Strain - Joseph H. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

In another column of this issue the Weekly Star is glad to have been authorized to make the announcement of JH Strain of Wann for the office of State Senator from the 13th Senatorial District. Mr. Strain is so well known in the state of Oklahoma that an extended introduction is not necessary. That he stands well with all Democrats and a large nuimber of the rank and file of the opposition is proven by the many good words for so worthy a man when politics are not in season. There is hardly any question as to his nomination and following his and following his nomination his election is assured.

JH Strain was born on a farm in Montgomery County, Indiana April 29, 1857. When a small boy, in the spring of 1866,kl his father disposed of his Indiana farm and emigrated to Cass County, Missouri where JH grew to manhood upon one of Missouri's splendid farms. He received an academic education and was married to one of Bate County's fair maidens in 1876.

With wagon and team, a few dollars in his pocket and his young wife by his side, he courageously started out to get a home in the then much advertised Eloldrado of northwest Iowa, where railroad land could be obtained on long time and at a low price. He located on 80 acres in Sac County which he obtained for $5 per acres on five years time. For several years he and his young wife underwent the hardships of pioneer life on a farm in the cold climate of Iowa, but he persisted, tilling the little farm in summer and teaching the home school in winter, until fortune began to smile upon his efforts, when he began to add a few acres of land to his possession and in the spring of 1897 he found himself the owner of 360 acres of land worth $65 per acre, the best improved farm in his township and but one other farmer paying more taxes than he. However, with all of his success, he always had a yearning to return to the beautiful SOuthland and, consequently, he sold his farm and emigrated in the spring of 1897, to Kay County, Oklahoma, where he invested in farm lands.

Four years ago Mr. Strain sold out in Oklahoma, coming to the Cherokee Nation, where he purchased one-half interest in the then proposed townsite of Wann, on the new line of railroad then building into Oklahoma by the MK &T where he immediately demonstrated his faith in Indian Territory by platting the town of Wann, erecting substantial buildings and opening up a bank. Wann is now a beautiful little city with substantial two-story brick buildings and in one of the most substantial of these structures is the Citizens Bank of which Mr. Strain is president and five of the seven stockholders are substantial farmers in the vicinity of Wann.

While Mr. Strain says he always expects to reside in Wann, yet he is a farmer, practically his whole life having been spent on a farm. He has always been active in politics, being chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of his county in Iowa for several years. He was also active in the Farmers' Alliance, being county organizer. Soon after coming to Oklahoma he was elected chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Kay County and at the first election thereafter he had the pleasure of seeing a Republican Majority of 500 turn into a Democratic victory of 300 majority. Since the organization of the Democratic Party in Nowata County, Mr. Strain had been chairman of the county central committee until this spring when he resigned.

His activity in politics on both sides of our new state, give him an extended acquaintance with all the leading politicians in the state. He was urged to come out for State Treasurer by the best men in the Territory, but declined never having an ambition to hold office. And it is only through the urgent request of friends that he now consents to ask for the nomination of State Senator for the 30th Senatorial District. If Mr. Strain the farmer, laborer and business man will have an able supporter, and the Unholy Trust a foe of fear. Mr. Strain's platform is the constitution and WJ Bryanism.

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Source: 1910 United States Federal Census View 1910 United States Federal Census View

Name: Joseph H Strain Age in 1910: 52 Birth Year: abt 1858 Birthplace: Indiana Home in 1910: Hickory, Nowata, Oklahoma Race: White Gender: Male Marital Status: Married - Father's Birthplace: Indiana Mother's Birthplace: Indiana Native Tongue: English Occupation: State Industry: Senate Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner Home Owned or Rented: Own Home Free or Mortgaged: Free Farm or House: House Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Years Married: 21

Household Members: Name Age Joseph H Strain 52 Verna J Strain 44