John Strohm (congressman)

John Strohm (October 16, 1793 – September 12, 1884) was a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

John Strohm was born in the part of Little Britain Township which formed the current Fulton Township to David and Ann Herr Strohm. He was home-schooled by is mother and encouraged to read newspapers and books.

At age twelve, his family moved to Strasbugh Township where his parents had been raised. For the next four years, he worked on the family farm and attended school for only three to four months during the winter until he reached age 16. After completing school, he continued working on the farm until 1815, except for a three-month period in 1813 where he taught school.

In the fall of 1815, at age 22, he again taught school. This time it was in West Lampeter Township from 1815-1821, after which he resumed farming. He moved to Providence Township in 1833 and lived there for forty-nine years.

Strohm was married in 1817 to Susannah Herr Barr, who died in 1832. After 23 years as a widower, he married Anne Witmer in 1857 after his time in Washington, DC.

In 1830, without his knowledge, friends attempted to nominate him for the state Legislature. They were successful in the following year and he was elected, and twice re-elected, serving three consecutive one year terms. He was elected as an anti-mason.

In 1834, he was nominated and elected to the state Senate and served two four-year terms.

In 1845, he was elected to the United States Congress and served two two-year terms.

During his first term, Senator Strohm backed the chartering of the Second Bank of the United States as a state institution after its rechartering in the Bank War by the US Congress failed. The effort failed.

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