Mr. Strawn is a son of Isaiah Strawn, a pioneer of the county (of whom see sketch on another page of this volume), and he was born and reared on the farm where he now makes his home. He was given a liberal education, and after leaving the local school was sent to Jacksonville to pursue his studies in the business college. He was a close student and stood high in his classes and left college with honor to himself and credit to the institution. He wisely concluded that a good business education would profit him as much in agriculture as in any other vocation, and having a natural taste for that calling he adopted it, and is pursuing it with the success before remarked.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Jennie, daughter of Richard Lambert, of Jacksonville, was consummated May 22, 1877. Into their pleasant home six children have been born to them, four of whom are living, as follows: Josiah died at the age of fourteen months; Jacob, Julius, Elizabeth, Lambert (deceased), and Harry. The pleasant roomy home of our subject and his wife is tastefully fitted up, and is rendered attractive to their many friends by the open-hearted hospitality so cordially extended by the amiable hostess and genial host.

Mr. Strawn stands well in the estimation of the people among whom he has always lived, and who have watched his career with friendly interest. He is gifted with foresight, firmness and tact in a large degree; his life is guided by principles of truth and honesty, and he is an honor to the citizenship of his native township.