The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-23
Obituary.
ROBERT sTRA WN.

| Robert Strawn died at his fine home
on West Madison ST., Mt three o'clock on
SUNDAY afternoon, of Brights disease and
heart trouble, aged sixty.three years, four
months and six days,
Mr. Strawn complained of feeling languid
and unwell about two years ago, aud at once
placed himself Under medical care. His i'll.
ness gradually increased, however aud soon
affected his heart AZ this stage he was
compelled to give up business cares, and
went to Chicago, where he obtained tempo
rary relief, Last winter, however, he be.
came so i'll tina, he again visited Chicago, but
without relief and upon his return, on jan
uary fourth, did not again leave his room.
He was the sou ofJoel and Lydia strawn,
whose home, at the time of his birth, Sep.
llth, 1925, was near Freeport, Ohio. In
1884, when he was nine years old, his pa,
rents sundered the ties that bound them to
their Ohio home, and joined the little com
pany of pioneers who drove their stakes in
the rich prairie land about this city. choos-
ing as their home the excellent farm, west of
this city, now owned by Abner Strawn. Here
it was that Robert laid the foundation Of
magnificent physique and II healthy, expand
ed intellect. He became familiar with the
trees and the shrubs, and romped about the
| bluffs and the white river before there was
thought Of the broad res about him becom-
ing docle under the plow and the harrow.
He was familiar with the old tradition Of the
Indians, who visited his log cabin home as
was an able assistant to his father in the
management of his lands, and under his
training acquired that forethought and sa-
gaciry in farming affairs which made him so
successful as husbandman in after life.
In lS47, he married Mifs Elizabeth A.
Rhoades, by whom he had four children,
Lydia, Zeta Nellie and Theodore. Just af-
ter marriage he moved to Marshal county,
and settled in the wilderness breaking and
farmir g quarter section of land. Here he
remained five years, and then selling his
property, returned and purchased quaint
ty of canal land about two miles from the old
homestead. In 1867 he purchased his large
brick home on the west side, and retired
from rural life, still retaining the active
management of his farms
He was natural farmer, and ever among
the first to adopt Improvements and labor.
saving machinery. he was the first, in this
section, to put up hay with q derrick, or to
use a Mccormick reaper, or a horse rake.
He was ever on the lookout for improve.
ments, aud being a man of great ingenuity,
constructed and made valuable additions to
labor-saving devices He was the first ad
vocate of a warehouse on the wide waters,
and assisted in building it.
In every sense he was self-made man,
and despite the disadvantages under which
he labored in acquiring knowledge, the com,
mon school of his day being mere primary
school, he became by close application, a
thorough English scholar, and very fair
historian.
N In religious matters he was ever promi
nent. and assisted in the building Of a
church in Marshall county, and of another
near his old home. He was. during his lat
ter years, a member of the board of trustees
of the vi. E church, having been identified
with that denomination for many years.
The funeral took place from his late resi-
dence at two o'clock on Wednesday after.
noon, when his remains we're laid at rest in
Ottawa Avenue cemetery.