My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD STRAW, retired, Bellevue, was born March 23, 1819, in Derbyshire, England, son of Francis and Phoebe Straw. He was educated and served an apprenticeship at the tailor’s trade, coming to America in 1840. In 1853 he moved to Bellevue, and built the house now owned by Senator Bayne, where he lived until 1865, and in 1867 built a fine brick house across the street. For more than forty years he successfully conducted a merchant-tailoring business in Pittsburgh, at the corner of Market and Second streets; in connection with his trade he bought the territorial right for Allegheny county from the Singer Sewing Machine company, and the first sewing machine west of the mountains came to him. Later on the right to sell in the entire western part of Pennsylvania, Virginia and a part of Ohio was assigned to him, and he moved his business to Sixth street, devoting his entire time to the machine trade until 1875. He was married, in February, 1847, to Anna Allcott, of England, a daughter of Rev. William Allcott, a Protestant Methodist minister, and nine children have blessed this union, viz.: Charles F., F. W., John H., Walter H., Willie Lincoln, Annie E. (Mrs. E. G. Whitehead), Mary Emma (wife of George F. Wright) Richard Jr. (died Oct. 2, 1888, aged thirty-one), and Percy B. (died June 9, 1886, aged twenty-four years). Mrs. Straw died Nov. 29, 1886. The family are Protestant Methodists. Mr. Straw has been a republican since the organization of that party; he was burgess of Bellevue two terms, justice of the peace ten years, and school director. He was one of the organizers of Bellevue borough, and is one of the prominent and oldest settlers.