Randolph  County,  Indiana

Nathan  U. Strahan


            It is a good sign when a county like Randolph can boast of so many of her enterprising agriculturists, business men and public officials who are native sons, for it indicates that here are to be found all the opportunities necessary to insure success in the material affairs of life and that her native sons, unlike so many from various sections, have found it to their advantage to remain at home. They have been wise in doing this for nature has offered the husbandman unusual advantages here and seldom fails to reward the honest worker with gratifying results, and when the tillers of the soil are prosperous, all lines of business flourish, consequently not only the farmers succeed in the locality of which this volume treats, but also the merchants millers, lumbermen, stock dealers, and others, and the county ranks well with the thriving sections of this or any other state.
            One of our well-known, successful and useful native sons is Nathan U. Strahan, ex-sheriff of the county, who was born on January 4, 1864 in Nettle Creek township. He is a son of  Samuel R. and Martha (Hunt) Strahan, both parents natives of Fleming county, Kentucky, where they grew to maturity, received such educations as the early day schools afforded and there were married, and continued to reside until in the early fifties they left the "dark and bloody ground country" and removed with their three children to West River township, Randolph county, Indiana, but soon afterward moved to Nettle Creek township. There they became well established through their industry, working hard and enduring not a few privations and hardships, like most early settlers in any country, but they succeeded nevertheless. There Samuel R. Strahan engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising. His family consisted of eleven children, five of whom are living, namely:  Russell F., of Muncie, Indiana; Basil H. lives at Parker, Randolph county; Dr. Charles S. lives at Galesburg, Kansas; Nathan U., of this review; Hattie M., who married W. French lives in Indianapolis. The mother of these children passed away in March, 1896, the father surviving until in February, 1900.
            Nathan U. Strahan grew to manhood on the home farm in Nettle Creek township, being sixteen years of age in 1879 when he removed with the family to White River township, this county. He received his education in the public schools of his locality. He remained on the home place until his marriage on April 2, 1888 to Mary E. Wolfe, a daughter of John I. and Malinda (Pegg) Wolfe,. a substantial Randolph county family, and here Mrs. Strahan grew to womanhood and received her education. To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Ethel, Orla, Verna and Esther, all at home.
            After his marriage Mr. Strahan engaged in farming a year and was then appointed sexton of Fountain Park Cemetery, which position he held three years with satisfaction to all concerned. He then went to Indianapolis in 1892 and worked for a railroad company one year, after which he returned to White River township, his native county and resumed farming, finding the country more to his taste than the hurry and worry of the state capital. He continued general farming and stock raising with a large measure of success attending his efforts until 1910 when he was elected sheriff of Randolph county. He served two years in this important office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Leaving the farm he removed to Winchester where he still resides. He was at one time assistant assessor of White River township, proving to be a most faithful and conscientious public official. Since the expiration of his term of office as sheriff in January, 1913 he has devoted his attention to overseeing his finely improved and productive farm of over two hundred acres in White River township, two miles northwest of Winchester. Politically he has always been a loyal Republican, taking an active part in public affairs. He has frequently served as a member of the Republican county committee. Fraternally he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, having been a member of the same for twenty-three years. He has also been a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle for a period of twenty-one years, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for twelve years.
            Mr. Strahan is a progressive citizen and favors public improvements of all kinds, good roads, schools, etc.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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