Northumberland-Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....Stroh, Andrew Jackson 1828 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 4:03 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. LIEUTENANT ANDREW JACKSON STROH, one of the oldest and most energetic and progressive citizens of Sunbury, Pa., was born on February 21, 1828, in Upper Augusta township, and also was reared in that township. He is a son of Philip and Margaret (Farrow) Stroh. A veteran of the Civil War, Mr. Stroh has an excellent record as a soldier of which he and his family are justly proud. Seeking a suitable field for his energy and industry, Philip Stroh, father of our subject, removed from Canistoga Center, near Lancaster, in 1808 and settled in Upper Augusta township where he engaged in farming, a distilling enterprise, and also added to his occupations that of butcher. A cooper by trade he had practically abandoned the occupation which he had followed in his youthful days. In politics Mr. Stroh was allied with the Whigs and he filled several local offices to the entire satisfaction of his neighbors. At the age of seventy-eight years he died in Upper Augusta township on January 23, 1838. Our subject's father twice entered the bonds of matrimony, his first wife being Miss Spindler and the union resulting in a family of six children. His second marriage was to Margaret, daughter of James Farrow who migrated from "Jugtown," now the "West End," in New Jersey near Eastern Pennsylvania, and settled in Upper Augusta township where he followed blacksmithing all his life. Mr. Farrow ended his earthly journey in 1840 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was Miss Lacy and their family consisted of nine children. Our subject's mother was born in Upper Augusta township, February 28, 1802, and died in the same township in 1867, leaving two sons, George W., and Andrew J. After receiving a public school education the subject of our sketch, Andrew Jackson Stroh, learned his trade as a harness and saddle-maker at Danville, finishing his apprenticeship in three years. In the spring of 1849 he engaged in business for himself in Sunbury continuing there until the spring of 1857. He then went to Bremer County, Ia., where he followed farming and also his trade, making saddles on the prairie. Internal strife threatened the destiny of the nation and the first drums of war had sounded their alarms. Among the first to respond to his country's call was our subject who, in July, 1861, enlisted in the 9th Iowa Vol. Inf., serving one year as orderly sergeant of Company G. He served in the Army of Southwest Missouri under Gen. Samuel R. Curtis and participated in the important and severe battle of Pea Ridge which victory for the Union troops had so important bearing upon the subsequent movements of the Union forces; and subsequently our subject fought with Gen. Franz Sigel when the threatened invasion of Washington by Gen. Lee's army was prevented. At the expiration of his first year's service Mr. Stroh was discharged because of sickness and returned to Sunbury. While the excitement preceding the battle of Antietam was greatest he assisted in raising an emergency company of prominent citizens of Sunbury of which he was first lieutenant under Capt. Charles Bruner, the company being designated as Company D, 3d Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf. The company did duty at Hagerstown, Md., witnessing the battle of Antietam within plain hearing of the fearful cannonading, and was on duty for eleven days. When the Confederates made their raid which culminated in the sanguinary struggle at Gettysburg our subject again promptly aided in raising an emergency company which was known as Company F, 36th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., under command of Col. H. C. Alleman. The company went to Gettysburg and was in service from July 5th to August 11th, 1863. Returning to his home after the services stated, Mr. Stroh engaged in business which has grown constantly until it is now among the most important in Sunbury. He acts as an auctioneer, is proprietor of the "Eagle Livery," is a wholesale manufacturer of harness and horse collars and jobber in wagons, buggies and sleighs on East Market street, doing an extensive and lucrative business. He is an honored member of William A. Bruner Post, No. 335, G. A. R., and of Fort Augusta Lodge, No. 620, I. O. O. F., and also is a past grand in the order named and has served as representative in the grand lodge of the state. Our subject married Lavina Farnsworth of Sunbury in 1850 and unto the happy couple have been born four children: Mary C., wife of F. B. Luce of Sunbury; Florence S., who married A. W. Bradstreet of Rochester, a relative of the originator of the Bradstreet reports and who, upon her demise in April, 1895, left surviving her two children, Andrew J., and Elsie, Florence and Floyd, twins, having died in their infancy; John C., of Sunbury, who wedded Lillian McCaulay of Philadelphia, five children resulting from the union, two of whom, Elizabeth and Nellie, are now living and two having died while infants; and George A., who died when quite young. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb