Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

The Machinist, the Merchant, and the Sweetheart: Stories from the Chicago River

• Natalie Zett • Season 2 • Episode 90

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The 1915 Eastland disaster cast a long shadow over Chicago, and many stories from that day remain hidden—often in plain sight! This week, we’re uncovering more overlooked narratives to ensure they are remembered.

 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

John A. Rusk’s Quiet Heroism

A produce merchant whose store became a rescue hub during the Eastland disaster. His obituary, hidden in an obscure newspaper, highlights his critical role—a narrative you won’t find in mainstream Eastland histories.

 Robert F. Snyder’s Courage and Love

At just 19 years old, Robert’s heroic actions saved several people that fateful day, including his sweetheart, Bessie Straan. This episode traces their incredible story, from survival to a lifelong love forged in tragedy.

The Straan Sisters

The heartbreaking fates of Bessie’s sisters, Clara and Grace, underscore the ripple effects of disaster on one family. Their lives, though brief, are remembered with dignity and compassion.

Highlights:

  • A first-hand account of the Eastland disaster by Robert Snyder, sourced from a 1915 newspaper.
  •  Insights into Chicago’s South Water Market and the role of commission merchants like John A. Rusk in the city’s bustling produce trade.
  •  A look at International Harvester, where Robert worked, and its impact on Chicago’s immigrant working class.
  • The resilience of families like the Straans and Snyders, who found strength amid immense loss.

 Why These Stories Matter:

As far as I can tell, these stories—gleaned from century-old newspapers—have not been shared widely, if at all. They were hidden in the folds of time, waiting to be rediscovered. For me, giving voice to these individuals is not just about filling in the blanks of history; it’s about honoring lives that shaped the world around them, however quietly.

Sources: 

  • As reported in The Grand Forks Daily Herald on July 27, 1915, this story highlights Robert Snyder’s courage during the Eastland disaster.
  • John Rusk’s obituary was published in the October 18, 1943, issue of The Oak Leaves in Oak Park, IL.
Natalie Zett:

Hello, I'm Natalie Zett and welcome to Flower in the River. This podcast, inspired by my book of the same name, explores the 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago and its enduring impact, particularly on my family's history. We'll explore the intertwining narratives of others impacted by this tragedy as well, and we'll dive into writing and genealogy and uncover the surprising supernatural elements that surface in family history research. Come along with me on this journey of discovery. Hey everyone, this is Natalie, and welcome to episode 90 of Flower in the River podcast. I appreciate you joining me on this journey and we'll jump right in because, as always, there's a lot to get through. And we'll jump right in because, as always, there's a lot to get through. So in my latest weekly research adventure, I've uncovered some more remarkable stories that should be brought to light. To date they really haven't. So today we're going to discuss several lives and focus on a couple of stories that I've uncovered. First of all, we'll dive into the lives of two Eastland rescuers whose bravery and actions have largely been ignored in historical accounts. First of all, there's JA Rusk. We'll return to him because he has a very fascinating story. And then there's Robert F Snyder, a 19-year-old machinist apprentice whose courage during the chaos saved lives, including his sweethearts, and his sweetheart would be Bessie Strawn. She survived, but faced unimaginable loss when one of her sisters perished while she and another sister survived. To begin, I want to honor someone who played a pivotal role that day but seems to be overlooked by the narratives that I've researched to date. His name is John A Rusk. He was a produce merchant whose business sat practically in the shadow of the Eastland disaster. Rusk and his team were vital in the immediate rescue and recovery efforts. His store was even used as a temporary staging area for victims. Rusk's obituary, published decades later, speaks of a man deeply rooted in his community and committed to helping others, a quote-unquote colorful figure of the South Water Street market and a quiet hero of the Eastland disaster. His death notice is in a somewhat obscure paper. It's called the Oak Park Leaves the Oak Leaves sometimes and it is from Oak Park, illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago, and this is from the October 18th 1943 issue. This is his obituary. J A Rusk, 40-year resident, dies. A A Rusk, 40-year resident, dies. John A Rusk of 821 South Grove for 40 years, a resident of Oak Park, died suddenly early on Tuesday morning at his home of a heart attack Born on a farm in Rutland, illinois, in 1868,.

