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 manyattributes of noble womanhood and bearing well her part in
life, the well-knownand popular lady whose name introduces this article is
worthy of mention in abiographical compendium of the nature of this work.
Amanda A. Straub, daughterof Samuel and Elizabeth (Dilling) Hoover, was born
in Liberty Township, HenryCounty, Indiana, on the 26th day of March 1841. The
Hoover family is of Germanextraction; the subject's great-grand father came
from the old country a greatmany years ago and settled in Blair County,
Pennsylvania, where Samuel Hooverwas 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 familieslived in the
same neighborhood and the children for many years attended thesame little
German school. Samuel Hoover was born July 16, 1812, and on the26th of March
1834, married Elizabeth Dilling, whose birth occurred November29, 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 oneand from
what can be learned a most pleasant and agreeable experience. Mr. Hoover
brought with him considerablemeans and on his arrival purchased land,
choosing for his home an admirablysituated place in section 20, Liberty
township. He at once inaugurated a system of improvements, which byindustry
and well-directed energy were successfully carried out. He was a hardworker
and would frequently make the night resound with the echoes of hissturdy
strokes as he felled the giant forest trees and cut them into the
proper sections for rolling andburning. His life was one ofcontinuous
toil, but he succeeded well and in due time became a prosperousfarmer. In
early life he united with the church of God and later was licensedto preach
by that body, a work to which he devoted considerable of his time
andnot frequently would he go longdistances to fill his
appointments. He was a zealous Christian and by his God-fearing life
as well as by hispublic 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 onthe 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 thisreview, and Sarah A., whomarried
George Gootfried and resides on a part of the old homestead.
Amanda A. was reared on the homefarm in Liberty township, attended the common
schools during her childhood andyouth and grew up to the full requirement
that a woman as well as a man shouldearn her living by the honest sweat of
her brow. She early became familiar with the duties of household economyand
the plain, simple domestic virtues, which are womanhood's most beautifuland
attractive adornments, and proved a continued help to her parents as longas
she remained with them. On the 6th day of March 1859, she became the wife
ofJohn P. Straub, an excellent young man who came to America some years
beforefrom his native land of Germany, where his birth occurred June 28.
1823. Byoccupation Mr. Straub was a brick molder, but after his marriage he
engaged infarming and so continued as long as he lived. He was an industrious
man, offrugal habits, honest and straightforward in all of his transactions
andwherever known his word was as good as his written obligation. He provided
wellfor 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 hisconnection with that body and
united with the Church of God, in the faith ofwhich he died November 8, 1882.
In politics he was a Democrat, but never took avery prominent part in
political affairs, having been a quiet, Un ostentatiousman, deeply attached
to his family and with no desire whatever for distinctionof any kind. In his
death his family lost a most loving and devoted husband andfather, the
community a kind and obliging neighbor and the county one of itsexcellent
citizens. Mr. and Mrs.Straub's marriage bore fruit in the persons of four
children, the oldest ofwhom. John Henry, born December 10 1864, died February
2,1865, Sarah C., bornAugust 29 1866, was educated in the common schools and
has never left the homefireside: Susan E whose birth occurred on the 22nd day
of June, 1869, is thewife 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 herchildren well early
implanted in their minds and hearts a love of truth, virtueand right and the
lives they now lead show that her efforts in their behalfhave not been barren
of most excellent results. She is a kind neighbor, everready to minister to
the wants of the poor and distressed and her gentleinfluence has always been
exerted in the right direction. The people of the community hold her in
highesteem and she has, shown herself worthy of every mark of favor
andconsideration conferred upon her.