Mr. John Strouss, a resident of Walnut, Bureau County, IL, passed away on April 27, 1933 at the age of 93. Mr. Strouss was a great traveler and very active and energetic until his last illness in March 1933.
He was born in Unionville, Beaver County, PA. In his youth, he lived on a farm near Champaign, IL. On November 14, 1867 he married Mary Addie Campbell of Fisher, IL. To this union were born 10 children. In 1894, the Strouss family moved to the north of Walnut on a farm near the Green River.
On August 15, 1861 when the call came for defenders of the Union, John Strouss answered the call as a volunteer. Although a resident of East Bend, he enlisted in Chicago in the 37th Regiment, Company G, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Fremont Rifles." The 37th Illinois Regiment participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove and the sieges of Vicksburg and Fort Blakeley. Additionally, the regiment was involved in numerous skirmishes while performing garrison duty in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. It also served brief stints in Tennessee and Florida. The 37th Illinois traveled nearly 18,000 miles during the war, and served longer than any other infantry, cavalry or artillery unit from Illinois. He was honorably discharged on October 4, 1864. Today, along with other members of the 37th, his name is engraved on the Illinois State Memorial in the National Military Cemetary and battlefield at Vicksburg, MS.
Mr. Strouss was a member and faithful attendant of the Walnut Christian Church. His remains were laid to rest in the Walnut Cemetary. Submitted by: Dennis Krebs