Strain, Franklin. "A Brief Story of the Strain Family," WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORIAN, (Salem, Indiana: Washington County Historical Society, Fall 2010), pp. 10-11. NOTE: The information noted below was abstracted by Randi Richardson from material that is copyright protected. For more information, contact the John Hay Center at 812-883-6495. The article is accompanied by a number of pictures. About half of this article was written in the first person. It is not clear if it was written that way based upon research or if it is an actual account of the life of Franklin Strain. If it is the latter, that is no indication as to where the history was archived or where it may be found today. Many specific dates of birth, death and marriage were provided for the various descendants identified. Franklin Strain was born in Washington County, Indiana in 1843, to Robert and Elouisa (Burt) Strain. He was one of nine children. Robert Strain co-owned property in Washington County with Thomas Shepherd, and that property is believed to be the first station on the Underground Railroad through Washington County. John Strain, Franklin's brother, married Eleanor "Nellie" McGarvin, a Catholic. Prior to her death in 1830, Eleanor indicated that she wanted to be buried in the with the McGarvins in the Catholic Cemetery rather than a Protestant Cemetery. Other members of the Strain family, as well as some of the Sheppards, who were neighbors to the Strains, are buried in the Strain Cemetery.