The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-08
JACOB sTRAwR.
A Brief Sketch Of His Life and
Habits.
The Greatest Farmer in the World.

Jacksonville tn, correspondence, Jolly 2oth of the
Springfield Journal.
Another of our citizens Of wealth, in
Thence and extensive notoriety, has been
taken from our midst. Jacob Strawn,
known throughout the country az the
great Illinois farmer, died at his residence
four miles southwest of this city, at nine
O'Clock ]. N. last Wednesday, the 23d inst.
For, Q length of time Mr.: strawn has been
suffering from q cancer IN his stomacn ;
but no serious apprehension was felt OF his
immediate decease, and at the time OF ms
death all hiss children were away from
home. On Wednesday last he was at
tackled by severe pains in his stomach, re-
sembling collie, and at the hour mentioned
he bresthed his last.
Mr.. Strawn was born in Pennsylvania
in the year 1900. In early youth he had
but few advantages, and his education, If
80 it NAV be called, was such as to Undue
him with that independent, indomitable,
and vigorous spirit that characterized his
after life. When he was quite young his
father moved to Ohio, taking his family
with him. Here young Jacob remained
until his majority, at which time, as we
have heard him remark, his whole fortune
consisted of an old iron hoe and chance
to work for his daily bread.
He began life for himself by raising SIX
teen acres of wheat, which he traded for
sixteen steers, which he sold at proht
After this he dealt mainly in cattle. He
was a shrewd, haIdworking business man /;
and when. on tue first OF May, 1851, he
made his home in this country, he pos
sessed four new wagons, each with team
of four fine horses, aud had consider
able amount of ready money in silver and
gold. Here he bought land, and went at
once into the business of raising, buying
and selling cattle. He was rapid talker,
q keen Judge OF human nature, a prompt
actor. knew how to drive a bargain, and
always made money. He seldom came
to town. was very busy every moment,
was always in the field, or in the saddle,
going from place to place. Until within
g few years, he was his own accountant
and his own banker, and, strange as it
may seem, kept no books, trusting en-
tirely to his memory, which never failed
him. Soon he was worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars, and the work his
busy brain had to do was such as few men
could accomplish. In physical labor, also.
he excelled in every department. With q
common hand sickle be had been known
to reap, bind and shock sixty dozen bum
dies of wheat in day.
Farmers will understand this TO be what
not more than one man in thousands
could perform. Soon he became known
as the great cattle dealer of the west, and
wealth in large streams began tospour in
upon him. He frequently added to his
landed possessions, and any one who has
visited "The Mound" west of this city,
must remember his vast fields covered
with droves of cattle. His "home gar
den,". as he called it, consisted of ten
thousand acres of the richest and most
beautiful land in the State. Besides this,
he had several other farms. In earlier
days, he carried large sums of money upon
his person; and on several occasions his
life was attempted, as he rode alone
through the country. At one time near
Alton, he was attacked by three robbers,
whom he thrashed and put to fight, with
his cattle-whip. He was man OF wos-
derful muscle and activity. He could
spring over the highest fence, by merely