Straughan - John W. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

John W. Straughan, M.D., the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, is the well-known practitioner of Brown Township. The evidence of Southern education so apparent in the courtesy shown by the Doctor to all with whom he has occasion to speak, is accounted for by the fact that he was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, The grandparents of our subject were John and Obedience (Scott) Straughan, both natives of Virginia. The father and two brothers of John were Revolutionary soldiers, and the brothers, going South with the army, it is supposed perished while fighting, as no tidings of them ever reached their kindred after their departure. The parents of our subject, Nathaniel S. and Mary (Brewer) Straughan, were both born in Shelby County, Kentucky, about the year 1810.

Dr. John Straughan was born in the year 1831, and when about a year old his parents removed form Kentucky and located near Greencastle, Indiana, on a farm, where our subject grew to maturity. He received his education in the common schools, and after finishing his course accepted the position of teacher, which pursuit he followed until nineteen years old. His natural inclinations being toward a professional life, he resigned his position as a pedagogue and commenced the study of medicine. He read medicine for three years with Dr. William Mathews, one of the best-known practitioners in the State at that time.

After completing his studies under Dr. Mathews, Dr. Straughan entered what was then known as the Indiana Central Medical College, where he remained during the winter of 1851-52. In the spring of the last-named year he located at Parkersburgh (sic), where he practiced for one year. In the fall of 1853 he entered the New York University of Medicine, and afterward returned to Parkersburgh, in which vicinity he has since practiced, and is now known as the oldest practitioner doing work in the county.

Dr. Straughan was married in 1853 to Sarah J., daughter of Robert T. Harrison, a native of Kentucky, who came to this county in an early day, and married Miss Melinda S. Parker, whose parents also rank among the old settlers of the State. Their family consisted of two daughters: the wife of our subject; and Rebecca, wife of Jasper Osborn, of Ladoga. The union of Dr. Straughan and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of three children: Robert A., a farmer; Dr. K. K., a sketch of whose life is given elsewhere in this volume; and Mary, the wife of Robert Williams. The family of our subject's father numbered four children, of whom he is the eldest. The others are Nancy, who married Wesley Dunlavey, of Putnam County, Indiana; Margaret, who married Thomas Phillips, of Bloomington, this State; and Mary C., who became the wife of Jacob Phillips.

Dr. Straughan enjoys extensive practice, and has been a very successful physician. His career is one of honor to himself, and he is fortunate in the possession of a son of whose abilities fit him to follow in the footsteps of an eminent father. The professional career of Dr. Straughan was interrupted in the winter of 1881-1882, when he served as a member of the State Legislature. The Doctor has never branched out as a specialist, but has studied all diseases with which he has come in contact, and his successful record proves his efficiency. As a descendant of the old Revolutionary stock he is, of course, a stanch Republican, politically, and can be relied on for hearty support in the campaigns of his party. Socially, he is a Mason and Odd Fellow, standing high in both orders. He and his wife are noted for their broad intelligence and the liberality of their religious views. The cause of humanity being nearer their hearts than any creed, and the tenor of their lives illustrates their belief in the brotherhood of man.

Source: Atlas of Montgomery County (Chicago: Beers, 1878) p 5

STRAUGHAN, Dr. JW Po Parkersburg, Farmer and Physician son of Nathaniel Sanford and Mary BREWER Straughan; was born in Shelby Co KY Oct 8, 1831 and settled in Scott Twp, April 1852. On the 1st of Feb 1853, the Dr. was united in marriage with Sarah Josephine HARRISON by which union he had had 3 children: Robert Sanford, Elisha Kent Kane and Mary Ida May. Dr. S. attended the Indiana Central Medical College, Indianapolis in 1851 and 52 and University Medical College, NY City in 1853 and 54. Commenced practice of medicine at Parkersburg, In in 1852 where he continued successfully for 14 years. In March 1866 a terrific cyclone swept through that portion of Montgomery Co and completely swept away the residence of the Dr, then located on mile North of town, carrying his daughter, Ida some 40 rods and so severely injuring her that her life was despaired of; by careful nursing heal returned. Immmediately after this, the Dr. disposed of his property in Scott Twp, and purchased a farm on Sec 35, Brown Township, where he was again a sufferer by fire in 1872. Nothing daunted by loses, the Dr. built his present commodius and attractive house -a view of which is in the Atlas - where he now lives surrounded by everything necessary for comfort and happiness, enjoying the confidence and friendship of all who know him and the fruits of an extended practice.

Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana

June 16, 1911

Dr. J. W. Straughan was found dead in his garden shortly before six on Tuesday afternoon. He had gone there but a few minutes before. During the day he had been seemingly in better health and spirits than usual, and worked about his place all day. He told the men working on his walk to do a good job, but that he never expected to set a foot on it. A short service was held at the home at 12:30 Thursday. A funeral sermon was preached at the Christian Church in Russellville by Rev. W. D. Headrick, of Indianapolis, after which the body was laid to rest in the Russellville Cemetery with Masonic ceremonies. Dr. J. W. Straughan, son of Nathanial S. and Mary Straughan, was born October 8, 1831, in Shelby Co., Ky. He moved to Indiana when quite young, and after gaining a preliminary education, he studied medicine under the then noted Wm. Mathies of Greencastle. During the winter months he taught school, thereby acquiring enough money to graduate from the Indiana Medical School in the spring of 1851. He then located at the then-prosperous village of Parkersburg in this county. Shortly after this he took a postgraduate course in the University School of Medicine of New York. February 1, 1853, he was married to Mary Josephine Harrison, who survives him. To this union were born three children: Robert S., Kent K, and Ida May (Williams); six grandchildren and three great grandchildren, all of whom, except one great-grandchild, little Alice Lee Straughan survive him. He did an enormous general practice for miles around for almost 60 years, in 30 years of which he had to endure the desperate hardships and privations of the pioneer physician, of which the young M.D. has no conception. During his long professional career he was justly proud of the fact that he had never sued or been sued. He has been honored by his professional brethren by having served a number of times as President of the Medical Association of this county. In 1868 he united with the Fincastle Universalist Church, and during his whole life he never wavered in the belief that the justice and mercy of the Master were all sufficient. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow and a Mason, and at the time of his death he was a member of Waveland Lodge No. 300, also Crawfordsville Chapter No. 40 Royal Arch Masons. Politically he was a Republican and had been honored by being nominated and elected to the Legislature. During his tenure of office he made an effort to have a prohibition amendment to the constitution submitted but failed. He was so disgusted with the result that he became an independent voter, never missing an opportunity to vote for the man he thought would work hardest for temperance. Dr. Straughan was a very sympathetic man, having forfeited thousands of dollars worth of hard earned fees to the poor and needy; the stern exterior covering a warm and true heart, that constantly bled for other people's misfortunes.