Strahl, J. F.

STRAHL

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/29/2008 at 16:24:24

J. F. Strahl

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.180, Minden Twp.)
J. F. Strahl, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in Cedar County, Iowa, February 14, 1848. He is the son of Eli and Sarah A. (Edwards) Strahl, both natives of Ohio, he born in 1815 and she in 1822. Both the parents are at present living near Iowa City, Johnson County, this State. They ahd seven children - three boys and four girls. The father was a farmer. When only sixteen years old, he went in to the army, and remained till the close of the war. He afterward contracted for the carrying of the United States mail from Albany, Mo., to Leon, Decatur County, this State. He has also been in the livery business in Iowa City, and the grocery business in Walnut, this county. He was married, in Cedar County, this State, March 6, 1870, to Eliza Crook, born in Indiana, October 18, 1852. She is the daughter of Michael and Mary (Hollingsworth) Crook, he born in Virginia in 1823, and she in Ohio in 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Strahl have had four children - Florence (deceased), Walter, Nellie (deceased) and Bertie. Our subject came to this county in 1871, and settled near Walnut. He bought eighty acres of wild land at $7.25 per acre. He improved this, and afterward sold it for $20 per acre. He then purchased eighty acres of improved land, paying $18 per acre, in the same township (Layton). He sold this at the same price that he paid for it. He then bought land in Harrison County, this State, and at one time owned three farms in that county. He also owned a place in Kansas, and one in Linn County, this State. He came to Minden Township in 1882, and purchased 120 acres at $21 per acre, and has since made many improvements. He is engaged in general farming. He belongs to the Good Templars, and also to the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics, he is a Republican.