Andrew Jackson Stroup
The gentleman of whom we write is engaged in farming and stock-raising on his fine arable farm, located one mile south of Mt. Sterling, Pleasant Township, Madison County. He was born in Highland County, this State, October 29, 1838, and is the son of Clayborn and Mary (Stroup) Stroup, also natives of Highland County. Grandfather Stroup came to Highland County from Pennsylvania, in 1801. His father was a native of Holland, and emigrated to America in 1770. The paternal grandfather, Michael Stroup, was the owner of over three thousand acres of land in Highland County, and was the father of a family of fourteen children. His wife bore the maiden name of Polly Walker, and is a native of Fleming County, Ky. The grandparents gave to each of their children one hundred acres of land, the father of our subject's portion being in the possession of his son, Franklin P. Stroup. The father accumulated considerable property, and at his decease left an estate aggregating four hundred acres.
Of the ten children included in the parental family, seven grew to mature years, namely: Louisa, who married Arthur A. Puckett, resides in Kansas; Armenus, a farmer in Highland County, this State; Margaret, who married George Ellis, died in Dodson Township, Highland County; our subject is next in order of birth; Mary Ann, who married Philip Creamer, keeps an hotel in Hillsboro, this State; Joseph, who resides on a part of the home farm; and Frank P., who also lives on the home place. Eli died when twelve or fourteen years old.
Andrew Stroup received a fair education in the common schools, and when old enough, aided his father in clearing the home farm. He began life for himself when eighteen years of age, at which time his father gave him a farm of fifty acres, which he placed under excellent cultivation, and which was located near Lynchburg. December 25, 1861, Mr. Stroup was married to Miss Martha Puckett, who was born in Mt. Sterling, March 20, 1840. She is the daugliter of John and Catherine (Busick) Puckett, and removed with her parents to the farm which is the present home of our subject, when thirteen years of age. After his marriage, our subject located on his own property, where he made his home until 1865, then lived for one season with his father-in-law. He then purchased sixty-four acres in Darby Township, Pickaway County, which he still owns, and which they resided upon until 1890, when they removed to their present home, which was the inheritance of his wife. The estate includes one hundred and nine well-improved acres, which our subject has cultivated in a most intelligent manner. Mrs. Stroup was the youngest in a family of four children, her brother and sisters being Arthur, May and Sarah.
To our subject and his wife have been born the following seven children: Joseph, who was born January 15, 1866, is married, and is engaged as an engineer on a passenger train on the Pan Handle Road; he has two children, and lives in Columbus, this State. Georgiana, who was born June 8, 1867, married William Simpkins, and resides at Conneaut; Seymour, who was born October 7, 1863, is married, and lives in Columbus; Minnie W., who was born August 26, 1871, is now at home; Alma, who was born March 3, 1874, died May 11, 1891; Byron, who was born February 9, 1876, is at home, and Charles Cleveland, who was born April 30, 1885, is the youngest of the family.
James Stroup, the maternal uncle of our subject, was the first male child born in Dodson Township, Highland County. He departed tliis life September 14, 1891, when eighty-three years of age. Another uncle, Joseph Stroup, removed to Huntington County, Ind., in 1840, where he became very wealthy, and died in May, 1891, in Warren, that State, when eighty years of age.
He of whom we write is a Democrat, in politics, as was his father before him. His grandfathers on both sides of the house, Michael and Antony Stroup, fought in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and participated in the battle of New Orleans. Our subject, together with his wife and several of their children, are members of the Christian Church in Mt. Sterling. Mrs. Stroup 's father was the second settler in Mt. Sterling, where he owned a large tan yard. He commenced life as an apprentice, and at his death was very wealthy, owning over six hundred acres of land. He died May 13, 1888, on the place where our subject lives at tlie age of eighty-three years.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]