Henry Striker of Oceanic Died of Bright's Disease

He Was the Grandson of Frederick Striker, who Fought in the Revolutionary War

Henry Striker of Oceanic died on Monday night of Bright's disease and dropsy, aged 78 years. He had been in failing health for about eight months. Previous to that time he was remarkably active for one of his years.

Mr. Striker was born at New York city, his ancestors for several generations back having lived there. His grandfather, Frederick Striker, fought in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Striker was born at the corner of Broadway and Howard street. When he was a boy the family moved into a house near French's hotel, and the site of the Striker house is now occupied by the approach to the Brooklyn bridge. Mr. Striker's father kept a barber shop and when the elder Striker died the son succeeded to the business. Just around the corner from where the Strikers lived, Mrs. Bennett, mother of James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald, kept a small general store, and Henry Striker bought his socks and suspenders there. Henry J. Raymond, who founded the New York Times, Horace Greeley of the Tribune, and P. T. Barnum, the great showman, were patrons of Mr. Striker's barber shop and at one time were personal friends of his. Mr. Striker used to do Tom Thumb's tonsorial work when he was exhibited by Mr. Barnum. During the closing years of Mr. Barnum's life he and Mr. Stryker communicated with each other by letter regarding the days of their early manhood.

About twenty years ago Mr. Striker began going to Oceanic to board for the summer. In 1885 he located there permanently and established the general store which he maintained at the time of his death. He was of a very genial disposition and was held in high regard by all who knew him.

Mr. Striker married Rachel Bloomfield VanBrunt and the couple celebrated their golden wedding three years ago. Mrs. Striker is still living and is very active. She is within a few days of the same age as her husband. Thirteen children were born to the couple, six of whom are living. Those living are Cortland I. and Lincoln Irving Striker of Brooklyn; Mrs. Henry Hoe of Jersey City Heights; Mrs. Samuel Blum of New York; Henry H. Striker, postmaster at Oceanic; and Richard W. Striker, who lives at home and conducts a barber shop in part of the store building. Mr. Striker is also survived by a brother, Frederick Striker of Wahoo, Nebraska; a sister, Mrs. Susan Bacon of Brooklyn, and a half-sister, Mrs. Sarah Posey of Washington, D. C.

The funeral was held this afternoon at four o'clock at the house and was conducted by Rev. Robert MacKellar of Red Bank. The body will be buried tomorrow at the convenience of the family in Fair View cemetery.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Jul 31, 1901

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

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