My Genealogy Hound

JOEL STRAIT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13; P. O. Hetslerville. Among the early pioneers of Jackson Township we find the names of Richard and Joel Strait, who located here in 1829. Richard Strait was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1796. He married Rachael Jennings in Pennsylvania, and at the early day above mentioned, located in Darke County, where he took up Congress land upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 15, 1878, aged upward of 82 years. Joel Strait was born in Perry Co., Ohio, upon the 6th of October, 1823; he lived upon the farm of his father until after his marriage, when he located upon Sec. 13, Jackson Township, where he has lived for a period of thirty-seven years; he now owns 110 acres of well-improved land, with good farm buildings; his fine brick residence was erected in 1874; he is probably the oldest continuous resident of Jackson Township, having lived here for upward of half a century. He is a strong Republican; has never been an aspirant for office, but has held the offices of School Director, Constable and Township Trustee; has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been member of the Christian Church for twenty-two years, and has been a Deacon of the same for twenty years. His marriage with Hannah Teeter was celebrated in 1843 in Randolph Co., Ind.; nine children, of whom five are now living, viz., Francis M., Richard W., Milton O., Joel F. and Alfred; of the deceased three died in infancy, and Harvey enlisted in the 94th O. Y. I. for three years, and lost his life at Bowling Green while in defense of his country.