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Stephen Struber, son of Jerrich Struber and Kate Summer, born around 1839 in Germany and after migrating to the United States, enlisted on April 26, 1861 at Troy, New York as a Private into the Union Army. On May 14, 1861 he was mustered into Company "K" of the 2nd New York Infantry and on July 17, 1861 he was promoted to a Musician, and then back to the rank of Private on January 15, 1862. Company K was recruited at Troy, New York. He remained in America for five years before leaving for Australia. The 2nd Regiment, New York Infantry was organized at Troy, New York, accepted by the State April 24, 1861, and mustered in the service of the United States at Camp Willard in Troy for two years on May 14, 1861. At the time of muster in, the regiment consisted of forty-five officers and 974 enlisted men. It left New York for Fortress Monroe, Virginia on May 18, 1861, attached to Fortress Monroe, Camp Hamilton and Newport News, Virginia, Department of Virginia until May 1862. The 2nd participated in the occupation of Newport News, Virginia on May 29, 1861, saw action at Big Bethel on June 10th and was at Camp Hamilton and Newport News again until June 1862. It then participated in the expedition up the James River on January 17, 1862., saw action between the Monitor and Merrimac in Hampton Roads on March 8th, joined the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula on June 5th, participated in the Battle of Oak Grove on June 25th, Seven days before Richmond from June 25th through July 1st and was in action at the Peach Orchard and Savage Station on June 29th. It saw action at White Oak Swamp and Glendale on June 30th, at Malvern Hill on July 1st and again on August 5th and then returned to Fortress Monroe and then on to Centreville from August 16th through the 26th. It participated in Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia at Bristoe Station on August 27th, participated in the Battles of Groveton on August 29th and Bull Run on August 30th. It also participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg from December 12th through the 15th, the infamous "Mud March" on January 20th through the 24th, 1863, saw action at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5th and 7th, the Chancellorsville Campaign from April 27th through May 6th, fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville from May 1st through the 5th and mustered out on May 26, 1863 at the expiration of their term of service. Stephen was mustered out of the military on May 26, 1863 at Troy, New York. During its service, the regiment lost 17 enlisted men killed in action, 1 officer and 7 enlisted men of wounds received in action, 23 enlisted men of disease and other causes. A total of 1 officer and 47 enlisted men. of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy. Stephen was married to Mary Godecke, apparently prior to arriving in Australia. Stephen and Franz Stuber arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia aboard the ship Golden City in 1865 and arrived in Rockhampton, Queensland that same year; taking up land at the Nine-Mile Waterhole. Stephen remaining there for some forty years. There are no marriages on the Queensland BDM’s, so Stephen must have been married prior to arriving in Queensland and again later, to Maria Jorgens. Children listed in the Queensland births include Ellena Maria, May 23, 1867; Josepha Aegetha, August 15, 1971; Stephen Frank, February 21, 1876, died February 27, 1876; Stephen Franz, March 7, 1877, died May 22, 1878 (child of Stephen and Maria Jorgens); Katherine Sophia, June 19, 1879; Maria Katrina, August 15, 1881 and Mary Ann Amelia, October 9, 1884. From 1874 through 1876 Stephen was recorded living in the Queensland, Blackall area as a Freeholder, with a valuation of 100 pounds at Nine Mile Waterhole. In 1877 he was again listed as a Freeholder with a valuation of 100 pounds, but at Rockhampton. Crown land sales recorded under his name include; 1874 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 40 1875 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 36 1878 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 160; 160; 320; 160 1882 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 21, Perches 4 1883 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 250 1883 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 240; 200; 495 1886 – County: Livingstone, Parish: Wiseman, Acres: 360 Franz Struber, his brother who was born around 1845, married Maria Connor on January 10, 1877. Their children included Maria Catherina, born November 29, 1877; Catherina, born February 25, 1880; Franz, born July 4, 1882; Annie born October 1, 1884, died February 14, 1885 and Theresa, born April 25, 1887. The 1879 – 1879 Electoral Roll also lists Franz living at Blackhall, Queensland. In 1874 - 1876 he was a Freeholder with a value of 100 pounds at Nine Mile Waterhole and in 1879 a Leaseholder, valued at 10 pounds per annum at Cawarral, Queensland. Eleven acres of Crown land was sold to Franz in 1874 at Wiseman Parish, Livingstone County, In 1883 Franz was again sold three parcels of Crown land, 402 acres, 188 acres and 785 acres in Livingston County at Meadow Flats Parrish; also 770 acres at Herbert Parrish. In 1886 he again purchased two parcels of Crown land, 243 acres and 233 acres, in Herbert Parrish and another 364 acres in Meadow Flats Parrish; all in Livingstone County. From 1874 through 1886 Franz purchased a total of 3,196 acres of Crown land. In 1903 Franz was shown living and working as a grazier at Torumbel, Sandhills. His polling place was at Cawarral, division of Capricornia. Living with him were Maria, Maria Catherine Ceclia, Francis Michael and Catherine Jaldia; all under the name of Struber. Franz Struber died at 78 years of age on April 12, 1923. His wife Maria died at 89 years of age on October 22, 1939. The Early History of Rockhampton states that; “Two well known and respected naturalised German residents of the district are Messrs Stephen and Franz Struber who landed in Brisbane by the Golden City in 1865 and came on to Rockhampton the same year. Both brothers have reared large families in the district. Mr Stephen Struber was five years in America before he came to Queensland and fought for the Union in many of the early battles. He was a witness to the great fight in James River between the Confederate ship Merrimac and the Federal ship, Monitor , in March 1863 in which the Monitor was successful. In 1903 Stephen was living at Hanover Square with Mary, Hanna, Josephine and Sophia and was working as a farmer. Maria died on July 25, 1907; Stephen died at 83 years of age on August 24, 1922 and was buried on Friday, August 25, 1922 at the Rockhampton Cemetery in Section 0000, number 492. |
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Bruce D. Frail, SVUCW Dept of Rhode Island, Graves Registration Officer Central Queensland Historical Association, North Rockhampton Kelli Stediford, Central Queensland University Library Linda Marshall, CQFHA Michael S. Bennett National Archives, Film Number M551, roll 136 New York: Report of the Adjutant-General New York Volunteers, 2nd Regimental Infantry Histories Queensland Birth, Death, Marriage Records The Early History of Rockhampton, J.T.S. Bird, p 89, published by Central Qld Family History Association Inc. 1999
1870 – 79 Queensland Electoral Rolls |
