The Cyclopædia of American Biography/Struve, Henry G.
STRUVE, Henry G., lawyer, b. in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, 17 Nov., 1836, son of Frederick W. and Marie Margaret (Classen) Struve. He received an academic education in the German schools, but in 1852 came to this country. He went to the Western coast in 1854 and settled in Amidor County, Cal., where he pursued various occupations for a number of years, numbering among them mining, the study of law, and journalism. In 1859 he was admitted to the bar, but in February, 1860, removed to Vancouver County, Wash., and purchased the Vancouver “Chronicle,” which he conducted for one year. In the winter of 1861 he resumed law practice, and soon afterward was elected district attorney of the Second Judicial District of Washington, serving for nearly four terms by re-election, and resigning from the office in 1869. In 1865 he was elected to the State legislature, in which he was a member and chairman of the judiciary committee, and in 1867 he was elected to the legislative council (State senate) and served as its president for the first biennial session, and also for the session of 1869-70. He was also chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and in that capacity introduced the common property law, an important measure regulating the rights in property interests of married people and was largely instrumental in securing its passage. In 1871 Mr. Struve once more took up journalistic work in Olympia, Wash, as managing editor of the “Daily Courier,” the leading daily Republican newspaper of the territory. He soon won a wide reputation throughout the State for his fearless expression of his views and convictions as to public matters; his clear vision and vigorous thought, and his elegant diction and unusual gifts of expression. In recognition of his signal services in behalf of the Republican party in his State and his general ability, Mr. Struve was appointed by President Grant as secretary of Washington Territory, which position he retained until the end of General Grant's first presidential term. In 1882 he was chosen as a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated Grant for his second presidential term. In 1877 he was appointed a member of the commission to codify the laws of Washington Territory. After one year's work, however, he found his public duties so far interfering with his professional life that he was compelled to resign from the commission. Two years later he removed to Seattle, then fast becoming the metropolis of the Northwest coast, and formed a law partnership with John Leary under the firm name of Struve and Leary. In 1880 Col. J. C. Haines became a partner; after four years of successful practice Maurice McMicken took Mr. Leary's place, and in 1889, Colonel Haines withdrew. In 1893 Senator John B. Allen became associated with the firm as a member, and a reorganization took place under the style of Struve, Allen, Hughes and McMicken. Judge Struve had become prominently identified with the civic life of Seattle when, in 1882, he was elected mayor. He served for two terms, by re-election. His administration of the affairs of the city was notable for the many improvements made, and an increase in population from 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants. He was also interested in the cause of higher education, and in 1879 was appointed regent of the Territorial University, serving by reappointment until the expiration of four terms, for the most of which time he was president of the board. He did much to extend and perfect facilities for public education in Seattle, and from 1844 to 1887 was a director on the board of education of that city and was responsible for many improvements in the public school system. He was reappointed advocate-general in 1886, and was supervising court reporter in 1887, having under his charge the preparation of the third volume of Washington Territorial Reports. He was one of the board of freeholders, which, in 1890, drew up the city charter, in accordance with which the municipal affairs of Seattle are now conducted, and served on that body as chairman of the committee on judiciary and title lands. Another innovation in the municipal affairs of Seattle, which was largely due to Mr. Struve's initiative and executive ability, is the cable system of street railways of that city. He was himself a large stockholder in the Madison Street line, and its president from the time of its organization to 1899. He was also one of the organizers of the Home Insurance Company and an incorporator of the Boston National Bank, having served on its board of directors and as its president. Mr. Struve is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other societies. In 1874 he was elected grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows in Oregon, which embraced under its jurisdiction the States of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In 1876 he was elected representative sovereign of the Grand Lodge of the Order. He married in October, 1863, Lascelle Knighton, at Vancouver, Wash., and is the father of four children.