Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Struve, Arthur 
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Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Arthur Struve, whose name is an honored one on commercial paper throughout 
Will county, and who is now a worthy representative of financial interests, 
being president of the First National Bank at Beecher, is a native of the 
county, having been born in Monee, June 11, 1870. His father, William Struve, 
was a native of Brunswick, Germany, born December 15, 1832. He acquired a good 
education in his native country and early displayed business qualities which 
later made him a successful man. His father was engaged in the manufacture of 
linseed oil and it is said that after the workmen were gone for the day that 
William Struve would gather up the scatterings, manufacture oil therefrom and 
make a little money for himself. His mother was in poor health, so that in 
1848 the family decided to emigrate to the United States, hoping that the 
change would prove beneficial to her. It was their plan to go west to the 
Mississippi river, where the father might get work as an architect and 
builder, for he had carried on business as an architect in his native country 
as well as a linseed oil manufacturer. On the ocean, however, the father died 
and the mother was thus left with six children. They proceeded on their way to 
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where they had friends. The mother then invested the 
money which she had in one hundred and sixty acres of land for each of her 
four boys and put a similar amount in the bank for her two daughters. In less 
than a year her death occurred. The six children and two hired men, who came 
with them from Germany, lived together for one year. An older brother died a 
year after the mother's death and another brother still older was married and 
was drowned while trying to save the life of a comrade. Thus in course of time 
the family became broken up. When eighteen years of age William Struve went 
west to the Mississippi river and for two or three years engaged in buying 
wood and selling it to steamboats. He found this to be quite profitable and 
when twenty-one years of age he returned to Sheboygan and sold his land, after 
which he bought lumber which he shipped by vessel to Chicago and thence over 
the Illinois Central, which had just been completed, to Monee. In that place 
he established the first lumberyard and engaged in business there for fourteen 
years. He likewise bought lots in the village and also bought and sold farms, 
and in his real estate manipulations as well as in his commercial interests 
met with success. In July, 1862, he answered the call for volunteers to aid in 
suppressing the rebellion, enlisting in Company D, Eighty-second Illinois 
Volunteer infantry, known as Heckers regiment. He participated in the 
memorable march to the sea and was a faithful and valorous soldier. He was 
mustered out and honorably discharged at the close of the war in June, 1865. 
About 1869 or 1870 he removed to Beecher, which had just been established 
following the building of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. Here he 
established a lumberyard and conducted it for twenty-five years, when he 
turned the business over to his son. While not a member of any church, he 
attended the services of the Congregational church and contributed liberally 
to its support. In politics he was a republican and he took an active interest 
in advancing the welfare and growth of the party, but never sought or desired 
office for himself. He was a good business man and one well educated. While in 
Wisconsin he worked for his board and the privilege of attending school. He 
was anxious to learn the English language and he not only mastered the text 
books, but read much beside. He also taught school in that state after 
returning from the west. In his business life he eagerly improved his 
opportunities, making steady advancement along well directed lines of labor, 
and as the years passed he became a prosperous citizen. He died December 1, 
1894, and is still survived by his widow. Mrs. Struve bore the maiden name of 
Rosamond Van Jordens and was born near Desseldorf, Germany, January 25, 1837. 
When twelve years of age she accompanied her parents on their emigration to 
America, the family settling at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Her father, Peter Van 
Jordens, became a farmer and lived at Manitowoc until his death. On the 4th of 
June, 1857, the daughter gave her hand in marriage to William Struve and went 
to Monee with her husband, who had been in business there for some time. She 
is still living in a comfortable cottage in Beecher and is a member of the 
Roman Catholic church, in the faith of which she was reared. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Struve were born five children. Rose, a sister older than our subject, died at 
the age of twenty-four years, while three younger children died in infancy. 
Arthur Struve was only a year old when he came to Beecher and here he was 
reared, attending the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he took 
charge of his father's business and on attaining his majority became the owner 
of the lumberyard which he conducted with success until 1895, when he disposed 
of that enterprise and turned his attention to banking, establishing a private 
bank, which he conducted from 1896 until the 11th of May, 1905. At that time 
the First National Bank of Beecher was organized and Mr. Struve became its 
president. It is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, with Hon. Fred Wilke 
as vice president and Carl Ehrhardt as cashier. Mr. Struve is half owner of 
the brick block where the bank is located and which was built by him in 1906 
in association with Thomas Clark. He is also treasurer of the Eastern Illinois 
Brick Company of Beecher and his business enterprise and activity have 
contributed in substantial measure to the upbuilding of the village. In 1895 
Mr. Struve was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Keepmeyer, a native of Will 
county and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Keepmeyer, her father now living 
retired in Beecher. Mr. and Mrs. Struve have a daughter, Rosa. Theirs is one 
of the finest homes in Beecher, built in attractive style of architecture and 
tastefully and richly furnished, and its hospitality, too, is one of its most 
attractive features. Mr. Struve is a valued member of the Masonic fraternity 
at Crete, the Elks lodge at Kankakee and the Modern Woodmen camp at Beecher. 
In his business life he has made steady progress. Keen and clear headed, 
moving slowly and surely in every transaction, he possesses that determination 
and perseverance which ultimately reaches the objective point.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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