Streight - James B.
Source: H. W. Beckwith History of Montgomery Co IN (HH Hill, Chicago
1881) p 403
Jesse B. STREIGHT, mechanic, Crawfordsville, was born July 13,
1806, in Marion County, West Virginia. He is the son of Peter and
Elizabeth (BAYLES) Streight. His brother served in the war of
1812. Mr. Streight early learned the carpenter's trade, and has
given the most of his time to that vocation since 1824. February
28, 1829, he was married to Ada HENRY, of Monongahela County,
Virginia. Their family have numbered ten: Mrs. Harriet BARNHOUSE,
of Paxton; Mrs. Alcinda KELLEY, of New York; Van B., in Denver,
Colorado; E. W., at Crawfordsville; Mrs. Lou GILL, of Paxton ; T.
L. at Crawfordsville; Nathan and Mrs. Ellen Gill, dead. Mr.
Streight in 1828 cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and has
continued throughout his life a firm adherent of the democratic
party, of the Jackson stripe. Prior to the war he was captain of
a rifle company, and August 8, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 15th
Va., Union army, under Capt. Sidney F. Shaw and Col. McCaslin.
Thus, at the age of fifty-six, he risked his life for the welfare
of his family and country. He served three years, till the war
closed. He was, to a great extent, engaged in caring for his sick
comrades, and toward the close of that war he had charge of a
hospital ward. He had three sons who fought in the same cause:
Van B. was in Co. A, 18th Ind. Vols.; E. W. was in Co. B, 76th
Ind., and was promoted till he became orderly sergeant; T. L.
enlisted in the 6th Va. Light Art., and was wounded, and now
receives a pension for pain and hardships endured in the cause.
All served three years. At the close of the war Mr. Streight
returned to Virginia, and in 1865 moved to Paxton, Illinois,
where he followed his trade till 1876, when he came to
Crawfordsville. Here he engaged in the planing-mills, in which he
still continues. E. W. Streight was born in Monongahela County,
Virginia, and early learned the trade of carpentering. In 1859 he
went to Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1861 to Greensburg, Indiana.
He next became foreman of Shrader's chair factory, at Batesville,
where he remained two years, then became foreman of Kimble &
Sherfy's furniture factory; at Greencastle. Leaving Greencastle
he came to Crawfordsville, where he was employed as foreman of
the coffin factory owned then by Robinson & Co., for three
years. In 1871 he built the planing-mills, 30X82-1/2, at a cost
of about $8,000, on the corner of Green and Spring streets, and
here, in connection with his father, and brother, T. L., does all
kinds of work in this line-manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds,
door and window frames, and all kinds of wood work, rough and
dressed lumber, flooring, siding, molding, turning, and scroll
work. They keep several hands employed constantly. This mill was
an important addition to the industries of the city. Mr. Streight
was married to Mary WHITE and his brother was married to Rebecca
LOYD, both ladies of Greensburg, 1ndiana. They own eight shares
of $25 each in the new Crawfordsville fair property. All are
democrats except E, W., who is a republican.