ated at Columbia college in 1871 and at its law-school in 1873. He practised law until 1881, and then entered mercantile life, retaining his interest in literature. In 1887 he was appointed by Cleveland U. S. minister to Turkey, and reappointed by McKinley in 1898. Mr. Straus is a close student of American history, on which he has lectured and written articles for periodicals, and he has published “The Origin of the Republican Form of Government in the United States of America” (New York, 1886) and “Roger Williams, the Pioneer of Religious Liberty” (1894).
STRAWBRIDGE, Robert, pioneer, b. in Drummer's
Nave, near Carrick-on-Shannon, County
Leitrim, Ireland; d. in Maryland in 1781. He came to
this country some time between 1760 and 1765,
settled on Sam's creek, Frederick co., Md., and soon
opened his house for religious services. Shortly
afterward a Methodist society was formed, and a
place of worship, known as the Log meeting-house,
was erected. Mr. Strawbridge now travelled
constantly through the state, forming new socities,
and in order that he might go on these journeys
his farm was cultivated for him by his neighbors.
After residing on Sam's creek about sixteen years
he removed to Long Green, Baltimore county,
where the use of a farm had been given him for
his life. He died while he was on one of his preaching
tours. It is a matter of dispute whether he or
Philip Embury founded the first Methodist
society and built the first chapel in this country, but
most authorities give Embury priority. A full
discussion of the point may be found in Joseph B.
Wakeley's “Lost Chapters Recovered from the
Early History of American Methodism” (New
York, 1858), and John Atkinson's “Centennial
History of American Methodism” (1884).
STRAZNICKY, Edward R. (strats-nik'-y),
librarian, b. in Moravia, Austria, in 1820; d. in
New York city, 9 Feb., 1876. He was educated
at the University of Vienna, taking degrees in the
departments of medicine and philosophy, and
acquired by travel a familiar knowledge of modern
languages. During the Hungarian rebellion he
served as an officer in the revolutionary army.
At the defeat of the Nationalists he went into
exile, and his property was confiscated. After a
brief residence in England, he came to the United
States, and found mercantile employment in
Philadelphia. In 1859 he became assistant librarian in
Astor library, New York city, and in 1872 he was
elected superintendent, which office he held till
the time of his death. He was also secretary of
the American geographical society.
STREET, Alfred Billings, author, b. in Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., 18 Dec., 1811; d. in Albany, N. Y.,
2 June, 1881. He removed at an early age to
Monticello, Sullivan co., N. Y., and was educated
at Dutchess county academy, after which he studied
law with his father, Randall S. Street, and practised
in Monticello. In 1839 he removed to Albany, in
1843-'44 edited the "Northrrn Light," and from
1848 till his death he was state librarian. Mr.
Street began at an early age to write poetry for the
magazines, and he attained a respectable rank as a
descriptive poet. Some of his productions were
highly praised by critics, and several of his poems
have been translated into German. His publica-
tions include " The Burning of Schenectady, and
other Poems " (Albany, 1842) ; " Drawings and
Tintings " (New York, 1844) ; " Fugitive Poems "
(1846); "Frontenac, or the Atotarho of the Iro-
quois, a Metrical Romance " (London, 1849; New
York, 1850); "The Council of Revision of the
State of New York," a history (Albany, 1859);
" Woods and "Waters, or the Saranacs and the
Racket." describing a trip in the Adirondack re-
gion (New York, 1860); "A Digest of Taxation
in the United States (Albany. 1863) ; a collected
edition of his poems (2 vols., 1866); and "The In-
dian Pass," describing explorations in Essex coun-
ty, N. Y. (1869). He also contributed sixteen
poems to John A. Hows's " Forest Pictures in the
Adirondacks " (1864). and published various poems
that he read at different colleges, including Geneva
(now Hobart) (1840); Hamilton (1850); and Yale
(1851) : also one on the battle-field of Saratoga.
STREET, Augustus Russell, donor, b. in
New Haven, Conn., 5 Nov., 1791 : d. there. 12
June, 1866. He was graduated at Yale in 1812,
and studied law, but was compelled to abandon it
on account of feeble health, and remained an in-
valid during the greater part of his life. From
1843 till 1848 he resided in Europe, travelling and
devoting himself to the study of art and the mod-
ern languages. Mr. Street inherited a fortune,
and gave largely to benevolent objects. He pre-
MMitrd to Yale its school of the fine arts, one of its
finest buildings, also making partial provision for
its endowment, founded the Street professorship
of modern languages, and made provision in his
will for the establishment of the Titus Street
professorship in the theological department. His
daughter married Admiral Andrew H. Foote.
STREET, Whiting. philanthropist, b. in "Wal-
lingford. Conn., 25 March. 1790 ; d. in Northampton,
Mass., 31 July, 1878. He was educated at public
schools in West Springfield, Mass., and was suc-
cessively a farmer, a freight-boatman on Connecti-
cut river, and a bank director. He accumulated a
large fortune, and at his death left 106,000 to the
city of Holyoke and twenty-one adjacent towns,
to be used for the benefit of" the worthy poor that
should not be already in charge of the public.
STRIBLING. Cornelius Kinchiloe. naval
officer, b. in Pendleton. S. C., 22 Sept., 1796; d. in
Martinsburg, W. Va., 17 Jan., 1880. He entered the navy as a midshipman. 18 June, 1812, and served in the frigate " Mohawk " on Lake Ontario in 1815, where he participated in the blockade of Kingston. He was commissioned lieutenant, 1 April. 1818, cruised on the Brazil station in 1819-'20, and then in the West Indies suppressing piracy. He com- manded the sloop ' Peacock " in the East Indies in 1835-'7. and was on leave for two years after his return. He was commissioned commander, 24 Jan., 1840, and in 1842-'4 had the sloop " Cyane " and frigate " United States " successively on the Pacific station. For the next two years he had command of the receiving-ship at Norfolk, and he then went out as fleet-captain in command of the ship-of-the-line " Ohio," of the Pacific squadron, during the latter part of the Mexican war, returning to New York in April, 1850. He was superintendent of the naval academy at Annapolis in 1850-'3, was commissioned cap'tain, 1 Aug., 1853, and commanded the steam sloop " San Jacinto " on special service in 1854-'o. He was commandant of the Pensacola navy-yard 1857-'9, and served as flag-officer in command of the East India squadron in 1859-'iil. When the civil war opened he returned home, and, notwithstanding the secession of his native state, adhered to the Union. He served on the board to regulate the compensation of government officers in 1861, and on the light-house board in 1862. Hy operation of law he was placed on the retired list in December, 1861, but he continued to render valuable service in command of the navy-yard at Philadelphia in 1802-'4. and from February till July, 1865, as comrnander-in-chief of the Eastern
