the john muir exhibit - people - john strentzel
John Strentzel
(November 25, 1813 - October 31, 1890)
- Noted horticulturist in Alhambra Valley, near Martinez, California,
and father-in-law of John Muir
- From the time they first met, John Muir spent much time talking with
his future father-in-law, sharing their common interest in plants.
- Strentzel was born in Poland, but after the unsuccessful Polish revolution
of 1830, fled to Hungary. There he was trained in viticulture and later
trained as a physician at the University of Budapest.
- Coming to the United States in 1840, Strentzel traveled to the Trinity
River in Texas, where he built a cabin on the present site of the city
of Dallas. When the colony failed and
dispersed, he removed to Lamar County in the same state, was married
at Honeygrove to Louisiana Erwin, a native of Tennessee, and in 1849,
with his wife and baby daughter, Louie (who
eventually became John Muir's wife) came across the plains from Texas
to California as medical adviser to the Clarkesville "train" of
pioneer immigrants. Not long afterwards he settled in the Alhambra
Valley of California near Martinez and became a famous horticulturist.
- In 1880, John Muir married Strentzel's only surviving daughter, Louisa.
- In 1882, Dr. Strentzel constructed a 10,000 square foot Victorian Italianate
mansion on a knoll above his vast orchards; John and Louisa Muir moved into the home after Dr. Strentzel's death in October 1890, and it is now preserved by the National Park Service as the John
Muir National Historic Site.
- John Theophile Strentzel is buried in a small, private cemetery, along with other family members (including John Muir). The cemetery, now owned by the National Park Service, is located near the family's Alhambra Valley home.
- Dr. John Theophile Strentzel - Short biography from the U.S. National Park Service, John Muir National Historic Site.
- The San Francisco Polish Club has compiled extensive research materials and newspaper clippings on Louie's father, a Forty-Niner, Polish political refugee, physician, and horticulturalist.
This link also contains extensive information on Dr. Strentzel's wife, Louisiana Erwin, who he met in Texas, and their daughter Louisa Wanda (Louie) Strentzel Muir.. (off-site link).
- Non - web resource; "Life of Dr. Strentzel," Contra Costa Gazette, March 15, 1925.
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