Natalie Zett:

Mr Rusk came to Chicago as a young man and established a produce commission business on the Old South Water Market. The tragic Eastland disaster took place in the Chicago River virtually at Mr Rusk's back door. He and his men assisted in the rescue of many of the victims and his store was commandeered to make a place for the bodies of those who lost their lives in the sinking. A colorful figure in the wholesale market for nearly half a century, mr Rusk remained active to the end. Surviving is his widow, bessie E Rusk, two daughters, mrs Robert Davis and Mrs Fern Wilson of Oak Park, a son, john R Rusk Jr of Oak Park, a brother, david, and a sister, mrs Mary O'Shea of Chicago. Seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services at the Postal Wait Chapel will take place at 3 o'clock today, thursday, and interment will follow at Forest Home.

Natalie Zett:

A little bit more about John Rusk. He was born to Irish immigrants in Chicago in 1868, or some sources say 1869. 1869. He married Bessie Robbins in 1899, and his job in the census was often listed as a merchant, and by 1910, he was living in Oak Park. So I think he was doing very well in his business.

Natalie Zett:

I did find this advertisement in a 1913 issue of Oak Leaves. It says John A Rusk, commission merchant, 264 West South Water Street, chicago, and it says Southern fruits and vegetables a specialty. So I had to do some research because the world of vegetables and merchants and such, I really don't know anything about this. But I learned that a commission merchant is someone who sells goods on behalf of others and earns a commission from those sales. That makes sense, right? So in the early 1900s, especially in trade hubs like Chicago, commission merchants played a pivotal role in the distribution of goods.

Natalie Zett:

We're speculating here, but I'm guessing that John A Rusk and they already made him sound like a character he would have been deeply involved in the produce markets of that era. Chicago's South Water Street was a central hub for produce trading, bustling with activity, as goods arrived by rail and were distributed throughout the city. Can you imagine what that was like? Whoa? Commission merchants like Rusk facilitated the movement of fresh produce from suppliers to retailers, ensuring that the city's markets remained well stocked. This system, I learned, was essential for the efficient distribution of perishable goods, especially in a rapidly growing city like Chicago. Was, at that point, the commission merchant's expertise in market trends and pricing was invaluable to both producers and consumers, and I have the feeling that John A Rusk was nota pushover, so he probably faced down some difficult situations in his life in terms of his business.

Natalie Zett:

However, the other thing I was thinking about is that, with many obituaries of folks that I have located in the last 12 months or so, a lot of times the Eastland disaster is not mentioned In John's obituary it is mentioned so obviously it was a story he told to his wife, his family and probably anybody who was around. It was important to him. It probably helped shape who he was, and so I'm grateful to have found this obituary Again. I've never seen his name in any of the records, historical records or websites that are about the Eastland disaster, or even George Hilton's book, because George couldn't get everybody in there. So John Rusk's life and legacy reminds us that not all heroes are on the front page or etched in memorials, but for goodness sake, I want to make sure that everyone is remembered in this, because this is just startling to me that so many of these stories are on the verge of disappearing and sometimes, like John's story, they are tucked away in forgotten obituaries and they're waiting for someone to find them. They're waiting to be discovered. When I spoke with Hank Z Jones, the genealogist and actor and all-around Renaissance person, he said they're waiting for you, they're waiting to be discovered and I have seen nothing so far in my journey with the people of the Eastland that would disabuse me of Hank Z Jones' statement. They absolutely are waiting.

Natalie Zett:

So with that we're going to go back to July 24th 1915, and we're going to look through the eyes of Robert Snyder as his incredible first-hand account takes us right into the heart of that tragic day. Imagine this chaos on the water, screams piercing the air and debris floating everywhere. Amid this nightmare, a young man fights against fear, exhaustion and danger, not only to save himself but to pull others from the brink. His courage and his love in the face of this horrible catastrophe paints a portrait of heroism that demands to be remembered. So let's remember Robert's story by letting him tell you in his own words what happened that day. This article appeared in the Grand Forks Daily Herald on July 27, 1915. So that's just a few days after the Eastland disaster. So 19-year-old boy is one of the heroes of the Eastland Wreck.

