Dr. John Theophile Strentzel

Dr. John Strentzel.

Collection E1-50

John Muir's Father-in-Law

Early Life and Education

Dr. John Strentzel was born in Lublin, Poland, on November 29, 1813. His family was well-to-do and able to provide a life "attended with all desirable comforts." At age six, he was sent to school along with the sons of officials and nobility. In 1830, he joined an attempted overthrow of Russian domination in Poland. When the revolution failed the following year, John Strentzel was forced to flee his homeland and move to Hungary. There, he gained knowledge of vineyard culture and the wine trade. He also began his medical studies at the University of Pesth, Hungary, earning his diploma in 1839.

A Journey to America

Dr. Strentzel immigrated to the United States in 1840 and moved west to Texas, where he settled and married Louisiana Erwin in 1843. Their first child, a daughter named Louisa (Louie), was born in 1846, followed by a son, John, in 1848. The family moved to California during the 1849 Gold Rush, enduring many harrowing experiences before settling along the Tuolumne River and establishing a ferry, a hotel, and a general store. Later, they took up farming along the Merced River but lost the farm in a flood. A second daughter, Lotta, was born in 1851 but lived only four months.

Life in the Alhambra Valley

Seeking a quieter life, the Strentzels moved to the Alhambra Valley near the town of Martinez, California, in 1853. Dr. Strentzel bought 20 acres of land and used his Hungarian vineyard knowledge to experiment with a wide variety of grapes, fruit and nut trees, as well as ornamental plantings. Importing seeds and cuttings from around the world, Dr. Strentzel employed new scientific methods in horticulture, exhibiting oranges and award-winning wines as early as 1861.

Dr. Strentzel's fortunes increased over the years as demand for his produce grew. He bought additional land and planted large vineyards and orchards that included Muscat, Zinfandel, and Tokay grapes, along with over 50 varieties of pears. Eventually, he tried over 1,000 varieties of fruit trees and ornamentals, earning a reputation as a pioneer in California horticulture.

Family and Friendship with Muir

The death of the Strentzels' son, John, in 1857 was a crushing blow to the family. Their only remaining child, Louie, received an extensive education and became a pianist of concert caliber. However, she chose to remain with her parents on their fruit ranch, helping run their thriving business.

Muir and Dr. Strentzel were mutually impressed with each other, and a warm friendship began. The Strentzels were delighted when Muir proposed to Louie in 1879. Dr. Strentzel gave the newlyweds 20 acres of land and the family home to live in after their marriage the following year. At age 67, Dr. Strentzel gained the son he had always wanted.

Later Years

In 1882, Dr. Strentzel built a 17-room mansion on a knoll overlooking his vast orchards. John Muir took over as ranch manager, overseeing the 2,600-acre operation when Dr. Strentzel’s health began to fail. Capitalizing on crops established by his father-in-law, Muir secured his own modest fortune over the next ten years, enabling him to resume his writing and conservation career later on.

Dr. Strentzel continued his horticultural work and practiced medicine whenever needed. He also preserved his Polish heritage, keeping scrapbooks on Polish achievements and hosting Polish artists and writers, including Henryk Sienkiewicz and Madame Modjeska. In 1880, a commemorative committee honored him for his role in the 1830 Polish National Uprising.

In his later years, Dr. Strentzel described his life:
"My faithful companion (Louisiana) and I live very comfortably and quietly in our declining years. We have a commodious house with pleasant surroundings, in the midst of orchards and vineyards in full view of Martinez and Benicia..."