Oscar L. Stranahan

Name: Oscar L. Stranahan Company: A Transferred to Signal Corps October 1, 1863.
Birth Date: March 6, 1834 Place: St. Lawrence County, New York	Mustered In Date: February 12, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 27 Residence prior to military service: St. Lawrence County, New York; Michigan; Leon Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: carpenter, farmer
Death Date: January 10, 1910 Place: Hood River, Hood River County, Oregon Burial: Idlewilde Cemetery, Hood River, Oregon	Mustered Out Rank: Private Residence following military service: Leon Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota; Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota; Hood River, Hood River County, Oregon Vocation following military service: farmer, carpenter, iron foundry and machine shop owner, Oregon Steam Navigation Company, farmer, sash and door manufacturer

Oscar L. Stranahan Biography and Civil War Narrative

Oscar L. Stranahan was born March 6, 1834 in St. Lawrence County, New York. He was the second child and first son of James K. and Permelia A. (Reynolds) Stranahan. His siblings included sister Ann E. (born April 26, 1832, in Stockholm, New York), brother Henry M. (born April 1837 in New York), sister Sarah J. (born about 1841), brother Charles Horace (born February 12, 1845, in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York), sister Marybeth (born October 10, 1847 in Potsdam, New York), brother William G., (born about 1850 in New York), and J. F. (born November 16, 1851, in Michigan; died February 12, 1854). Growing up in New York state, Oscar attended public schools and learned the carpenter's trade.

In July 1855, Oscar and his family arrived in the area of Cannon Falls, Goodhue County, Minnesota. In December 1859, Oscar married Adelia A. Berdan at Cannon Falls. Adelia (also known as Delia) was born in May 1838 in Lake County, Ohio, the daughter of Albert and Statira (Conley) Berdan. At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, 25-year-old Oscar and 21-year-old Adelia farmed next to Oscar's parents in Leon Township, Goodhue County, five miles from Cannon Falls. They had a 3-year-old daughter, Ella, who had been born in Minnesota.

Oscar enlisted in the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment on February 12, 1862. His younger brother, Henry, also enlisted on March 15. A William O. Stranahan (possibly a cousin of Oscar and Henry's) had already enlisted on December 28, 1861.

In a letter dated May 7th, 1862, Martin Webster of Stranahan's Company A tells his wife in Hastings, Minnesota, that he will send her money "by Mr. Stranahan," but he doesn't specify the Mr. Stranahan to which he refers. From May 10 to 24, Company A was transported to Mississippi, where they reported to General John Pope near Corinth. Oscar Stranahan served in Company A until October 1, 1863. During that time the 5th Regiment participated in the Siege of Corinth (May 26-30), the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi (September 19), the Battle of Corinth (October 4), Grant's Central Mississppi (Railroad) Campaign (November 1862-January 1863), and the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863).

On October 1, 1863, Oscar Stranahan was transfered to the Signal Corps. Stranahan was one of about 2500 enlisted men who served in the Signal Corps. The Signal Corps provided tactical and strategic communications through optical (aerial) telegraphy (wig-wag signaling using flags during daylight and torches at night), electrical telegraph (Morse code), and ciphers. During battles, the Signal Corps also observed army movements and provided intelligence and artillery fire direction information from their elevated signal stations.

According to one online biography, Oscar Stranahan was "with Gen. Sherman in the historic 'March to the Sea.' He received wounds at the battles of Corinth and Shiloh."

After the war, Oscar Stranahan returned to "Cannon Valley," but later bought and operated an iron foundry and machine shop in Northfield, Minnesota, until 1877. Two more children were born to Oscar and Adelia: daughter Jessie R. (born 1867) and Albert Knelan (born August 22, 1870, in Northfield, Minnesota).

In 1877, the Stranahan family moved to Hood River, Oregon. For three or four years Oscar was employed by the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, building steamers, cars, etc. In 1881 he returned to farming on 146 acres. After 20 years of farming he platted sixty lots, calling it "Stranahan's First Addition" to Hood River. Other lots were subsequently platted as well. From 1896 to 1901, he also set up a partnership in a sash and door factory.

Oscar L. Stranahan died on January 10, 1910 at Hood River, Hood River County, Oregon. He was buried at Idlewilde Cemetery, Hood River County, Oregon. Adelia died nearly 5 years later on December 23, 1914, also in Hood River County, Oregon. She was buried next to her husband at Idlewilde Cemetery on Christmas Day.

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