The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-09-02
From the Chicago Republican
Death Of Jacob Str;lwn.

oath instant. Mr. Strawd was a very remark
n able man. He came to this state at an earl
:, period and commenced busne as a farme
j, and purchaser Of cattle for the eastern ant
other markets. 1t is said of him that
whole fortune at the time of his settling il
Morgan county consisted of half IA dollar il
silver. He, however, had entered 500 acre.
of land. But energy, industry and perse
verance, in the case Of Mr.. St,uwn, as il tha
Of many other men of his mertal calibre, en-
abled him in the course ot thirty f.e years to
amass very large fortune. He one OF
the largest land holders in the slate. He and
the late Senator Isaac Funk represented the
same class of men, in Illinois agricultural
life, who bv their here, lie IN efforts have dore
so much to develop tue resources of the
Prairie State. Both these gentlemen died in
the possession of princely estates; ct least in
Europe they would be called so. Their farms,
together, would probably include between
sixty-five and seventy.fve thousand acres os
the best land in the state. Most of Mr..
! Strawn's prop rrty is situated in one Of the
finest agricultural regl MS of Illinois, and in
a county beautiful as it is productive.
/ The scenery Is that of a most charming
champaign character, the bro I'd prairies, fill
ed with fel!s OF waving wheat and richly
! tasseled corn are in,ersp rs ID here and there
I
| thousands of fat cattle and sheep NAV be seen
grazing in peaceful security. In the midst of
this country Mr. Strawn had his house a
fine, brick mansion, plain, but indicative of
comfort, surr iundel by cXten i've gardens,
aud Sdnk"d each side bv magnificent
peach aud apple orchards. Mr.. Strawn could
travel nearly all day over his prop 'rty and
scarcely be able. 10 Xaniine every portion. Of
it. He raised large numbers of cattle. hogs
and sheep for the east, and also bought horses,
cattle, hogs and $ eep in immense numbers
in Other states, and fittened them tor market
On his place. Mr.. Strawn did not atogethe-
contine his speculations to agriculture. He
built very fire block OF buildings in Jack
sonville, in which Is one of the finest halls for
social and literary Purposes, and public meet
ings generally, that can be found in the west.
l, i fitted up wit; mach taste and is the
boast of the citizens of the town. Mr. Strawn
WIS also, u'e learn. interested in a large bank
ing house at Jacksonville. The following
sketch of his life will 10 doubt prove interest
ing II Is part of the history of our state;
for to such mer as Jacob Strawn and Isaac
Funk it owes much Of is prosperity and
greatness:
Mr. Strawn came TO this state from Ohio in
1890. In Ohio he was employed As a team
s,er on the Muskingu:n river. He often sub,
sequcntly boaste1 TO his friends in Jackson
willie II at he owned two blind horses in Ohio,
and wargonei at up the river to the various
towns and settlements p n Il. Previously
II moving his family 10 thIs state he entered
about 800 acres of land near jacksonville AT
Sl.2j per acre. This was lie nucleus of tie
immense landed property he possessed when
he died, amounting t. between thirty aud
ihirty-fyc thousand a'r.s. The land euterei
=.
quarter an acre. II is ROW worth from : 10
to $jh per acre. a: this valuation Mr.
Shawn landed property alone would be worth
Sl,5nO.gOj Before novin- To this state
Mr.. Sirawn married Miss Greer, daughter Of
the Rev. John Green, then OF Nuskingum
county. Ohio, but since resident OF Morgan
county. Bv this lady he had three sons {: /
Fir t. the Rev. William Sirawn. a Presbyieri /
an clergyman. residing AT or near Ottawa IN /
this state, and man of fine education and I.
considerable talent: second, James G.. S,rawn, !
W i, called a second edition Of his father,
whom he resembles in many respects; third.
Isaac S'riNI:. gentleman of considerable I
taste and culture, and who INDUCES his pred- F.
Iiction for horse hesh TO tie extent o; keep
ing scDIo Of Tie best animals in that part OF
the state After the death of his first wife, /
Mr. SraSn remained single for some time,
very elegant and accomplished lady Of Green /
County. in this state, and a native OF England I
he Immediately lost bis heart TO her. Mr.. /
Sirawn was man of considerable oidItr OF |
character, which lie at times end favored TO /
increase IN order 10 gratify evIdsHt desire /
20 appear more rutre than he really was. es
pecially ii strangers were present. He Iik I'd |
to have persons appear surprised at his ap. (
pearance and manners. \ story is related of /
him. that h. met Miss Gates for The first time |
at her fathers door. He was bobted and ,
spurred and carried his catile-whip in his |
hand. He asked the lady If she would Lave
Lin, told her that he WAS on bis way TO buy |
cattle. but would be back III !ew days; that
be would give her that time TO refiec- uppE.
his Offer He then rode of. Some time
since lie gave notice tha, be would make 4
speech at his hall at jacksonville, and aIver>
iised it at G.ty cents admittance. Of course
the hall was picked to hear Old Jhke." "a
the boys tamiliarly called HIN. He delivered ,
a rambling discourse on cattle raFing, the |
state of the country, the war; and other top
les. The pr ceeds were handed over To some
charitable society. Mss Gates survives him
By this lady he had five children, four
s,ns and daughter, tie latter jus; GROWN to
womauhood. Two of the sons, Jacob and .
Julius, are now making the tour of Europe,
the iatner having presented them with ample |
means for that purpose.
We have spoken of Mr.. Strawn's oddities !
but they were not more remarkable than his
person lie WAS immensely stout, would |
probably weigh $50 pounds, and generally ,
rode in !, low buggy. Ii he could get a irieid |
even stranger, to ride with him, post
him Oh the news of the day. but especially |
open the gates on his property. he considered |
he In al made oujfp a npipf for the day IDu- |
ring The war LIE was Il thorough Union man,
and did great deal 10 moderate the copper
head sentiment of his section of tie state |
A short time since he offered TO give $4,000 |
tn the state sanitary commission, II the peo |
pie of Morgan county would subscribe double /
that amonat. The money was raised, and
Mr.. Strawn presented his check.or The 81 0,0OO.
Besides his immense real property. Mr.. Strawn
has large amount of MONEY loaned. Esti' |
mating his land at $50 per acre, it will he |
seen that this would swell his fortune 10 a |
million and half of dollars, but it must
greatly exceed this sum. Lattery he has |
been .eeding large amount Of pro periv 10
his children. Mrs. Strawn is a fine, ma,ron.
ly lady of so, ana displays grea deal Of
taste in the adornment OF the no use and
grounds which comprise the old homestead.
and where the family live in considerable
style. Mr.. Srawn has left her amply provid-
ed for. Her on.v d tighter is being educated
in Boston. A short lime since. Mr. Strawn
had an operation for cancer performed d on his
lip, which he appeared to bear up against
quite we'll His great obesity, however, doubt
less, was the Immediate cause of his death.
A BEAUTIFUL MIsrAKE-A lady in Nasl
Vile was making visit to the peuHentiary
and was permitted to look through the vari-
ou.; wards. In one room she saw three
women engaged in sewing. and tur ming to
the keeper, who was showing her about, said