HARRY J. STRAUB, of Shamokin, foreman of the Croninger Packing Company, was born at Trevorton, Pa., Feb. 16, 1873, son of Tobias Straub, and a descendant of good industrious German ancestry. George Straub, his grandfather, was a farmer in the Mahantango Valley, in Schuylkill County, where he had 260 acres of excellent land. He died in Deep Creek Valley in 1858, aged fifty-three years, and is buried there. He married Bevvie Zerbe, daughter of John Zerbe, and she died aged ninety-nine years, and is buried at Williamstown, Dauphin county. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: John and George, who both died in Schuylkill county; Elias, who died at, Shamokin; Joseph, who died at Girardville, Pa.; Daniel, living at Williamstown. Moses, who died young; Henry, who served in the Civil war and died one week after his release from Andersonville prison; Emanuel, born in the Mahantango Valley Nov. 5, 1843, who served in the Civil war in Company D, 48th Pa. V.I., and now lives at Shamokin; Harriet, who married David Crone, and died in Schuylkill county; and Tobias. Tobias Straub, son of George and father of Harry J., was born in Schuylkill county, and for many years followed mining in Schuylkill and Northumberland counties. He is now living at Wiconisco, Dauphin county, where he is employed at day's labor. He married Ellen Schughart, who died in 1904. Their children, besides Harry J., were: Agnes, who married James Tschopp, a carpenter by trade; George A., who was killed in the mines when but fifteen years of age; and Sallie, who died in infancy. Harry J. Straub attended the public schools of Williams Valley, and was only a lad of eight years when he began picking slate at the mines, Later he was engaged as a miner, being the youngest Miner at that time in the Sterling colliery. He worked in the mines for eight years, and then became a driver for J. S. Reitz & Co., of Shamokin, the predecessors of the Croninger Packing Company. He drove the team for seven years, and on April 5, 1899, was made foreman of the large plant. He is conscientious and thorough in all that he undertakes, and he well deserves all the credit for the position he has attained and for the place he holds in the estimation of his employers and his fellow employees. Mr. Straub married Ada Heilman, daughter of Thomas Hoffman, of Bear Gap. Their home has been blessed by children as follows: George A.; Charles W.; J. Ellsworth; Melvin G.; Emma N. and Ruth, who died in infancy. In his political principles Mr. Straub is a Republican, but he has never taken much active part in party work. He is a charter member of Black Diamond Lodge, No. 1092, I.O.O.F., of Shamokin. With his family he attends the United Evangelical Church. Floyd's Northumberland County Genealogy Pages 956 thru 988 http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/data/pa+index+399487828895+F