BIOGRAPHY: Jacob J. STRAYER, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 478-9 ____________________________________________________________ JACOB J. STRAYER, son of John P. and Julia Ann (Kleinfelter) Strayer, was born November 6, 1842, in what is now Morrellville, then Conemaugh township, Cambria county. His grandfather, Adam Strayer, was a native of Richland township, this county, where he died. Grandfather Strayer was a farmer. He married and became the parent of nineteen children. His son, John P. Strayer, named above, was born in Richland township, June 8, 1806, living prior to his death on the old Conemaugh township homestead, now within the limits of Morrellville. He purchased a farm of one hundred and forty-six acres previous to his marriage, paying $1.50 per acre for the tract. This, with the exception of a small field, was in timber. He was among the very early settlers. A potter by trade, he carried on the business of manufacturing stone and earthen-ware until 1854, in conjunction with farming. He also did some work along the line of contract hauling. Politically he was a democrat. He married Julia, a daughter of Henry Kleinfelter, a native of Cambria county. To this marriage twelve children were born, one of whom, Mary, died when two years old. The others are: Catherine, J. J., Annie, who is the widow of Scott McFeaters; Aaron, who resides near where subject now lives; Cyrus, deceased; Henry, lives in Morrellville; Emma, wife of William Patch, lives in Morrellville; Ella; Walter, at home with his sisters Catherine, Elizabeth and Ella. Mr. Jacob J. Strayer married Mary, a daughter of John Mackell, to whom seven children have been born, viz.: Elsie, born December 16, 1877; Eva May, born June 18, 1879; Gertrude, born June 18, 1881; Milton J., born January 17, 1882; Levala Jeannette, born January 26, 1888; Mary Blanche, born September 6, 1891; Ruby Irene, born August 29, 1893. Mr. Strayer was educated in the common schools which he attended three months in the year until his sixteenth year. He was reared on his father's farm and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for a short time, and then contracted for the erection of buildings. Many of the most substantial buildings in Johnstown were erected by him, and are a monument to his skill; among them may be named the Merchants' Hotel, Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital, Penn Traffic building, G.A.R. building, the fine residences of the late Charles von Lunen, Charles Kress, Mr. Weir and many others. While thus engaged he was frequently called upon to settle estates. In June, 1894, he sold out and engaged in the lumber business. Politically he is a democrat. Mr. Strayer entered the army in 1865, in response to the last call for volunteers, and served in company E, Ninety-eighth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, until the close of the war. His regiment was attached to the Third brigade, Second division of the Sixth Army corps.