, including their oldest son (who probably made the trip to America in 1854) and the family of his wife's sister Magdalena Joerss (who made the trip in 1854 or 1855). Johann and his family left Hamburg, Germany on May 1, 1857 on the ship "Johannes", which arrived in New York City, New York, on June 20, 1857. In addition to their children Sophia, Bernhardt and Wilhelm; they also traveled with a Marie Streu (aged either 18 or 20). She was not their daughter, and must have been some other relative (my guess is their niece, Maria Sophia Friederica Streu born in 1839 to Johann's brother Carl - see above).

After arriving in New York, The family quickly went west to Wisconsin. In 1860, John and Fredericka were living in Raymond, Racine Co., Wisconsin. In 1870, were living near Greenfield, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. Later in 1870, Johann and his wife moved to Blue Earth County, Minnesota with the family of their daughter Sophia, and remained there for the duration of their lives. John died of "heart disease" ¹³. The burial place for John or Fredericka has not been found.

Father: Hans Christian Dethloff
Mother: Anna Sophia Struck(en)

*She was baptized with the names Hanna Maria Christiana Dorothea and used those names on her baptism, in the 1819 census, and on her marriage record. When she was confirmed in 1822, she just used the name Dorothea. As an adult though, she changed her name and always used the name Friederike (Fredericka in English and shortened once as "Ricka"). In her marriage record, the entry specifically described her as "Hanna Maria Christiana Dorothea, gennant Friederike" (Hanna Maria Christiana Dorothea, called Friederike). At some point in her adult, she also began using the middle name Sophia.

She was born and raised in the village of Gottin, and attended church in nearby Warnkenhagen. After her mother died in 1827, her siblings were orphaned. Friederike's youngest sister Magdalena (who was 13 when she was orphaned) probably moved to Kritzkow Parish with Friederike and her family, and later married there to Johann Joerss. The two families remained close.

She died of "old age" ¹³.

1	Marie Dorothea Magdalene Sophia Streu was born on September 26, 1832 in Gottin, Warnkenhagen Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 7. She died on January 9, 1844 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She was baptized with the names "Marie Dorothea Magdalene" and her death record provided her name as "Maria Sophia". She died from scrofula 15 (lymph node infection caused by the tuberculosis bacteria).
2	Johann Carl Christian Streu was born on September 21, 1834 in Levkendorfer Woland (now Neu Woland), Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. He died on March 27, 1918 in Murdock, Cass Co., Nebraska 11. He is buried in the Murdock Cemetery, Murdock, Cass Co., Nebraska. He married Johanna Dorothea Kupke on September 21, 1864 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin 2. (She was born in December 1844 in Germany and died on August 6, 1905 in Murdock, Cass Co., Nebraska 12.) They had the following children: Amelia L. Stroy (1865-1939) md. Peter Gakemeier Emma Louise Wilhelmina Streu (1867-1882) John C. Stroy (1868-1954) md. Augusta Deusing Charles Ernst Stroy (1870-1948) md. Johanna Amanda Woitzel Mary Louise Stroy (1873-1962) md. Conrad J. Baumgartner Anna Stroy (1877-1961) John apparently came by himself to America in about 1854. Within a few years, his parents and siblings joined him in America (Wisconsin). John first lived with his wife and children in Wisconsin. In the mid-1870s, they moved out west to Nebraska, where they remained. John and his descendants all adopted the spelling Stroy for their last name. Lincoln Journal Star, Mar 28, 1918, Pg. 10: "John Stroy of Murdock died at a local hospital Wednesday night. His body is being held at Castle, Roper & Matthew's parlors, pending funeral arrangements."
3	Carolina Maria Sophia Streu was born on August 22, 1836 in Levkendorfer Woland (now Neu Woland), Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She died on July 30, 1843 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She died from pneumonia 15, at the age of 6 years. She was not the Marie Streu (age 18 or 20) who migrated with her family to the US in 1857.
4	Stillborn son Streu was stillborn on October 29, 1838 in Levkendorf, Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15.
5	Sophia Maria Christiane Streu
6	Bernhard Johann Wilhelm Streu was born on September 4, 1842 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. He died after 1870. He was last found enumerated with his parents in Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1870. However, since that enumeration also included his siblings who lived elsewhere, it is possible he was not actually living there. It is possible that he is the same person as Benz/Bent "Benjamin" Stray, who lived in Raymond, Wisconsin and died there in 1872, leaving two children: Amelia and William Stray.
7	Wilhelm Heinrich Ludwig Streu was born on February 24, 1846 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. He died after 1870. He was last found in 1870 in Greenfield, Wisconsin; living in the household of his sister Sophia and her husband.
8	Louise Wilhelmine Christiane Streu was born on December 28, 1848 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She died on March 3, 1850 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She died from pertussis 15 (whooping cough).

