It took a while to determine that the fellow featured in this article was the father of Mom’s aunts Madeline Regan and Evelyn Sturmer, but everything matches up, so here we go:

We’re talking about Leopold Sturmer.

He was born on a farm near Hartford on April 15, 1878.

In 1902, Leopold not only worked for a newspaper, he was featured in that paper:

Apparently, young Leopold’s physique was so impressive, the local YMCA engaged a professional photographer:

Here’s some more praise of Leopold’s muscles:

All this attention must have got Leopold to thinking.

And training.

I haven’t found any additional mentions of “Young Hercules” in the ring.

Leopold married Anna Tack in 1902 and became a father in 1904 (Madeline) and again in 1906 (Evelyn).

As the girls approached their teenage years, their parents’ marriage fell apart. They divorced in 1921, but both remarried. Anna lived near her daughters in New Haven for the rest of her days.

There’s one additional story to tell about Leopold. This one is from 1898.

BROTHER VS. BROTHER

That irrepressible Sturmer family of the Blue Hills, Berlin, came to the front again yesterday, and as the question of incipient murder came up, it created a great sensation in that vicinity, and the objective point of the grangers of Berlin was the town hall, where Justice Taylor sat in all his greatness, and presided over the trial of William and Leopold Sturmer, who were charged with three offenses, viz., assault with intent to kill, plain everyday assault and breach of the peace. The whole Sturmer family was mixed up in the case, as well as several neighbors.

The story of the case is an abridged version of the “Comedy of Errors.” The charges were proferred by John Sturmer, a brother, and he was backed up in his testimony by the father, Joseph Sturmer, while the accused had as supporters of their story their three sisters and diverse dwellers in the neighborhood.

The alleged heinous offenses were committed, it was alleged, Monday night, when Leopold and John got into a discussion relative to the merits of one of the brothers as a scythe swinger, said discussion resulting in a scrap.

All hands went to bed and slept on it, but in the morning the situation was all the worse, and in place of an actual fight came a threat from John to kill either Leopold or William if they didn’t quit the premises at once. Leopold took the hint and did not return till night, accompanied by his brother William. They found John doing guard duty, armed with a wagon stake. Leopold and John got at it again, and William was crazy to pitch in, but Pa Sturmer advised him to let them have it out.

The outcome of the whole business was John’s complaining to the authorities, and the trial. The weight of the testimony was against John, on account of numbers, and Justice Taylor strongly advised his arrest, but here the good offices of Attorney Danaher came in as a peace commission. The brothers were discharged, and the attorney advised a reconciliation with such good effect that Pa Sturmer and his two sons shook hands, but when it came John’s turn to do this brotherly act, it was found that he had skipped to the parental roof.

~ Excerpts taken from a front-page article in The Meriden Weekly Republican, August 11, 1898 edition

Let’s close with another version of the Young Hercules photo from the newspaper.

There’s a “sharpen” function on Ancestry, so here goes:

It’s not the smoothest tool for editing a newspaper photo, but now we can get a better idea of what Leopold looked like back in 1902. He just might be ready for a Cage match, don’t you think?

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