Mr Isidor Straus

Photo: Le Soir, May 5, 1912, p.7

Mr Isidor Straus, 67, was born in Rhenish Bavaria on 6th February, 1845. In 1854 he emigrated to the United States settling, with his family, in the town of Talbotton, Georgia. Straus' father (Lazarus Straus) established a dry-goods business called "L. Straus & Company." and Isidor is listed in the 1860 census as being a clerk at this store. Between 1656 and 1861 he was educated at the Collinsworth Institute in Talbotton. In 1862, the Straus family moved to Columbus and Lazarus Straus opened another dry-goods business. Isidor went to work for a company that engaged in blockade running for the Confederate States (it was the time of the American Civil War). After the war, Isidor moved to New York and with his brother Nathan, became involved in the firm of R.H. Macy & Co. Finaly acquiring ownership of the firm in 1896. In addition to his business enterprise he served as a Congressman for New York State between 1895 and 1897.

Early in April 1912 Isidor, his wife Ida and their daughter Beatrice had travelled to Europe on the HAPAG Liner Amerika, it was their custom to travel by German steamer wherever possible.

For their return (Beatrice was absent) they boarded the Titanic at Southampton, travelling with them were Isidor's manservant John Farthing and Ida's newly employed maid Ellen Bird. The Straus's occupied cabins C-55-57 (ticket number PC 17483, £221 15s 7d).

Isidor Straus and his wife both died in the disaster. The body of Mr Straus was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#96).

Isidor Straus was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

Courtesy of Michael A. Findlay, USA

40,000 people gathered for the couple's memorial service which was held in New York City. Eulogies read included one by Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). Two years later a second service was held to inaugurate Straus Square on Broadway and 107th Street.

Notes
Some sources indicate that Straus was initially buried at Beth-El Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. but later moved to Woodlawn Cemetery where a private mausoleum was constructed.
A Freshman Dormitory in Harvard Yard is named after them: Straus Hall.

References and Sources
U.S. Census 1860
The Straus Family Historical Society
William Davidson A Rockaway in Talbot: Travels in an Old Georgia County. Vol. I (1983) and IV (1990).
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, April 15, 1912 and April 16, 1912
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279]).

Related Articles and Documents

		BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS: ISIDOR STRAUS
		STRAUS LETTER
		STRAUS PARK
		ISIDOR STRAUS STUDIO PORTRAIT
		STRAUS MEMORIAL
	King's Notable New Yorkers	ISIDOR AND NATHAN STRAUS
	New York Times  (1893)	JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND ISIDOR STRAUS TALKED OF
	New York Times  (1893)	FAVORS ISIDOR STRAUS
	New York Times  (1893)	NOW ABRAHAM & STRAUS
	New York Times  (1893)	ISIDOR STRAUS
	New York Times  (1893)	BUSINESS MEN OF NEW-YORK---ISIDOR STRAUS
	New York Times  (1907)	A DAY'S WEDDINGS
	(1908)	ISIDOR STRAUS PHOTOGRAPHED BY PURDY, NEW YORK
	New York Times  (1911)	AIDS FIGHT FOR LONGER PIERS
	New York Times  (1912)	STRAUS A FAMOUS MERCHANT
	Chicago American  (1912)	300 OF TITANIC'S PASSENGERS WERE BOOKED AT PARIS
	New York Times  (1912)	STRAUS'S SECRETARY WAITS ALL NIGHT
	Excelsior  (1912)	PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS TITANIC PASSENGERS
	New York Times  (1912)	NATHAN STRAUS TOLD
	Washington Herald  (1912)	MRS. CANDEE LAUDS MAJ. BUTT'S HEROISM
	Washington Herald  (1912)	CAPT. ROSTRON TELLS OF RESCUE
	The Evening Post  (1912)	THE SAD “MIGHT HAVE BEENS”
	The Toronto Daily Star  (1912)	LAST MAN TO LEAVE TITANIC WAS COLONEL GRACIE, U.S.A.
	North American  (1912)	BARBER THROWN FROM TITANIC AS IT SANK
	L'Excelsior  (1912)	MRS STRAUS WOULD NOT LEAVE HER HUSBAND
	(1912)	ISIDOR STRAUS
	New York Times  (1912)	MEMORIAL NOTICE
	New York Times  (1912)	JESSE STRAUS TO HURRY HOME
	New York Times  (1912)	MEMORIAL NOTICE FOR ISIDOR AND IDA STRAUS
	New York Times  (1912)	PEACE MEN MOURN THEIR LOSS
	New York Times  (1912)	TRIBUTE TO STRAUS PAID IN SYNAGOGUES
	New York Times  (1912)	COMFORT FOR OSCAR STRAUS
	New York Evening Journal  (1912)	MAYOR HAS TRIBUTE FOR ISIDOR STRAUS
	The New York Times  (1912)	MOST OF THE CREW SAIL
	New York Times  (1912)	MEMORIAL NOTICE
	New York Times  (1912)	PHILADELPHIA SURVIVORS ILL
	New York Times  (1912)	STEAD PROPHESIED A VIOLENT DEATH
	New York Times  (1912)	MR. STRAUS'S HORSE DEAD
	New York Times  (1912)	STRAUS MEMORIAL MEETING
	New York Times  (1912)	MEMORIAL NOTICE
	Standard Union  (1912)	FUNERAL OF HERO OF LOST TITANIC
	New York Times  (1912)	MEMORIAL NOTICE
	The World Evening Edition (New York)  (1912)	ISIDOR STRAUS BURIED IN BETH EL CEMETERY
	New York Times  (1912)	FUNERAL OF ISIDOR STRAUS
	New York Times  (1912)	SYNAGOGUE UNVEILS A STRAUS WINDOW
	New York Times  (1912)	BIG ASTOR TAX FOR STATE
	New York Times  (1912)	DAUGHTERS OF JACOB HONOR IDA STRAUS
	New York Times  (1912)	COL. GRACIE DIES, HAUNTED BY TITANIC
	The Washington Times  (1912)	COL. GRACIE IS BURIED IN GARB WORN ON TITANIC
	New York Times  (1913)	STRAUS FOUNTAIN AWARD TO LUKEMAN