BIO: John T. STRAW, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 704 - 706.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  JOHN T. STRAW, a retired farmer whose life has been spent in Clearfield 
County, Pa., and whose large ownership of land and prominence in public affairs 
have made him well known in different sections, still resides on his farm of 
200 acres in Ferguson Township.  He was born in Pike Township, Clearfield 
County, Pa., October 7, 1833, and is a son of Joseph and Ann (Thompson) Straw.
  Joseph Straw was also born in Pike Township and was a son of Christian Straw, 
who had the distinction of serving on the first jury ever summoned in 
Clearfield County.  Joseph Straw obtained his education in what was called the 
McClure Cemetery schoolhouse.  After his marriage he continued to live for a 
short time in Pike Township and then moved on a farm of 100 acres, in Ferguson 
Township, where he remained until the end of his life, dying in 1877, at the 
age of seventy-one years and six months.  He was buried by the side of his 
first wife.  After the Civil War he was a Republican.  He had served as road 
supervisor and as assessor of Ferguson Township.  To his 100 acres was joined 
100 owned by his wife and this land is all retained in the family.
  Joseph Straw was married first to Ann Thompson, a daughter of Agnatious 
Thompson, of Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, and they had the following 
children:  Margaret; Maria, who died when small; John T.; Isaac and Enoch, 
twins, the former dying at the age of sixteen years; and Amanda, Mary E., 
Esther A., Harriet and Joseph N., the last named being accidentally killed 
while hauling logs.  The mother of the above mentioned children died at the age 
of forty-nine years and was buried in the Baptist Cemetery in Jordan Township.  
Joseph Straw's second marriage was to Mrs. Elizabeth Templeton, a widow, and 
they had three children, George, Harvey and Alice, all of whom are now 
deceased.
  John T. Straw attended schools in Lawrence, Ferguson and Jordan Townships and 
afterward taught school for some time.  He was satisfied to become a farmer and 
after looking over the county found no place that suited him better than his 
present farm, which he subsequently bought.  He has about 60 acres cleared and 
thus still retains some valuable woodland.  Mr. Straw also owns 100 acres of 
fine coal land in Greenwood Township, has a house and lot at Kerrmoor and an 
improved lot at Marron, Pa., and is a stockholder in the Ferguson and La Jose 
Telephone Company, of Ferguson Township, and is a charter stockholder in the 
Farmers and Traders Bank at Clearfield.
  Mr. Straw was married first to Miss Sarah Young, who was born in 1837, in 
Center County, Pa., a daughter of Albert Young, and died in July, 1866, her 
burial being in the old Jordan Township Cemetery.  She was a consistent member 
of the Zion Baptist church.  To this marriage the following children were born:  
Albert Y., who lives at Clearfield, married Margret Bailey, a daughter of 
Abraham Bailey, and they have ten children - Maud, Annie, Earl, Grace, Ruth, 
John, Abraham, Winfred, Samuel and Albert; Harrison, who married Emmeline Reed, 
lives in Goshen Township; William E., who married first, Katherine Patterson, 
has one child, Ethel, and married secondly Mrs. Ellison; Anna Mary, who married 
Amos Reed, lives in Lawrence Township and they have had four children - Edna, 
Cecil, Ellsworth and Eldon; Jeremiah Franklin is deceased.
  Mr. Straw was married secondly to Miss Mary Ellen Barrett, who was born in 
1843, in Ferguson Township, a daughter of Luther Barrett, and died in May, 
1874.  She was a member of the Baptist church and her burial was in Jordan 
Township.  To this marriage the following children were born:  Perry C., lives 
in Greenwood Township; Charlotte is the wife of Blake Summers, of Jordan 
Township, and they have had five children - Cora Luella, Quay and Ray (twins), 
Mary, and George Melvin; Ida is the wife of James Rowles, lives at Glen Richey, 
and has one son, Carlton.  Mr. Straw's third marriage was on July 12, 1874, to 
Miss Priscilla Barrett, who was born in Jordan Township, Clearfield County, 
August 8, 1856, a daughter of Hiram Barrett.  They have had the following 
children:  Rosetta, whose death occurred January 26, 1911, was the wife of 
James Lang, of Dixonville, Indiana County, Pa., and three children survive her 
- Arbutus, Robert and James; Cora is the wife of Dr. H. G. Purnell, of 
Ansonville, and they have three children - Charles T., John T. and H. Garrett; 
Susanna died at the age of fifteen months; Blanche E. is the wife of J. B. 
Gates, residing in Cambria County; Myrtle is the wife of Stewart Williams, 
residing at Monmouth, Pa., and they have one daughter, Priscilla; Carrie E., 
who is the wife of Clyde Bolender, has had two children, George and Mary, the 
latter now deceased; Perie Z.; John T., a teacher at Millport, Pa.; Iva Belle, 
who is at home; Jerusha, who is deceased; and Nora V. and Sarah L.
  Mr. Straw's first purchase of land was of 100 acres and later he bought the 
second 100 acres, on which he lived for three years and then returned to his 
first farm.  He has always been an ardent Democrat and has long been 
influential in party affairs in this section.  He was elected county 
commissioner of Clearfield County in 1882 and served until 1885.  With his wife 
and family he belongs to Zion Baptist church.  He has always been interested in 
the Patrons of Husbandry.  For fourteen years he served as school director in 
Ferguson township.  Mr. Straw has always been a very robust and vigorous man 
and has easily attended to his numerous business affairs, never being willing 
to give himself a needed rest, until some two years ago, when an attack of 
rheumatism caused him to relieve himself of many of his responsibilities, 
turning them over to his very capable sons.