* A portrait has been posted on-line at http://homepages. rootsweb.com/~westklic/wcportrait.html
OSCAR L. STRANAHAN, a successful and retired business man of Hood River, Wasco county, Oregon, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, March 6, 1838. His father, James K. Stranahan, a native of Essex county, New York, was a carpenter. His parents were natives of the Empire State, but his grandparents came to this country from Scotland. An uncle of James K. Stranahan presented the city of Brooklyn, New York, with his homestead for park purposes, and it is now a portion of the beautiful Prospect Park, of that city. Stranahan Avenue is named in his honor, and his statute is in the park. James K. Stranahan died at Hood River, in 1897, at the age of eighty-eight years. The mother, Paermelia (Reynolds) Stranahan, a native of Vermont, was a descendant of the prominent old colonial family of Reynolds, who contributed much to the early history of the United States. She passed from earth at Hood River in 1895, at the age of seventy-five years.
In July, 1855, there arrived in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, a party of immigrants from Michigan, which might have been called the Stranahan colony, as a majority of its members bore that family name. James K. Stranahan, the head of one of the families, being a carpenter accepted opportunities to ply his trade in Cannon Falls and vicinity. He was in charge of the construction of the first flour mill in that city, which was completed in 1857, while Minnesota was yet a territory. He was known among the settlers as "J.K." and remained there about ten years, removing to Northfield, Minnesota, where he worked at his trade. Until he was sixteen years of age Oscar L. Stranahan, our subject, remained in New York state, attended the public schools and learned the carpenter's trade. With his family he became one of the "Cannon Falls," Minnesota, "colony," going thence to Northfield, same state, where he conducted a foundry and machine shop fifteen years. In 1877 he came to Oregon, and was employed three or four years by the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, making his home in Hood River. He filed on a claim adjoining Captain C. H. Coe's, who was the first settler in that vicinity. At the initial election in that district only fifteen votes were cast. The city of Hood River is now built on land once belonging to Messrs. Coe and Stranahan. In 1881 our subject, who had been engaged in building steamers, cars, etc., for the O.S.N. Company, now the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, settled on his farm of one hundred and forty-six acres, which he continued to cultivate for twenty years. He then platted sixty lots which he called "Stranahan's First Addition" to Hood River. In 1896, entering into partnership with Captain Coe, they installed a sash and door factory, disposing of the same in 1901.
In December, 1859, our subject was united in marriage to Adelia Berdan, born in Lake county, Ohio. The ceremony was performed at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Her father, Albert, was a native of Canada; her mother, Statira (Conley) Berdan, was born in Elmira, New York, as were her parents. Her grandparents were natives of Ireland. Our subject has three brothers and two sisters living; Henry M., of Northfield, Minnesota; C. Horace, manager of the Wasco Warehouse, at Hood River; William G., of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ann E., wife of Charles Hayes, of Hood River, a surveyor; and Mary B., wife of George Crowell, dealer in general merchandise, Hood River. Mrs. Sarah J. Sheets died at Larimore, North Dakota. Our subject has three children; Albert K., mentioned elsewhere; Mary, wife of S.M. Baldwin; and Jessie, wife of Charles C. Mooney, who died August 3, 1904. Mr. Stranahan is past commander of Canby Post, G.A.R., No. 16. He enlisted January 2, 1862, in Company A, Fifth Minnesota Infantry, Colonel B. Roder, remaining with that regiment one, year, when he was transferred to the United States Signal Corps, serving three years in the same. He was with Gen. Sherman in the historic "March to the Sea." He received wounds at the battles of Corinth and Shiloh.
Mrs. Stranahan taught school when young, in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and has been a member of the Methodist church since she was twelve years of age. She was superintendent of the Sunday school here for three years and has taken an active interest in Sunday school work all her life. She was postmistress of Hood River for seven years. Mr. Stranahan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican, and has been a delegate to county conventions. Throughout Wasco county, Mr. Stranahan is highly esteemed and is an influential, progressive citizen.
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.