Randolph County, West Virginia Biography of CYRUS OSCAR STRIEBY This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 488-489 Randolph CYRUS OSCAR STRIEBY. Learned, resourceful and highly trained, with an honorable record and varied experience back of him, Cyrus Oscar Strieby, of Elkins, is easily one of the leading attorneys practicing at the bar of Randolph County, and one of the most prominent citizens of the community in which he has resided for so many years. He was born on a farm near Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1866, a son of Henry J. and Rachel (Ridge) Strieby, grandson of Jonas Strieby, and great-grandson of Jacob Strieby. The Strieby family is of German origin, but is one of the oldest in Pennsyl- vania, where Henry J. Strieby was also born. Rachel Ridge was born in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of Nathan Ridge, also a native of Pennsylvania, but of Scotch lineage. Henry J. Strieby was born in 1835, and was reared in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, but left his native state for West Virginia in 1880, to settle in Hampshire County, where he continued to reside upon a farm until his de- mise, which occurred in 1903, when he was sixty-nine years old. His wife died at the age of sixty-three years. They had six children, as follows: Sadie A., who married Rob- ert J. L. Swisher, and they are residents of Cumberland, Maryland; Cyrus Oscar, whose name heads this review; Emma A., who married John F. Portmess, and they reside in Hampshire County; Joseph C., who is a prominent stock- raiser and fruitgrower of Hampshire County; Harry E., who is a merchant of Romney, West Virginia, owns a fruit farm in Hampshire County; and Clara M., who married S. Mack Saville, of Hampshire County. In politics Henry J. Strieby was a democrat. Although reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, after he came to West Virginia he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which denomination his wife also belonged. Cyrus Oscar Strieby was fourteen years old when his parents brought him to Hampshire County, and he was reared on a farm. While living in Pennsylvania he enjoyed such exceptional educational opportunities that after he came to Hampshire County, at the extremely youthful age of sixteen, he was able to secure and teach successfully a country school, and with the money thus earned con- tinued his own education, teaching in all four years pre- vious to entering college. He took his classical course in Susquehanna University at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and completed it in 1889. This institution subsequently con- ferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Leaving the university Mr. Strieby was engaged in teaching one year, to earn money to meet debts incurred while at col- lege, and then began the study of law at Saint George, Tucker County, West Virginia, under the preceptorship of W. B. Maxwell, now of Elkins. On December 18, 1890, Mr. Strieby received license to practice law, and in the succeeding January he became associated with Mr. Max- well in the practice of his profession at Saint George. This association continued for three years and was then dissolved, Mr. Strieby going to Davis, West Virginia, where he was alone in his law practice. In December, 1911, he came to Elkins, and has remained here ever since, building up a large and lucrative connection. Very promi- nent in the local democratic party, he was elected mayor of Elkins in 1917, and served as such until 1919. He was the incumbent of the office during the period of the war, and in that capacity rendered a much-appreciated serv- ice. In the year 1904 he was the democratic nominee for judge in his circuit, which was strongly republican, and although not elected received a large complimentary vote. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, having returned to the faith of his forebears. Fraternally he maintains membership with the Masons and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On April 16, 1896, Mr. Strieby married Addie Adams, a daughter of John J. and Angeline (Ewin) Adams, of Saint George, and they are the parents of two daughters, Eleanor and Ruth. Miss Eleanor is a graduate of Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, and for the past two years has been a teacher in the Elkins High School. Miss Ruth is a student of physical education at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. As a lawyer Mr. Strieby is capable, discerning and trustworthy, a convincing pleader, and a man with talents which make for success. He is upright and straightfor- ward in all the transactions of life, is generous to the needy, and kindly disposed to all. It is to the lives and activities of such men as he that the younger generation must turn for its inspiration. It is to the accomplishments and character of such men that civilization must give credit for its being and advancement.