COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Of History County Indiana
B. F. Bowen
1920
Page 350, 351
Surnames in this biography: Straub, Dilling, Hoover, Gootfried, Shafer,
Adams,
AMANDA A. STRAUB.
Possessing many attributes of noble womanhood and bearing well her part in
life, the well-known and popular lady whose name introduces this article is
worthy of mention in a biographical compendium of the nature of this work.
Amanda A. Straub, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dilling) Hoover, was born in
Liberty Township, Henry County, Indiana, on the 26th day of March 1841. The
Hoover family is of German extraction; the subject's great-grand father came
from the old country a great many years ago and settled in Blair County,
Pennsylvania, where Samuel Hoover was born and reared. On the mother's side is
mingled the blood of German, Swiss and Dutch ancestry. The Dillings were also
early settlers of Blair County and the two families lived in the same
neighborhood and the children for many years attended the same little German
school. Samuel Hoover was born July 16, 1812, and on the 26th of March 1834,
married Elizabeth Dilling, whose birth occurred November 29, 1816. In May 1837,
Mr. Hoover and family came by wagon to Henry County, Indiana. They were seven
weeks in making the journey, which was a leisurely one and from what can be
learned a most pleasant and agreeable experience. Mr. Hoover brought with him
considerable means and on his arrival purchased land, choosing for his home an
admirably situated place in section 20, Liberty township. He at once inaugurated
a system of improvements, which by industry and well-directed energy were
successfully carried out. He was a hard worker and would frequently make the
night resound with the echoes of his sturdy strokes as he felled the giant
forest trees and cut them into the proper sections for rolling and burning. His
life was one of continuous toil, but he succeeded well and in due time became a
prosperous farmer. In early life he united with the church of God and later was
licensed to preach by that body, a work to which he devoted considerable of his
time and not frequently would he go long distances to fill his appointments. He
was a zealous Christian and by his God-fearing life as well as by his public
ministry did much to counteract the prevailing evils of his day. The death of
this excellent man and sincere servant of the Most High occurred on the 25th day
of February 1872; his widow is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-six
years. Samuel and Elizabeth Hoover were the parents of three daughters, Nancy,
deceased; Amanda A., of this review, and Sarah A., who married George Gootfried
and resides on a part of the old homestead. Amanda A. was reared on the home
farm in Liberty township, attended the common schools during her childhood and
youth and grew up to the full requirement that a woman as well as a man should
earn her living by the honest sweat of her brow. She early became familiar with
the duties of household economy and the plain, simple domestic virtues, which
are womanhood's most beautiful and attractive adornments, and proved a continued
help to her parents as long as she remained with them. On the 6th day of March
1859, she became the wife of John P. Straub, an excellent young man who came to
America some years before from his native land of Germany, where his birth
occurred June 28. 1823. By occupation Mr. Straub was a brick molder, but after
his marriage he engaged in farming and so continued as long as he lived. He was
an industrious man, of frugal habits, honest and straightforward in all of his
transactions and wherever known his word was as good as his written obligation.
He provided well for his family and as a citizen won the esteem of the people of
the community, all of whom respected him for his many sterling qualities. He was
reared a Catholic, but later severed his connection with that body and united
with the Church of God, in the faith of which he died November 8, 1882. In
politics he was a Democrat, but never took a very prominent part in political
affairs, having been a quiet, Un ostentatious man, deeply attached to his family
and with no desire whatever for distinction of any kind. In his death his family
lost a most loving and devoted husband and father, the community a kind and
obliging neighbor and the county one of its excellent citizens. Mr. and Mrs.
Straub's marriage bore fruit in the persons of four children, the oldest of
whom. John Henry, born December 10 1864, died February 2,1865, Sarah C., born
August 29 1866, was educated in the common schools and has never left the home
fireside: Susan E whose birth occurred on the 22nd day of June, 1869, is the
wife of Charles Shafer; Anna M., wife of Oscar Adams, was born February 26.
1873. Since her husband's death Mrs. Straub has lived on the farm and looked
after its management. She reared her children well early implanted in their
minds and hearts a love of truth, virtue and right and the lives they now lead
show that her efforts in their behalf have not been barren of most excellent
results. She is a kind neighbor, ever ready to minister to the wants of the poor
and distressed and her gentle influence has always been exerted in the right
direction. The people of the community hold her in high esteem and she has,
shown herself worthy of every mark of favor and consideration conferred upon
her. Lora1957@aol.com
