To Kathy Cook cook_kb@compuserve.com and other Blystone researchers in Crawford County. Here is the info I found on this surname in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." On page 1122, in the Biographical Sketch section for Venango Township: "Christian Straw, farmer, PO Cambridgeboro, was born in what is now Hayfield Township, this county, January 1, 1820, son of John and Christena (BLYSTONE) Straw, and grandson of Jacob Straw, who settled in that township about 1797. John Straw subsequently moved to Woodcock Borough, this county, and died there; his widow, who survives him at the age of eighty-six, resides with our subject. They were parents of five children: Sally (wife of Jacob BLYSTONE), Christian, Jacob F. (residing in Michigan), Mary (deceased), Emily (deceased), Caroline (wife of George Alward). The subject of this sketch was married February 22, 1844, to Jane, daughter of Nathan and Mary E. (Lyman) Mitchell, who settled in Rockdale Township, on the Erie County line, in 1801. By this union there were four children, viz.: Mary E. (deceased), Isabel, wife of Ogden E. Kingsley; Frank P., married to Cally Bernhardt, and Charles P., married to Emma Isherwood. Mr. Straw has lived on his farm since he was fourteen years of age, and has held many of the offices in the gift of his township. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the E.A.U." That's it for the BLYSTONE references! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net