History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon
CHARLES HORACE STRANAHAN D.M.C. 1877
Charles Horace Stranahan was born in St. Lawrence Co.,
N.Y. Feb. 12, 1845. The family moved to Minnesota when he was small and he
was raised on the farm and attended the public schools. In 1862 he enlisted
in Co. C. Sixth Minnesota Volunteers Infantry under Capt. H.F. Bailey and
Col. Wm. Crooks. He served until May 1865 when he was honorably discharged
at Montgomery, Alabama. The first 18 months of service was spent in fighting
Indians, his company was then sent South where he was in the hard fighting.
After the close of the war he returned to Minnesota and engaged in farming.
On November 11, 1869 he married Margaret McKinley of Baltimore, Md. (She
died 1929.) Her ancestors were of the same family tree as President McKinley's
ancestors. An uncle, Wm. McKinley was known as the "Fighting Parson" and
was chaplain of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. Later this
uncle was president of Hamlin College in Minneapolis.
In 1875 he came overland from Minnesota to Oregon settling
in Clackamas Co. In 1877 the brothers, Oscar and C.H. came over the trail
with pack horses from Portland to Hood River and secured land on which they
settled. C.H. has also engaged in wheat farming in Eastern Oregon and has
prospered financially. The children are James, George, Charles, John, Maud,
Ida, Eva, Maggie, deceased, Bessie and Oscar. Mr. Stranahan is a Unitarian
while Mrs. Stranahan is a Methodist. Some years ago Mr. Stranahan sold his
farm property and moved to town erecting a fine residence on the Heights.
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