Jason W. Strevell
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==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| − | Strevell was born in Albany, New York to Harvey & Elizabeth (Lewis) Strevell, natives of New York. Harvey was a teacher, then a farmer. His grandfather, Woolrick Strevell, was wagon master in Gen. Washington's army during the Revolution, in which he served until the close of the war without injury. He located in the state of New York more than 2 centuries ago. His wife was a niece of Col. Lyman Lewis, an officer in the Continental army of the Revolution. She became the mother of six children, Jason W. Strevell being the fifth in order of birth. Jason W. Strevell was educated in the Rensselaerville Academy, in Albany county, N. Y., and then began reading law with Peckham & Tremaine, prominent members of the Albany bar. | + | Strevell was born in 1832 in a Dutch Reformed household on the Hudson, in Albany, New York to Harvey & Elizabeth (Lewis) Strevell, natives of New York. Harvey was a teacher, then a farmer. His grandfather, Woolrick Strevell, was wagon master in Gen. Washington's army during the Revolution, in which he served until the close of the war without injury. He located in the state of New York more than 2 centuries ago. His wife was a niece of Col. Lyman Lewis, an officer in the Continental army of the Revolution. She became the mother of six children, Jason W. Strevell being the fifth in order of birth. Jason W. Strevell was educated in the Rensselaerville Academy, in Albany county, N. Y., and then began reading law with Peckham & Tremaine, prominent members of the Albany bar. |
==Illinois== | ==Illinois== | ||
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After being spared by a tornado in May, a strong tornado swept through Pontiac at 4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of [[November 26, 1859]]from the southwest. The roofs of J. W. Strevell's hardware store and four other businesses were blown off. The roof of the court-house, cupalo and gable end were blown down. The two-story Sinsel house was torn to splinters, burying two women and a child, but none was seriously injured. Several other houses were either blown to pieces or were blown from their foundations and turned around. Barns all over the village were demolished. | After being spared by a tornado in May, a strong tornado swept through Pontiac at 4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of [[November 26, 1859]]from the southwest. The roofs of J. W. Strevell's hardware store and four other businesses were blown off. The roof of the court-house, cupalo and gable end were blown down. The two-story Sinsel house was torn to splinters, burying two women and a child, but none was seriously injured. Several other houses were either blown to pieces or were blown from their foundations and turned around. Barns all over the village were demolished. | ||
| − | He served as a Republican in the lower house of the state legislature for four years (1864-1867), as a member of the senate | + | He was ordained and installed as an elder of the Presbyterian church in 1861. |
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| + | He served as a Republican in the lower house of the state legislature for four years (1864-1867), as a member of the senate 1869-1872 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]] at the Pontiac Presbyterian church. Lincoln, earlier that same day, accepted a standing invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society, of which Strevell was president. He was in Bloomington for a trial and took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was not very successful, as Lincoln was exhausted and had only decided to speak a few hours before appearing. After the presentation, Lincoln went to the Strevell house, a blaock and a half away, to spend the night, after a small reception. 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. In less than four months from the time Mr. Lincoln delivered his lecture in Pontiac he was nominated for President of the United States by the republican convention in session in Chicago, on May 19, 1860. | 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]] at the Pontiac Presbyterian church. Lincoln, earlier that same day, accepted a standing invitation to speak to the Pontiac Young Men's Literary Society, of which Strevell was president. He was in Bloomington for a trial and took an afternoon train to Pontiac. His speech was not very successful, as Lincoln was exhausted and had only decided to speak a few hours before appearing. After the presentation, Lincoln went to the Strevell house, a blaock and a half away, to spend the night, after a small reception. 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. In less than four months from the time Mr. Lincoln delivered his lecture in Pontiac he was nominated for President of the United States by the republican convention in session in Chicago, on May 19, 1860. | ||
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Since coming to Montana Mr. Strevell took little part in politics. Mr. Strevell was a Presbyterian, an elder in the local church. He was three times a delegate to the general assembly of the church and a regular attendant of the synod and presbytery. While still in Pontiac, he was the first superintendent of their Sunday school. He enjoyed reading good literature and traveled to Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, and Europe. | Since coming to Montana Mr. Strevell took little part in politics. Mr. Strevell was a Presbyterian, an elder in the local church. He was three times a delegate to the general assembly of the church and a regular attendant of the synod and presbytery. While still in Pontiac, he was the first superintendent of their Sunday school. He enjoyed reading good literature and traveled to Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, and Europe. | ||
| − | + | Elizabeth died [[11 July, 1902]] after 14 years of being an invalid, the last few years being bedridden. Her church group would meet in her home for much of that time. Strevell died [[27 February, 1903]] (less than 8 months after his wife) and his remains were brought to Chicago for burial beside those of his daughter Nellie. | |
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| + | Jason argured cases before Supreme Courts of at least two states and the United States. | ||