Natalie Zett:

One of the heroes of the day was Robert F Snyder. Only 19 years old, a machinist apprentice, young Snyder had a day off. He took his sweetheart, miss Bessie Strawn on the excursion and they were together on the north side of the steamer as she made her fateful plunge Together. They were thrown into the water. When they came up, young Snyder saw her and promptly swam for her. Before he was through his rescue work, he had saved her and four other struggling women five in all and tried to save two more. Here is his own story, in his own words. We were thrown under the boat when she capsized.

Natalie Zett:

As soon as I began to rise, I swam to the top of the water and saw Bessie. I swam to her and called to her to hold on to me. I caught her between my legs and swam toward the boat with my arms. It wasn't very far bar. Just as I got started, two women who were struggling in the water saw me. They grabbed me around the neck and held me pretty tight, so tight that they dragged me under the water. We were down several minutes, two or three, I should say. I had to hold my breath pretty tight. The two women were pretty well excited, but Bessie was calm. She made no fuss and held tight to my legs, I managed to fight my way to the top of the water and I came up right close to the boat.

Natalie Zett:

I saw a board one of those that holds the life preservers to the top of the deck. It was sort of pointing out and I managed to catch hold of it. I worked pretty hard and raised the three girls to the top of the water with the aid of this board, and then I caught hold of a long piece of hose that ran along the side of the deck and the girls caught this too and held on. We all kind of rested and held on. We all kind of rested, and when I got my strength back a little I raised them to the side of the boat. They managed to get on the side and then I dropped under the water as I was pretty well exhausted. But I am a water rat. I was raised in New York alongside the East River and I'm used to the water. So I soon recovered my strength.

Natalie Zett:

When I came up I saw Miss Martha Strausky, a friend of Bessie's, struggling in the water. I saw her go down and I went down after her a few feet but couldn't see her under the water. When I rose, she was gone. I don't know whether she escaped or not, as she seemed to go under the stern of the boat. I looked for her but could not see her again.

Natalie Zett:

Then, as I was on the surface, I saw two women alongside me. They were in the water under the top deck of the boat, which was clear of the river. They saw me and struggled to grab me. We were very close to the boat, not over a yard or so, I should say. I noticed that one of these women had a gash over her left eye from which blood was flowing. I went down under the water and under the woman and as I came up I caught her around the waist. The other woman slipped away from me and sank. She must have drowned.

Natalie Zett:

The woman I grabbed, I raised to the surface and then I yelled for help, as my strength was pretty well gone. A man lifted her out of the water onto the side of the boat but said to me that I was strong enough to get out alone. And I guess I was, for I managed to raise myself to the side of the boat and climbed on it. Then I tried to find Bessie's sister, miss Grace Strawn, who, with her other sister, clara Strawn, who was saved, was also aboard, but I could not find her. I then tried to help the men who were pulling people out of the water, and I did manage to raise the other woman who was in the water at the side of the boat and get her on the boat. By that time, though, I was feeling pretty weak. My strength was about gone and I was afraid that Bessie might catch a bad cold if she kept standing there. So I went to the dock and took Bessie to my home on a streetcar. We were pretty wet, but some women on the car wrapped her in paper, and one of them gave her a dry coat to cover her. I didn't need anything anything, as I'm used to being wet, and then tonight I don't feel much the worse for my ducking Again. This was from the Grand Forks Herald. Date July 27, 1915.

Natalie Zett:

So what happened with all of these people after the Eastland disaster? Well, we'll get into that, but let's learn a little bit more about Robert Snyder and about Bessie Strahan. Robert Snyder and about Bessie Strahan. Robert was born in Brooklyn, new York, on February 16, 1896. His parents were also born in the United States, but his family roots trace back to Ireland and Germany. At just 19 years old, robert was carving out a life for himself in Chicago. Robert was carving out a life for himself in Chicago.

