Person:Josiah Strouse (2)

They were living next to his parents in 1860 and next to his parents, brother and sister in 1870. James Hoover, Caroline's nephew, was living with them 1900. In 1860, he was a shoemaker, a grocer in 1870, boot maker in 1880, and grocer in 1900.

He ran a store in Cornersburg that 'handled everything.' In 1874, the following appeared in Youngstown Business Directory: 'Boots, Shoes, and Findings...J.D. Strouse, Manufacturer of Boots and Shoes. Repairing done to order. Cornersburg.' The following was in the newspaper: "J.D. Strouse, the popular merchant at Cornersburg, was in town Tuesday (6/16/1896) on business." He has property listed in the Tax Assessor's Returns, Youngstown Twp 1859, Acc. No. 933, next to his father, Charles.

Every day, Carolyn rang a school bell for him to come home for lunch.

In 1891 as they prepared to move to Canton, Ohio their granddaughter, Gracie Corll, Mary Ellen's daughter, traveled from Michigan to live with them to help with the move.

News Item (with picture)

PIONEER OF CORNERSBURG DIES AT RIPE OLD AGE

  Josiah D. Strouse, who was one of the pioneer shoemakers in this part of the country and a warm friend of many of Youngstown's old residents, died Monday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F.B. Corll of 102 St. Louis avenue, from pernicious anaemia from which he had been suffering for three months.
  It was in the old days when machinery for shoemaking was unknown that Josiah Strouse conducted a bootmaking shop in Cornersburg.  In those days, nearly everyone had shoes made to order.   On a certain day set aside every few months whole families would come in to the little shop and be fitted for footgear to last them until the next visit.

DIED DAY AFTER BIRTHDAY.

   Mr. Strouse celebrated his 79th birthday Sunday.  He was born in Allentown, Pa, June 13, 1830.  When he was 13 years old he started in the shoemaking business with his father in Cornersburg.  He conducted a general grocery store there and in later years was proprietor of a grocery in Canton, where he lived a short time.  Mr. Strouse was appointed postmaster at Cornersburg by Grover Cleveland in his first term in office.

HAD RETIRED.

  Six years ago he came back to this city and made his home with Mr. Corll's family. He retired from active business and spent the last years of his life quietly with his children.  He was a kindly man and was loved by many and respected by all who knew him.  He was a devout Christian and attended the Reformed church regularly.  At the time of his last illness Sunday he dispatched someone in the church with his contribution.  John H. Fitch and many other well known citizens as well as the pioneers of early days claimed Mr. Strouse as a warm friend.

GOLDEN WEDDING

  Mr. Strouse was married April 23, 1852 to Miss Caroline Bury of Portage county.  The couple lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.  Mrs. Strouse died four years ago, the day after her fifty-second anniversary.

  Three children, all highly respected residents of Youngstown, survive the death.  They are:  Mrs. H.E. Blott of 260 Madison avenue, Mrs. Corll and Mrs. E.O. Brickley of 56 Whitney avenue.  One brother, William, of Ashtabula, and two sisters, Mrs. Daniel Oberlander of Canton and Mrs. Susan Osborne of 581 Holmes street, also survive, together with twelve grandchildren and 13 grandchildren.

   The funeral services will be held at 1:30 Friday afternoon from the residence of Mrs. Corll with interment in Belmont Park cemetery.  
  Source: Youngstown Telegram Tuesday, June 15, 1909, Pg 14.

There is also a biographical sketch of Josiah in the Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company 1893, 552-553.

Josiah Strouse's store.

Josiah & Caroline House in Cornersburg Ohio

Josiah Strouse 78th birthday in Youngstown Ohio. L-R Lucy Hoover, Mary Ellen Corll, ?, Caroline Blott, Anna Brickley, Flora Riblet, Cora Blott. L-R Freeman Corll, Susie Moyer, Josiah Strouse, Lucinda Oberlander. L-R June Hoover, Florence Corll, Lettie Corll.

Josiah Strouse from Carolyn Cushway

Youngstown Telegram Tuesday, June 15, 1909, Pg 14.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ohio Death Certificate.

   No. 31365, includes birth date, place (PA) & parents names.
   His son in law, Dr. Blott, signed death certificate. The date of death on the certificate, the 18th, is in error. Cause of death was pernicious anemia. Informant was the funeral home Orr.

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} News Article, in Youngstown Telegram.

   Tuesday, June 15, 1909, Pg 14

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Ohio Genealogical Society. Trumbull County Chapter. Trumbull County, Ohio cemetery inscriptions, 1800-1930. (s.n.], c1983).

   Pg 260, information received from Jocelyn Wilms.

4. ↑ Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company 1893
   pp 522-523.