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Fred Jolly Strain
File:FredJStrain.jpg
Spanish American War veteran, police magistrate, city council member, mayor, furniture store owner and undertaker
BornJuly 25, 1868
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
DiedJuly 15, 1949
Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska
EducationHigh School Graduate, Xenia, Illinois
Occupation(s)Farming, furniture store owner, mortician
Spouse(s)Bertha Marie Jarmin, 1874-1952
ChildrenPearl Strain, 1892-1972
Hazel Strain, 1897-1982
Elma Sophronia Strain, 1899-1906
Parent(s)David Fletcher Strain, 1845-1925 & Mary E. Taylor, 1845-1924

Fred Jolly Strain (July 25, 1868 – July 15, 1949) was an American soldier in the Spanish-American War, a local government official, building contractor, furniture dealer, and mortician who made a significant contribution to Nebraska during the early 20th century.

After serving during the Spanish-American War, Fred J. Strain served the community of Shelby, Nebraska as a member of the city council, police magistrate, and mayor while also owning and operating the Fred J. Strain Furniture and Undertaking store. In addition he served as general contractor erecting the Shelby Post Office (1912), his store (1912) and funeral home (1929). He was chosen for lifetime membership in the Nebraskana Society [1] and appeared in the Who's Who in Nebraska, 1940.[2]

Early life and family

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On July 25, 1868, at Richmond, Indiana, Fred J. Strain was born to David Fletcher Strain (1845-1925) who was born in Highland County, Ohio and Mary Elma (Taylor) Strain (1845-1924) who was born in Cedarville, Ohio. His Strain ancestors immigrated to South Carolina in the mid 1700s from Feney Townland, Magheralin Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland. His mother was a descendant of the Quaker Michener and Stanton families.[3]
Edwin McMasters Stanton was a first cousin of his grandmother, Martha Michener.[4]

Fred J. Strain's wife, Bertha Marie Jarmin Strain (sitting) and daughters Pearl (right) and Hazel (left).

His marriage to Bertha Marie Jarmin (daughter of William Jarmin [1848-1906] and Sophronia Bull [1848-1931]) took place at Corpus, Christi, Texas, August 13, 1891.[5] Her ancestors were Quakers also, and came from England, in 1632[6]. They had three children: Pearl, born June 18, 1892, who married George McMeekin [1880-1971] after the death of her first husband, Osbal Destin Cator [1890-1928]; Hazel, born July 10, 1897, who married Delmar West McFadden [1895-1963]; and Elma, born November 29, 1899, who died May 9, 1906.

Education

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Fred J. Strain graduated from Xenia High School in Xenia, Illinois in 1884.

Military service

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Fred Strain came from a long line of military volunteers. His father served in the 2nd Ohio Cavalry and the 9th_Indiana_Infantry_Regiment during the American Civil War; his great grandfather, David Fletcher Strain (1788-1851) served in the War of 1812; and his great, great grandfather, David Strain (1752-1823) along with 3 of his brothers served in the Revolutionary War.

Fred enlisted in Company C, 1st Arkansas volunteer infantry on May 1st 1898 and trained at Chickamauga Park, Georgia. He was honorably discharged as a commissary sergeant at Fort Logan near Little Rock, Arkansas.[7]

Occupations

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Before and after his military service, Fred Strain worked in a number of different occupations. Living in Shelby after August 19, 1899, he entered the furniture and undertaking business May 20, 1906, and was granted his embalmer's license January 5, 1910, by the State of Nebraska.



  • The Fred J. Strain Furniture & Undertaking Store in Shelby, Nebraska. Structure built by Fred J. Strain in 1912. Photo taken about 1912.
    The Fred J. Strain Furniture & Undertaking Store in Shelby, Nebraska. Structure built by Fred J. Strain in 1912. Photo taken about 1912.
  • Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and his daughter, Pearl. Photo taken about 1915.
    Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and his daughter, Pearl. Photo taken about 1915.
  • Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and his daughter, Pearl. Photo taken about 1930.
    Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and his daughter, Pearl. Photo taken about 1930.
  • Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and an unnamed man and young girl. Photo taken late 1930s.
    Inside the Fred J. Strain store, with Fred J. Strain and an unnamed man and young girl. Photo taken late 1930s.

Community service

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Fred Strain served the Shelby, Nebraska community in many different capacities. This community service included:

  • Police magistrate in Shelby for 15 years from 1919-1934
  • Member of the Shelby city council for 12 years
  • Mayor of Shelby for 3 years
  • Local War Board in Shelby from 1917 to 1918
  • First Lieutenant in the Shelby (NE) Home Guard Company from May 13, 1918 to May 13, 1919

Strain was politically active in the Republican party serving in both county and state politics.[8] He was also very active in the Nebraska Department of the United Spanish War Veterans serving as a representative of Nebraska at the national conventions in Havana, Cuba (1928)[9], Los Angeles (1933)[10], and Atlantic City, NJ (1939) [11]. He was also very active in state and national concerns of the United Brethren Church serving at the General Conference of the United Brethren Church held in 1940.[12]

Memberships

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Final years

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Strain died on July 15, 1949. His body was buried at the Shelby (Graceland) Cemetery in Polk County at Shelby.[13] [14] [15]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Sara Mullin Baldwin and Robert Morton Baldwin, eds. The Nebraskana Society. (Hebron, Nebraska: The Baldwin Company, 1932), pg 1153-1154". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  2. ^ "Who's Who in Nebraska, (Lincoln: Nebraska Press Association, 1940), pg 926". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  3. ^ "Anna E. Shaddinger, More Micheners in America. (Bonekemper Typesetting, 1970), 262". 1970. Retrieved 2010-03-25. See also William Wade Hinshaw, The Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, 1750-1930, Vol IV, Short Creek Monthly Meeting, Page 251.. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "William Henry Stanton, Our Ancestors the Stantons, (Philadelphia: Innes & Sons, 1922), pg 568". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  5. ^ "Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, August 27, 1891, Image 9". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  6. ^ "Mary Lynch Young. Descendants of Josiah Bull, Jr. (1738-1813) of Dutchess County, N.Y. and His Ancestry. Vol. 2. (Gateway Press, 1997), pg 198". 1992. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  7. ^ "Who's Who in Nebraska, (Lincoln: Nebraska Press Association, 1940), pg 926". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  8. ^ Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, September 2, 1934.
  9. ^ Lincoln State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, Sept 5, 1928.
  10. ^ The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, August 11, 2933.
  11. ^ Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, June 21, 1939.
  12. ^ Lincoln State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, Sep 7, 1940.
  13. ^ "Find a Grave citation". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  14. ^ "Osceola Centennial Committee, Our Polk County Heritage, (Osceola, NE: Osceola Centennial Committee, 1975), 276-284". Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  15. ^ "Graceland Cemetery, Shelby, Nebraska, Google maps". Retrieved 2010-03-25.


Bibliography

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  • Sara Mullin Baldwin and Robert Morton Baldwin, eds. The Nebraskana Society. (Hebron, Nebraska: The Baldwin Company, 1932), pg 1153-1154.
  • Who's Who in Nebraska, (Lincoln: Nebraska Press Association, 1940), pg 926.



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