Felix Straub Henry Mallory's Gems of Thought and Character Sketches (1895) describes some of Hamilton's early businessmen including Felix Straub:  "Felix Straub was the proprietor of the Old Schmidtman House that stood where the New St. Charles now stands. That was in 1849. He afterwards kept the Butler House. But it was in the Straub House where he attracted the most attention.
	1885, Straub House Among those pictured (right to left):  Judge W.H. Harr, John Aydelotte, Warner Ells, James Kelly, Dr. Charles Keely, Dr. Sam Millikin, Dr. Anderson, N. Ellis, Joseph Fieber with sons Eugene, Joseph, Elmore and Leon and daughter Pauline.  The Fieber family was managing the house at the time.

 

He knew all about the hotel business, and when be bought the Straub House, he brought the whole experience of his past life to make this the most attractive place in this city, and he succeeded, for of all men who ever operated a hotel, Felix Straub was the most fortunate in having a helpmate who could make anything attractive that she undertook. The Straub House externally was not such as to make a favorable impression. It was illy constructed, and too small for the business. But Mrs. Straub by her magic hand and large social qualities, and the ease and grace that marked her movements, literally won the good will of everybody, and the Straub House was known all over the country. When Felix Straub died, she carried on the business for several years, and when she retired, she left the house full of people, as it always had been under her management." (p. 93)

Page from the Straub House account book (1867) showing expenses  for the week including Mrs. Straub's weekly salary of $5.00

 © 2000 by the Butler County Historical Society