BIO: Harrison STRAW, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 441 & 442.
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  HARRISON STRAW, whose fine farm of 145 acres is situated five and one-half 
miles north of Clearfield, Pa., carries on large agricultural operations and 
maintains a large dairy, with Guernsey stock.  Mr. Straw was born April 15, 
1861, in Ferguson Township, Clearfield County, Pa., and is a son of John T. and 
Sarah (Young) Straw.
  John T. Straw was born in Ferguson township and attended school in his native 
county and later taught school, following which he became a farmer and 
lumberman and spent his life as a resident of Ferguson township.  He was a man 
of local prominence and in 1881 was elected on the Democratic ticket, a member 
of the board of county commissioners and served through one full term.  He was 
a member and substantial supporter of the Baptist church.  His first marriage 
was to Sarah Young, a daughter of Albert Young, of Ferguson Township.  She died 
at the age of twenty-nine years and was buried at Zion Cemetery, in Jordan 
township.  She was the mother of six children:  Jeremiah, Albert Y., Harrison, 
William, Franklin and Anna Mary.  His second marriage was to Mary Ellen 
Barrett, a daughter of Luther Barrett.  She died when aged thirty years and was 
survived by three children, Perry, Lottie and Ida.  His third marriage was to 
Priscilla Barrett, a daughter of Hiram Barrett, and twelve children were born 
to this union, namely:  Rosetta, Cora, Susanna, Blanche, Myrtle, Carrie, John, 
Peary, Ivy Belle, Jerusha, Nora and Sarah.
  Harrison Straw was reared in Ferguson township and attended school there and 
spent one year at the Indiana State Normal School, after which he taught four 
terms of school, one in Jordan Township, two in Lawrence Township and one in 
Ferguson Township.  After marriage he engaged in farming in Lawrence Township 
and moved from there to Ferguson Township, where he spent fourteen years and 
then settled in Goshen township, in January, 1907, purchasing what was known as 
the Thompson Read farm.  He has done a large amount of improving in the way of 
building and rebuilding and has even extended his improvements outside of his 
own property, practically making a new road to approach it.  Mr. Straw has an 
income from a coal bank on his land.  He is a man of commendable enterprise and 
good citizenship and in all his relations with neighbors and acquaintances, 
stands well esteemed.
  On April 9, 1885, Mr. Straw was married to Miss Emeline Read, a daughter of 
D. R. Read, of Ferguson Township, and eleven children have been born to them, 
as follows:  Clara, Russell, Eunice, Bertie, Harriet, David, Howard, Clayton, 
William, Donald and Sarah.  Clara is the wife of Harvey Smith and they reside 
in Goshen township.  Russell who was a successful school teacher in Goshen and 
Ferguson townships, is now a resident of Alberta, Canada.  Eunice, Bertie and 
Harriet attend the Clearfield High School, while the younger children, with the 
exception of Sarah, who died when aged two weeks, live at home and attend the 
Goshen township schools.  Mr. Straw is affording his children every advantage 
in his power and there is promise of all developing into sensible, capable man 
and womanhood.  Mr. Straw and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.  In 
his political views he is a Democrat and he has served as school director and 
also on the election board at different times.