Biography of William S. Straw of Palmyra Township
William S. Straw, born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was a prominent farmer in Palmyra Township, Illinois, where he managed a highly regarded 224-acre farm on sections 19 and 20. Raised in Seward Township, Winnebago County, Illinois, he was the son of N. S. Straw, a Pennsylvania native from a family with deep American roots dating back to the Colonial era. William married Carrie E. Finch, a McHenry County native and Wheaton College graduate. The couple had three children, two of whom, Verne S. and Carl C., remained at home. Straw was active in his community and aligned with the Democratic Party.