Natalie Zett:

Then there's Bessie Strawn. She was born in Chicago on April 25, 1892, to parents who had immigrated from Bohemia, now called the Czech Republic. At the time of the Eastland disaster, as pointed out, Robert and Bessie were sweethearts. They were on the steamer together when it capsized. Robert's quick thinking and bravery saved Bessie's life, along with several others, and we'll talk about those others in a few seconds. Their story fortunately didn't end with the Eastland. Just over a year later, on August 27th 1916, robert and Bessie married. Their story, forged in the chaos and heartbreak of one of Chicago's darkest days, is a beautiful reminder of the power of love and hope. According to Robert's draft registration card from June 5, 1917, the couple was living in Chicago's back-of-the-yards neighborhood.

Natalie Zett:

Robert was a machinist working for the International Harvester Company and he was the sole provider for his father, mother and his wife. I want to talk a little bit about International Harvester because it figures prominently in Chicago's history at the turn of the 20th century. If you know Chicago's history, you've heard of International Harvester. International Harvester was a giant in the industrial world and its roots run deep in Chicago. The company was formed in 1902 in Chicago when McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, founded by Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper, merged it with Deering Harvester Company and a few smaller firms. International Harvester became a powerhouse in agricultural machinery. They produced everything from tractors to trucks there. Mccormick's work factory on the south side was a massive operation churning out equipment that revolutionized farming across the globe. Fyi, my grandmother, annie Pfeiffer, before she worked for Western Electric, she worked for McCormick. According to the stories my grandmother shared with her daughter, my Aunt Pearl, she much preferred working for Western Electric, who knows why.

Natalie Zett:

Back to International Harvester. It was not just about what it was doing. It was a lifeline for Chicago's working class. Thousands of immigrants from Eastern and Central Europe, among others, found work in its factories, shaping the neighborhoods like Back of the Yards and Bridgeport. Of course it wasn't all smooth sailing, by no means. There were labor strikes and union battles that were part of the story. But International Harvester also stood up for backing progressive worker policies like the eight-hour workday. Well, by the mid-20th century the company faced tough times. Eventually the agricultural division was sold and International Harvester evolved into what we now know as Navistar International, but the legacy of those Chicago factories is still woven into the city's industrial history.

Natalie Zett:

So when we talk about Robert, this young apprentice at this industrial giant, we're placing him and his family at the heart of Chicago's working class story. He was surrounded by the grit and determination that defined and created this city. By 1920, robert was still working at International Harvester and he and Bessie had welcomed their first child, robert Jr. But by 1930, life had changed. Robert had taken a job as a machinist with the railroad and the family moved to 5340 South Hermitage Avenue, still in the back of the yards. By then they had a daughter, julie, in addition to Robert Jr.

Natalie Zett:

By 1944, the family had relocated one more time to a house in the Morgan Park neighborhood on Chicago's far southwest side, and this is known for its rich history and strong community ties. That year marked a tragic loss for the family, though Bessie passed away by then, robert Jr, their son, was serving in the army, and Julie, their daughter, was married with a child of her own. Robert lived on for many years, eventually moving to Tacoma, washington, where he spent the last 17 years of his life. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 71. His obituary mentions his two children, robert Jr, who moved to Los Angeles, and his daughter, now Julie K Jeffries, who remained in Chicago. He was also survived by his sister, loretta, and five grandchildren. His body was brought back to Chicago for services and burial, closing the final chapter of his life.

Natalie Zett:

Let's talk about Bessie's sisters. So for Bessie, she wasn't the only member of her family aboard the Eastland that day. Her sisters were with her as well. What became of them is another chapter that we need to uncover.

