An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 448

	J.W. STRACK, City Engineer, Spokane, Washington, is a native of Michigan,
born in Caledonia, Kent county, son of John and Lena (Demert) Strack, natives of
Canada. His father was a boot and shoe merchant.
	Mr. Strack received his education in his native county, being a graduate of
the Grand Rapids high school. He acquired a practical knowledge of his
profession through private instruction and by hard study and practice. He lived
in Grand Rapids for some time, and from there moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota,
where he made his home nine years. In 1886 he moved to Spokane, Washington, and
for some time was in railroad employ in this vicinity. Then he opened an office
in Spokane, and the firm with which he is connected is one of the most noted in
the Northwest. He was subsequently appointed City Engineer by the City Council,
served until the expiration of his term and retired from office. He was,
however, re-appointed to the same position by Mayor Drumheller, and again
received the appointment from Mayor E.L. Powell, May 2, 1893.
	He was married, in 1888, to Miss Ida May Snyder, a native of Illinois and a
daughter of ex-Judge Snyder, their marriage being consummated at Spokane. Mrs.
Struck is a graduate of Christian College, Spokane, having received the highest
honors of her class. They have one child, Royal Byron, aged two years.
	Mr. Strack comes from a literary family, and is himself a great reader and a
man of broad and progressive views. His residence and grounds are among the
handsomest in Spokane. His residence was built at a cost of $15,000, is finished
and furnished with all modern improvements, and the general surroundings of this
beautiful home indicate at once that the owner and his family are people of
culture and refinement.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

* * * * 

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.