Jason W. Strevell
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==Illinois== | ==Illinois== | ||
| − | Strevell migrated to Illinois in 1855. He was admitted to the Illinois bar that same year, and began his twenty-four year practice in Pontiac. On 15 August, 1858, Jason was married to Miss Elizabeth Kelley, daughter of Dr. John Kelly, a physician and surgeon of Lake City, Minnesota. He served as a Republican in the lower house of the state legislature for four years, as a member of the senate | + | Strevell migrated to Illinois in 1855. He was admitted to the Illinois bar that same year, and began his twenty-four year practice in Pontiac. Besides practicing law, Mr. Strevell engaged in merchandising, conducting the first exclusive hardware store in Pontiac. On 15 August, 1858, Jason was married to Miss Elizabeth Kelley, daughter of Dr. John Kelly, a physician and surgeon of Lake City, Minnesota. He served as a Republican in the lower house of the state legislature for four years (1864-1867), as a member of the senate 1868-1870 (or 1872?) and was a member of the electoral college that elected Hayes to the presidency, and he was actively concerned in the first presidential nomination of William McKinley. He was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and did yeoman service in securing his presidential nomination, having been a member of the Illinois legislature during the critical epoch of the Civil war. |
Strevell and [[Abraham Lincoln]] were close friends and shared many hours together in conversation. One of the most documented meetings between these two gentlemen occurred on the evening of [[January 27, 1860]]. Lincoln, earlier that same day, accepted an invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society. He was in Bloomington for a trial and took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was a moderate success, and after the presentation, Lincoln went to the Strevell house to spend the night. Strevell and Lincoln stayed up late, talking about politics, slavery, and other national and local issues of the day. During the course of the conversation, Strevell suggested that Lincoln might be selected as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the upcoming party convention. Lincoln argued that he might be chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, but did not believe he would gain the top spot on the ticket. | Strevell and [[Abraham Lincoln]] were close friends and shared many hours together in conversation. One of the most documented meetings between these two gentlemen occurred on the evening of [[January 27, 1860]]. Lincoln, earlier that same day, accepted an invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society. He was in Bloomington for a trial and took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was a moderate success, and after the presentation, Lincoln went to the Strevell house to spend the night. Strevell and Lincoln stayed up late, talking about politics, slavery, and other national and local issues of the day. During the course of the conversation, Strevell suggested that Lincoln might be selected as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the upcoming party convention. Lincoln argued that he might be chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, but did not believe he would gain the top spot on the ticket. | ||
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As the conversation turned to less important topics, Strevell, who was six foot tall, said he did not believe that Lincoln was really 4 inches taller than himself. Lincoln offered to let himself be measured and stood in a doorway in his stocking feet while Strevell made a scratch in the door frame to mark Lincoln's height. Strevell then measured, from floor to the mark on the door frame, and found Lincoln to be exactly, 6 foot, 4 inches tall. | As the conversation turned to less important topics, Strevell, who was six foot tall, said he did not believe that Lincoln was really 4 inches taller than himself. Lincoln offered to let himself be measured and stood in a doorway in his stocking feet while Strevell made a scratch in the door frame to mark Lincoln's height. Strevell then measured, from floor to the mark on the door frame, and found Lincoln to be exactly, 6 foot, 4 inches tall. | ||
| − | His son, [[Charles Nettleton Strevell]], took up residence in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he devoted his life to archeology, after partnering with his sister's husband in hardware stores ("Miles & Strevell", then "Miles, Strevell & Ulmer", which later was just [[Miles & Ulmer]]. They also had a store in Odgen, Utah). Before the Strevell's left Pontiac, they removed the door jam which was marked with Lincoln's height, and it was subsequently placed in the Salt Lake City museum started by Charles Strevell. Strevell's home in Pontiac has recently been purchased by the Livingston County Historical Society and is currently undergoing restoration with the goal of turning it into a local history and Lincoln museum. | + | His son, [[Charles Nettleton Strevell]], took up residence in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he devoted his life to archeology, after partnering with his sister's husband in hardware stores ("Miles & Strevell", then "Miles, Strevell & Ulmer", which later was just [[Miles & Ulmer]]. They also had a store in Odgen, Utah). Before the Strevell's left Pontiac, they removed the door jam which was marked with Lincoln's height, and it was subsequently placed in the Salt Lake City museum started by Charles Strevell. Strevell's home in Pontiac has recently been purchased by the Livingston County Historical Society and is currently undergoing restoration with the goal of turning it into a local history and Lincoln museum. |
==Montana== | ==Montana== | ||