5th Generation: Sophia Maria Christiane Streu was born on May 29, 1840 in Levkendorf, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 3,15. She was baptized on May 31, 1840 in Kritzkow, Kritzkow Parish, Rostock District, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany 15. She died on March 23, 1922 in Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 4. She is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. Father: Johann Joachim Christian Friedrich Streu Mother: Friederike Hanna Maria Christiana Dorothea Sophia Dethloff Sophia spent her earliest years in the village of Levkendorf in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, where the family was probably poor; her father was always described as a tagelöhner (day laborer). The village of Levkendorf doesn't exist anymore and the location is today part of the Rostock Airport. They were still living in Levkendorf as late as the spring of 1855, when she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Kritzkow. In 1857, when she was 17 years old, she emigrated with her family from Germany to the United States. After arriving in New York, sometime between 1857 and 1859, the family went out west to Wisconsin. After moving with her family to Wisconsin, Sophia was hired out to work as a servant to a different farming family. There is a story that the family she worked for told her that if any Indians came by, she was to give them food. On one occasion, an Indian came by when she was alone, but before he would eat any of the food, he made her taste it first so that he would know that she was not poisoning him. In 1859, Sophia married Henry Hoffman, also a recent German emigrant. In 1859 and 1860, they were living in Greenfield Township in Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. By 1865, they had moved to neighboring Franklin Township, where they took out a mortgage to purchase a farm. In October 1870, they moved to Mankato Township in Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. Sophia and her husband were members of the Lutheran Church in Mankato. In 1876, after Jesse James and his gang robbed the Northfield bank in Northfield, Minnesota, they passed near Mankato on their way home to Nebraska. One of the Hoffman's hired hand vowed to kill Jesse James when they passed near the farm, but Sophia would not let him, for fear that they would kill the family. Sophia continued to live on the farm near Mankato, where her husband died in 1906. Sometime during the 1910s, she moved off the family farm and into a house in the city of Mankato. She is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato, Minnesota. Obituary in the Mankato Free Press, March 23, 1922: "Mrs. Sophie Hoffman Dies After Residence Here Fifty Years. Another of Blue Earth County's pioneer settlers has been called by her maker. Mrs. Sophie Hoffman, a resident of this vicinity for over fifty years, passed away at her home, 1513 North Fifth Street, yesterday at 10 a.m. Death was caused by complications. She was born in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany, May 29, 1840, being eighty one years of age at the time of her death. The deceased is survived by eleven children, fifty-three grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. The children are: Mrs. Bertha Gusso, of St. Clair; Mrs. Amelia Felbert, Mankato; Mrs. Elizabeth Graham, Fairmont; Mrs. Laura Haslip, Mankato; William, Herman, George, John, Alfred, Rudolph, and Edward Hoffman, all of this city. Her husband Henry Hoffman passed away June 21, 1906, and also one son Henry Hoffman, Jr., and a daughter, Mrs. Ida Lamm. Mrs. Hoffman endured many of the hardships of the early days and saw this city of Mankato grow from a village to its present stage. She was a kind and loving woman, and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1:30 o'clock from the home and at two o'clock from the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Dr. C. Abbetmyer will officiate."

Photo courtesy of Carole Hoffman

For information on their children, see his page.