Sidney R. Stroman
Sidney R. Stroman was born in the County of Beaver, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1844. The place of his birth is now in Lawrence County, near New Castle. His father, Henry Stroman, was born in Philadelphia, in 1804. His mother's maiden name was Staple, born in Allentown. Lehigh County, Pa., in 1805. His grandfather, John Stroman, was born in Switzerland. His wife, whose maiden name was Snider, was also from Switzerland. On coming to this country, they located in the city of Philadelphia. Henry Stroman had four sons and four daughters, all of them living at the writing of this sketch. The eldest is Sarah, now the widow of John Teets, of Douglass County, Kansas; the second daughter is Elizabeth, wife of Philip Teets, of Hebron, Indiana; the third daughter is Mary, wife of David Foreman, of West Union; the fourth daughter is Caroline, widow of Wilson S. Burbage, of West Union. The eldest son is Levi B. Stroman; Joseph A., the second son, Henry C, the third, and the fourth is our subject, all of West Union.
Sidney R. Stroman attended school in Butler County, Pennsylvania, until 1856, when his father removed to Venango County, where his father followed his trade, that of a carpenter. In March, 1861, the entire family, excepting Henry C, located in Adams County. The father bought the farm where his widowed daughter, Mrs. Burbage, resides, and remained there until his death in 1886. Sidney R. worked on his father's farm one year. On August 9, 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Company E, 91st O. V. I., for the period of three years and served till June 24, 1865. In this same company were his brother, Joseph A., and his brother-in-law, Wilson S. Burbage. He was wounded June 17, 1864, at the battle of Lynchburg, Virginia, in the left groin and thigh, and was laid up a month and three days. With the exception of this period, he was never disabled from duty a single day. He was in every skirmish, or battle, in which his regiment participated, and was always in the front rank if he could get there. He never missed his rations, or a fight, except while disabled by a wound.
Soon after his return from the war in February, 1866, he returned to Venango County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in work as a carpenter. He returned to Adams County in September, 1868, to be married to Miss Elizabeth McColm. They were married September 8, 1868, and he took his bride to Venango County, Pennsylvania. He remained in Pennsylvania till 1874, when he returned to Adams County and purchased one hundred acres of land, part of his present farm. He began north of West Union in the poorest part of Adams County, with a stout heart, good health, an abundanuce of energy and determination to succeed. By hard work, economy, prudent and careful management, he has now a body of land of three hundred and fifty-two arcres, all paid for, has good buildings and barns, has all the implements and tools he needs and has his farm well stocked. His buildings are all in good order and well kept; his fences are all well built and kept in perfect repair; no weeds or briars are allowed to grow, and his entire farm has an appearance of neatness and care. He always has good crops and he knows how to produce them. His hay and corn are just a shade better than the average, and he knows it and is proud of it. The writer knew his farm long before Mr. Stroman purchased it and has seen it just before writing this sketch. The change is but little short of a miracle. The desert of forty years ago has been changed into fertile fields, pleasing to the eye. Most men would starve to death where our subject has prospered. What Aladdin could do with his lamp is not a circumstance to what Sid Stroman has done for the land he purchased. Beginning with nothing, he has a fine, large farm, highly improved, completely stocked, with everything on it in perfect order and repair; with all the horses, cattle and hogs he could wish, all well cared for, and money beside. But in addition to this, Sidney R. Stroman has done something more creditable, he has reared six children to be honest and honorable men and women and to occupy important stations in life. His eldest daughter, Mary A., is the wife of M. D. Shoemaker, Principal of the schools of North Liberty; his second daughter. Flora R., is the wife of E. L. Haggerty, a farmer near Eckmansville; his third daughter, Anna M., is the wife of Brice McClellan, a farmer residing near Cherry Fork; his son, Wilson C, has charge of the farm of his aunt, Mrs. Burbage; Charles D., aged twenty years, and his youngest daughter, Nettie E., reside at home.
In politics, Mr. Stroman has always been a Republican. In his religious faith and profession, he is a Presbyterian.
It is just such men as Mr. Stroman that makes our country great and powerful. When the call to arms came, he went cheerfully and quickly, just as he would have performed the most usual duty. He gave three of the best vears of his life to his country and has the spirit to do it again on a moment's notice. When he returned to Adams County, he determined to succeed in farming in the least attractive part of the county. In twenty-six years, he has made his home and his lands a delight to look upon. He has been a public benefactor. The lesson of his life and career has been a most excellent one. He has, of course, had more than ordinary good, common, hard sense, and has had a talent for accumulation. He is a model farmer. He has natural business ability superior to the average; he has energy and thrift. Our national wealth counts not in dollars and cents, but in just such citizense as Sidney R. Stroman. When we find one like him who has made a success in life, it is a pleasure to recount the fact and hand him down to posterity with all that immortality a work like this can give him. Histories seldom record failures. It is best we should forget them and remember only those whose activities entitle them to remembrance. Historians have many unpleasant tasks, but of their pleasures, one is the contemplation of a character like our subject and the recording of his life and career.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900