Fay Franklin STRAHORN

Notes:

Fay F Strayhorn, age 79, died on Friday, Sept. 13, 1996. A native of Rockwell, Iowa, he had been a Peninsula resident for 37 years.

Mr. Strahorn was self employed in the heating and cooling business and retired in 1987. He was a member of First United Methodist church and Wesley Bible class. He was also a member of the Hampton Kiwanis Club and Monitor Masonic Lodge. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Fay F. is survived by his wife of 55 years, Susan Jean Strahorn, and daughter. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Steven Robert Strahorn and Mark Avery Strahorn. He is also survived by two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, two brothers-in-law, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held Monday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m at First United Methodist Church, 110 East Queen Street, Hampton. A burial service will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park with full Masonic rites.

Notes:

Funeral services for Herbert Strahorn, 66, a former resident of the Ackley community who died Sunday evening at his home at Hurley, will be held at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist church here and burial will be in the Oakwood cemetery.

Mr. Strahorn was born on the old Strahorn homestead, east of Robertson, in Hardin county and following his marriage to Jessie Bird 34 years ago, he lived at Abbott where he managed a grain elevator. Fifteen years ago they moved to Hurley.

Besides his widow, he is survived by one son, Fay; three brothers, George, who lives west of Ackley; Raymond of Iowa Falls, Lyle of Hampton, and four sisters, Mrs. Irvin Wilson of Robertson, Mrs. Anna Wilson of Alden, Mrs. Grace Rutherford of Eldora and Mrs. Bert Wilkinson of Donna, Texas.

Herbert married Jessie May BIRD 26 Jun 1909. Jessie was born 22 Jun 1889, Hardin, Hardin, Iowa; died 2 Jan 1987, Carrollton, Isle of Wight, Virginia; was buried Oak Wood Cemetery, Ackley, Franklin, Iowa. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa edited by William J. Moir. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1911.

"To the citizens of Aetna township the gentleman whose life is herein reviewed is so well known as a capable farmer and honest, upright and active member of the community, as to need no introduction. Frank P. Strahorn was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1851, the son of Joseph and Eliza (Alcott) Strahorn. His father was born in 1805 and died on July 20, 1876. His mother was born in 1812, and died on December 1, 1877. His grandparents, Joseph and Alcott Strahorn, were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, and lived to be very old, dying in their native state. (grandparents were actually Samuel Strahorn & Hannah Gheen -Ed.)

Frank P. Strahorn received a common school education. In 1874 he was married to Cynthia Bird, the daughter of Ebenezer and Eliza Bird, of Hardin county. Her father was a native of New York, and her mother of Ohio. They came to Iowa in 1865, and purchased a farm in Hardin county, on which they lived until their death. Her father died in May, 1900, her mother in March, 1880. Her grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her father's family consisted of seven children, of whom the four following are living: Ella, now Mrs. Hathaway, of Nebraska; Charles H., of Hardin county; Alice, now Mrs. Bird, married a cousin; and Cynthia, Mrs. Strahorn. The deceased are Frank W., Luther and John.

Mr. and Mrs. Strahorn began married life on their present farm, then consisting of two hundred and eighty acres, where they have continued to live and to which they have added other land, until they now own four hundred and forty acres, a highly improved farm, with substantial buildings. Mr. Strahorn is a very successful farmer and business man and one of the best known and most respected citizens of his township. He keeps a good grade of stock and feeds for the market. In politics he is a Democrat and held the office of township trustee for several years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons and also of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Strahorn's family consists of his wife and nine children. Mrs. Strahorn was a successful teacher in the common schools before her marriage, and three of her daughters, Nellie, Bessie and Grace, were well known teachers of Hardin county, Grace being now employed as a teacher. The children, with the dates of their birth, are as follows: Herbert, November 2, 1875; Nellie, now Mrs. Wilkinson, March 26, 1877; Harry, March 9, 1879; Ray, July 31, 1881; Bessie, now Mrs. Irwin T. Wilson, October 29, 1883; Anna, now Mrs. Frank M. Wilson, December 7, 1886; George, September 11, 1888; Grace, who attended the state normal at Cedar Falls for two terms, June 19, 1891; Lyle R., March 26, 1893.

Mr. and Mrs. Strahorn are people who have made a financial success of life and who have sacrificed nothing in the development of character to do this. They are widely read and well informed, and their family and domestic life has been very pleasant. Known to many people of the township, they are favorably thought of by all."

Franklin married Cynthia Cornelia BIRD 12 Nov 1874, Etna, Hardin, Iowa. Cynthia was born 28 Sep 1851, Michigan; died 18 Oct 1929, Iowa Falls,Hardin, Iowa; was buried Oak Wood Cemetery, Ackley, Franklin Co., Iowa. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"To the citizens of Aetna township the gentleman whose life is herein reviewed is so well known as a capable farmer and honest, upright and active member of the community, as to need no introduction. Frank P. Strahorn was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1851, the son of Joseph and Eliza (Alcott) Strahorn. His father was born in 1805 and died on July 20, 1876. His mother was born in 1812, and died on December 1, 1877. His grandparents, Joseph and Alcott Strahorn, were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, and lived to be very old, dying in their native state. (his grandparents were actually Samuel Strahorn & Hannah Gheen -Ed)

Joseph Strahorn and his family came to Iowa in 1856, a year well remembered by early settlers on account of the deep snow of that winter. With his wife and twelve children he settled on the present Strahorn homestead, in section 29, Aetna township, Hardin county. Of his six sons and six daughters, nine are living, whose names follow: Mary Jane, now Mrs. Garrett, of Spokane, Washington; Hannah, now a widow, Mrs. Gleason, of Cedar county, Iowa; Samuel, of Spokane, Washington; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Frantz, of Portland, Oregon; William, of Portland, Oregon; Jesse, a twin of William, of South Dakota; Anna, now Mrs. Millikan, of Hardin county; Joseph; and Frank P. The deceased are George K.; Danna, Mrs. Davis; and Isabelle, Mrs. Swartwood. Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa edited by William J. Moir. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1911.



According to "oral history" and/or family lore, the Strahorns were among the earliest homesteaders in Hardin and Franklin Counties. Supposedly the oxen died in Hardin County so some of the family decided to settle there. Other family members were determined to travel further so they hitched up the cow to pull the wagon. The cow died in Ackley (Franklin County) and they decided to give up and settle that area. My mother actually had the original oxen yoke hanging on her wall as a decoration for several years. It was given to her by Franklin. It was fascinating to me. If my memory is right, she eventually donated it to the Hardin County Historical Society." -Judi (Strahorn) Wiskus

Joseph — Elizabeth ALCOTT. Elizabeth was born 27 Apr 1810; died 2 Dec 1877; was buried Oak Wood Cemetery, Ackley, Franklin Co., Iowa. [Group Sheet]