In 1849 John Holden Strathearn (1838-1863) immigrated from Scotland to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with his parents and three brothers and sister. The father, Thomas, was a shoemaker and miner; on Sundays he was a minister. The surname was changed to Strathern. In April 1861 John enrolled for three years in the Union Army at Pittsburgh. He died January 7, 1863 of wounds received at Frederidksburg, Virginia, in December 1862.