From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
The Straus family can be traced from Simeon Leon Straus, a merchant, who was born in Germany circa 1809, and died in Shepparsville, Kentucky sometime before 10 April 1866. He married Maria Collins, 27 December 1842. She was born in Kentucky, 1815, and died in Trenton, Texas in 1894. They had five children: Joseph, Fanny, Charles, Eugene, and Lynn.
Charles Straus was born 16 September 1848 at Waterford, Kentucky in Spencer County. He married Eliza Clark 18 December 1873, “at her home” in Cedar Hill, Dallas County, Texas. They were married by Reverend James Coleman. She was a staunch member of the Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Eliza was born 25 February 1850 in Missouri and raised in Nelson County, Bardstown, Kentucky.
Charles and Eliza had six children, who were: 1) Georgia Thalia Straus LaFavor Salzmann who married three times and settled at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, (born 13 October 1874, died 22 April 1962); 2) Mary Leon Straus Nethery Falardeau who married twice and settled in San Antonio, Texas (born 27 June 1876, died 21 August 1948); 3) James Leslie Straus who married Beulah Jaeger (born 30 May 1880, died 17 January 1926); 4) Franklin Clark Straus (born 21 December 1882, died 1 October 1935); 5) Charles Wilson Straus who married twice (born 1 August 1886, died 10 December 1941); 6) Marshall Maurice Straus who married Winnie Ann Ramsey (born 2 April 1889, died 28 March 1966). Eliza died 25 August 1923 at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and was buried with Charles at Trinity Cemetery in Dallas, Texas (until 1896 known as Trinity when it was dissolved to become Greenwood Cemetery). Charles died 31 May 1893 at Cedar Hill.
Charles Straus was a full partner and founder of Straus & Brothers General Mercantile Store in Cedar Hill. After his death, Eliza ran the store until her children were capable of controlling the business. Their son, Marshall Maurice Straus, was to eventually own and operate Straus Brothers as a mercantile business in Duncanville, Texas.
Bibliography:
- 1850 U.S. Census, p. 126 R, 398 – 398, September 1850 Census, Dallas Public Library, Microfilm.
- Certificate of Marriage, photo copy, Charles and Eliza Clark by Reverend James Coleman, owner Helen Straus Hodge, 14 October 1985.
- Eliza Clark Straus Death Certificate, photo copy, (Crane Weiland Funeral Directors, Dallas, Texas, Total No. 4770, Yearly No. 260), pp.l, 2, owner 14 October 1985, Helen Straus Hodge.
- Family Bible record of Charles Straus and Eliza Clark, The Holy Bible (Births, Marriages, Death), owner Helen Straus Hodge, 14 October 1985, photo copies, pp. 1-3.
- Greenwood Cemetery record extracts (Dallas, Texas, 17 December 1984) Raymond Bouska manager, Dallas, Texas; owner, Helen Straus Hodge, photo copies, 14 October 1985.
- Straus – Collins records (Spencer County, Kentucky, Court House, 20 September 1982), Robert P. Moore, Arlington, Straus and Eliza Clark James Coleman, owner Hodge, 14 October 1985.
By Bradley C. Hodge, Dallas
