| Home
Contact |
Strauder Froman Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette
Valley - Oregon," Chapman A typical representative of the pioneer farmers of Oregon, Strauder Froman has long been identified with the agricultural interests of Linn County as proprietor of a well kept and finely improved ranch in Albany township. Possessing an unlimited amount of energy and push as a young man, he labored intelligently and diligently by thrift and good management acquiring a competency, and is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying the reward of his early toil and self-sacrifice. He was born in Danville, Ill., May 2 1832. His grandfather, Jacob Froman, was for many years a farmer in Kentucky, but, subsequently removed to Indiana, where he remained until his death. When a boy of twelve years Thomas Froman, the father of Strauder, left his Kentucky home, going with his parents to Indiana, where he grew to man's estate. Ambitious and enterprising, he subsequently engaged in business in Danville, Illinois, and in partnership with his brother Isaac made money in river trading. One of his earliest ventures in this line was the taking of one hundred head of beef steers, and two hundred and fifty hogs, with sufficient hay and corn to feed the same, to New Orleans, going on a flat-boat down the Vermillion river to the Wabash, thence down the Ohio river to the Mississippi, which he followed to his point of destination. Being successful in this venture, he afterward did considerable trading in cattle, hay and grain, shipping to the gulf ports. Disposing of his Illinois farm in 1854, he removed to Nebraska, going with horse teams to Richardson county. Two years later, Thomas Froman, whose son, Isaac and daughter America, now Mrs. Price, had settled near Albany, Oregon, in 1851, conceived the idea of joining them. Starting with his wife and seven children in an ox-train, he followed the old Oregon trail for a time, but on account of the Indian troubles in Oregon and Washington he pursued the California trail from Soda Springs, the thirty men of the train with their families proceeding to Chico, Cal., arriving there in August, 1856. The journey had consumed four months. Leaving his son, Strauder, the special subject of this sketch, in charge of the loose cattle. One hundred head of them, Thomas Froman went with the remainder of his family to San Francisco, thence by boat to Oregon City, and from there came to Albany by team. Immediately purchasing land in this locality he engaged in farming, his ranch containing three hundred and twenty acres, on which he resided until his death, in 1880, at the age of eighty-two years. At the same time he bought an adjoining farm equally large for his son Strauder, purchasing both pieces of land from Judd Ness Robinson. He was a member of the Baptist Church and in his early life was a Whig, but afterwards became identified with the Republican party. He served in the Black Hawk war while a resident of Illinois. Thomas Froman married Elizabeth Rand, who was born in Ohio. Her father, James Rand. a native of Ireland, emigrated to this county when a boy of seventeen years, and subsequently served as a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war. Settling then in Virginia, he married Miss Carder, and afterwards removed to Ohio, where he lived for a few years. Going from there to Indiana, he continued his agricultural pursuits until his death. Of the union of Thomas and Elizabeth (Rand) Froman twelve children were born, eleven of whom grew to years of maturity, namely: Frances died in Oregon; America, now Mrs. Price, of Albany, came here in 1851, settling on a donation claim; Louisa, who died in Illinois in 1853; Isaac, who came to Albany in 1851, resided on the donation claim which be then purchased; Strauder, the subject of this sketch; Minerva died in Nebraska; Mrs. Hannah Foster, who died in Oregon; Mrs. Elizabeth Pate, of Albany; Mrs. Mary Lagsdon, of Albany; Thomas who resides on the old homestead; and Mrs. Martha Wyatt, of San Francisco, Cal.. The mother died on the home farm, in Oregon, at the advanced age of eight-four years. Brought up on an Illinois farm, Strauder Froman obtained his education at a subscription school in a rude log school-house, the teacher boarding around among the families during the annual term of three months. Going with his parents to Nebraska in 1854, he remained there two years, then, as previously stated, started in April, 1856, for California, arriving in August at Chico. Being left in charge of the cattle at that place, he stayed there until 1857, when he sold the stock and came to Oregon, locating on the ranch which his father had purchased for him in July of that year. Taking a drove of cattle across the mountains to California in 1859, he disposed of them at an advantage, and remained in the Sacramento valley until 1861. Returning to Oregon, he subsequently engaged in mining for three or more years, first at the Oraphino mines, then at the Powder river mines, near the present site of Baker City, thence to the Idaho City mines. Coming back to the Willamette valley in 1864, Mr. Froman resumed charge of his farm on three hundred and twenty acres, which is finely located about three and one-half miles southeast of Albany, and for more than a score of years was prosperously engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Since 1885 he has rented his ranch and resided in Albany. He is one of the organizers of the Albany Creamery Association, of which he has been president from the time of its inception, managing its affairs most successfully and satisfactorily. On November 11, 1868, Mr. Froman married, in Albany, Ophelia C. Moore, who was born near Middletown, N.Y., a daughter of Henry Moore. Her grandfather, Jacob Moore, was born of Scotch ancestors, in the North of Ireland, and emigrated to this country from there, locating as a farmer in Orange county, N.Y. Henry Moore, a native of Orange county, N.Y., was a farmer by occupation, and removed from his native town to Illinois, purchasing a farm at Whig Hill, near Rockford, where he engaged in farming until his death. He married Frances Slaughter, who was born in Orange county., N.Y., of German ancestry, being the daughter of Isaac Slaughter, a farmer. She survived her husband, and, in 1864, started across the plains with her six children, three boys and three girls, in the train commanded by Captain Medorum Crawford, the train consisting of three wagons, each drawn by four horses. At Fort Laramie she was taken sick and died. The children continued with the company and after spending a year at Walla Walla, Wash., came, in 1865, to Linn county. Three of the children are still living, Mrs. Froman being the eldest. Politically Mr. Froman is an uncompromising Republican, ever loyal to the interests of his party and his community. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Chico, Calif., and is now a member of Corinthian Lodge. A.F.& A. M. He likewise belongs to the Albany Grange, which he has served as master. Mrs. Froman is a member of the Eastern Star Lodge. |