From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 577

Elias Straw, farmer, Fremont Township, was born in Dauphin County, Pa., Nov. 9, 1834, a son of Frederick and Catherine B. (Wagner) Straw. He was reared in his native county and there married, in 1855, Catherine Baker, a native of the same county, born in 1839, a daughter of Frederick Baker. In the spring of 1856, full of youthful ambition and with good health and strong wills, they left their native State and moved to Steuben County, Ind., locating first in Fremont, then a hamlet with two general stores. They soon after bought a tract of land on section 28 for which they paid $200. This they improved and lived on till 1864 when they sold it for $950. They then bought the farm where they now reside. They own 120 acres of land, all well improved, valued at $50 an acre. Mr. and Mrs. Straw have had eight children -- William, John (deceased), Albert, Granville, George, Harvey, Augusta Jane (deceased) and Hermie. In politics Mr. Straw is Republican but in local elections casts his suffrage for the man he considers the most worthy. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com