Natalie Zett:

Clara Strawn, who accompanied Robert and Bessie on the Eastland, was born on February 27, 1897, in Chicago, september 27th 1897 in Chicago. Tragically, she died just over a year after the Eastland disaster, on September 27th 1916, at the age of 19. I'm still searching, but I want to know what was the cause of her death. Could it be because she was in the Chicago River for so long that she became ill? During my research, I have found that this happened more often than one may think, although such cases are rarely, if ever, included when the Eastland story is told. Clara is buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, illinois, a place I know quite well because it's literally sharing the same ground with Bethania Cemetery where so many of my relatives, including my Aunt Martha, are buried Now, grace Strawn.

Natalie Zett:

Grace Strawn was born on July 5th 1900 in Chicago and she died on the Eastland at just 15 years old. I'm going to read her obituary from the July 31st 1915 Chicago Tribune. This will give you an idea of what was going on with that family as well. Strawn, miss Grace Strawn, 15 years old, 5339 South Hermitage Avenue, was with her two older sisters, clara and Bessie, on the Eastland. She was not employed at the Western Electric Company plant. In addition to the two unmarried sisters named, she is survived by her father, james Strawn, husband of the late Catherine Strawn, née Alessic, two sisters, mary and Anna, and three brothers, john, james and Stanley. Funeral services were held Thursday, july 29th, from the residence, followed by high mass at St Cyrillus Church and interment at Resurrection Cemetery.

Natalie Zett:

A little bit about this church. Any of us with Eastern European lineage background know of St Cyril and St Methodius and this was predominantly a Czech church and it was a historic church of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Chicago. It was located at 5009 South Hermitage Avenue, so it sounds like it was very close to their home Hermitage Avenue. So it sounds like it was very close to their home. It was built in 1913, and it predominantly served a bohemian congregation for decades until the archdiocesan budget cuts in 1900 led to the church being closed. It's a beautiful structure and I will share it in my poster that I make for each episode. Sorry that it closed. Sounds like it was a place that brought people together.

Natalie Zett:

So what do you say about something like this? Well, the Eastland disaster forever altered the lives of witnesses, rescuers, survivors and families of those who were killed. For JA Rusk John Rusk, who assisted in the rescue it made enough of an impact on him and his family to include that detail in his obituary, Since he's not mentioned anywhere else that I could find. I'm so grateful to have located this obituary. For Robert Snyder, what can I say? I'm just grateful to have found his story and to share it, since it, too, is not mentioned in any of the historical records that I could find.

Natalie Zett:

As you know, it's always best to let interview subjects speak for themselves, right. As for Robert and Bessie, the chaos of that day marked the beginning of a love story that would endure decades of challenges, more loss and change. From their humble beginnings in Chicago's working-class neighborhoods to their growing families. Their lives were etched by this tragedy and we'll never know if or how they talked about it as the years passed. But I do see a pattern of well, fortitude and determination that defines so many of those people of that era and that's based not just on my family story, but it's the story or stories of everyone who was affected by the Eastland disaster and they deserve to be mentioned and their stories deserve to be told because they were there John Rusk, robert Snyder, bessie Strawn, Clara Strawn and Grace Strawn.

Natalie Zett:

All of their stories are intertwined with Chicago's industrial rise and immigrant history and they provide a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of those who shaped the city's fabric. Their experiences remind all of us that history is not just a series of events but a collection of lives lived with courage, love and perseverance, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Please take care of yourselves and each other and remember to dive into your own family history, and I'm going to let you in on a little secret If you do that, you not only contribute to your history, to your family's history, but engaging with it changes you as well. Aka Mariska Hargitay. She says I think the gift of letting someone tell their story may be the most grace-filled gift we can give.

Natalie Zett:

Hey, that's it for this episode and thanks for coming along for the ride. Please subscribe or follow so you can keep up with all the episodes, and for more information, please go to my website, that's wwwflowerintherivercom wwwflowerintherivercom. I hope you'll consider buying my book, available as audiobook, ebook, paperback and hardcover, because I still owe people money and that's my running joke. But the one thing I'm serious about is that this podcast and my book are dedicated to the memory of all who experienced the Eastland disaster of 1915. Goodbye for now.

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