Robert STRAHORN

1826 - 1903  (~ 76 years)

• Name	Robert STRAHORN
  Birth	Sep 1826	West Buffalo, Union, Pennsylvania
  Gender	Male
  Death	26 May 1903	Chicago, Cook, Illinois
  Burial	28 May 1903	Oak Woods Cemetery, Cook, Illinois
  Notes	"R. Strahorn & Co., Live Stock Commission, Room No. 85, Union Stock Yards. The following are the sales of this firm during the year 1884, viz.: cattle, 108,000; hogs, 91,000; sheep, 16,000. Liberality and promptness have always characterized the transactions of this house." -Chicago's Leading Industries "ROBERT STRAHORN, Chicago, the dean of stockyards commission merchants, both in years and period of business career, died at his residence, 4935 Washington Ave., yesterday afternoon. He was 76 years old. His death was just one year after that of his wife, who came to Chicago as his bride fifty years ago. Mrs. Strahorn died May 25, 1902, and since her death her husband had grown perceptibly weaker. Coming here from Ohio in 1853 (probably 1855 -Ed) Mr. Strahorn became one of the commission merchants in the old Sherman stockyards, then located at State and 22nd Streets. From that time he was actively interested in the commission business in Chicago, and for years has been regarded as an authority by the younger men of the yards. He was born in Wayne County, Pa. (no, actually West Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania -Ed.) leaving there for Ohio when a boy. In 1853 he married Julia Murdock, and leaves one son, Harry C. Strahorn, who was associated with him in business. Until two years ago Mr. Strahorn had no partners in business. Then he established the Strahorn-Hutton-Evans company, of which he was president at his death. The funeral will be held Friday, the burial being in Oakwoods. He was a member of the Home Masonic Lodge." -Chicago Daily Tribune, May 27, 1903. 1900 US Census in Chicago lists Robert and Juliet, granddaughter Edna Haight, and two servants.
  Person ID	I443	Zentmeyer Main Tree
  Last Modified	21 Nov 2016

  
  

  Father	Thomas STRAYHORN,   b. 02 Nov 1797, East Buffalo, Northumberland (now Union), Pennsylvania d. Bef 1860, Union, Pennsylvania (Age 62 years)
  Mother	Catherine HEIDENRICH,   b. 1801, New York d. 1887 (Age 86 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1820
  Family ID	F568	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Juliet MURDOCK,   b. May 1830, Spencertown, Columbia, New York d. 25 May 1902, Chicago, Cook, Illinois (Age ~ 72 years)
  Marriage	1853	Newark, Licking, Ohio
  Children	+ 1. Florence STRAHORN,   b. Abt 1855, Ohio d. 1895, Hailey Hot Springs, Hailey, Idaho (Age ~ 40 years)   2. Harry C. STRAHORN,   b. 13 Dec 1868, Chicago, Cook, Illinois d. 28 Apr 1927, Chicago, Cook, Illinois (Age 58 years)
  Family ID	F570	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 May 2022

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Strahorn Residence, Kenwood Illinois House and barn shown, built in 1887, the architect was Burnham and Root. It was located at the southwest corner of Greenwood & 47th in Kenwood, a Chicago suburb on Lake Michigan.
  		Hailey Hot Springs Hotel, built by the two Robert Strahorns On August 6, 1888 Robert E. Strahorn and his first cousin once removed also named Robert Strahorn paid $20,000 for the Hailey Hot Springs property, the Lamb Ranch, and a controlling interest in the Electric Light Works. Carrie Adell Strahorn later wrote, "Domestic difficulties at the Hailey Hot Springs probably accounted for their being thrown on the market as they were owned by one J.L.G. Smith, who was so cruel to his family that his wife at last picked up a shotgun and killed him, an act justified by the courts and in the hearts of many of the Hailey citizens." The Strahorns built a resort with a first class hotel heated by spring water, separate men's and women's swimming pools, a ballroom, and a bowling alley. It was lighted by incandescent lights. Carrie Strahorn wrote further "No pains or money was spared making the place attractive to people such as Jay Gould and other notables, who found it a charming retreat." The Union Pacific and the Oregon Short Line did much to make the resort a success. In 1890 the Hailey Hot Springs Hotel Company was formed to raise $150,000 to purchase and improve the resort. Robert E. Strahorn left the company, and his cousin Robert Strahorn and other local businessmen took over. A new addition was added to the hotel with three stories and sixty-five rooms. Tragedy struck on August 2, 1899 as the Hailey Hot Springs Hotel burned to the ground. The Wood River Times reported a rumor that the fire was "accidently set by the upsetting of a lamp used by some ladies who were curling their hair." All of the guests escaped injury, but the hotel was never rebuilt. Sources: Hot Springs Hotels of the Wood River Valley by Florence Blanchard, and Hot Springs of the Wood River Valley by John Lundin.
  		Strahorn-Hutton-Evans Reconveyance From the Zentmyer Collection. Strahorn-Hutton-Evans was the livestock trading firm Robert formed late in his career. This document released a security interest in a herd of Texas cattle, and was executed by Robert Strahorn.
  		Advertisement in American Building Association News Evidently Robert was a director of a Building and Loan late in his career.
  		Robert Strahorn Obituary Published in the Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 May 1903 (See corrections in 'Notes' above)
  		Probate Petition Robert died intestate, that is without leaving a will. In this petition, his son Harry Strahorn asks the court to allow him to administer the estate, estimated to be $120,000, or $3,000,000 in today's dollars.
  		Strahorn Mausoleum, Oak Woods Cemetery Built in 1883, the mausoleum hold the remains of Robert Strahorn and his wife Juliet Murdock. It is located on Memorial Drive near the southern end of the Lake of Memories.