J. R. Strother

J. R. STROTHER, a prominent and popular citizen of Galena, was born at Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky, September 7, 1853, and is the oldest of a family of six sons and one daughter born to his parents, Anthony S. and Aura (Reeves) Strother, all of Kentucky.

Mr. Strother's boyhood was passed on his father's estate in the country and his educational advantages were only those to be secured in the little log, country school house. Although he came of old and honored ancestry and bears a name well known in his native State, the state of the family fortunes in his early manhood made the ambitious young man dependent upon his own resources for advancement. The home of the youth for a time, during the Civil War, was on the border, where he could see the outposts of the Federal Army on one side and those of the Confederate on the other. With less ambition his life might have been one of vast difference, for his days were necessarily spent in exhausting work and his preparation for the bar was made entirely by himself, in the evenings. Thus undirected he succeeded and in 1881 was admitted to practice law, beginning in Grayson. Carter County, Kentucky, where he soon was elected police judge and served there until 1884. In the following year he moved to Southwestern Kansas, entering into practice at Ashland and Englewood, Clark County, serving as the first city attorney of the latter place and two years as justice of the peace at the former. Removing then to Jasper County, Missouri, he settled at Webb City and was soon elected justice of the peace there and served as such for six years, when he came to Cherokee County and located at Galena in 1900, entering upon the practice of his profession. In August, 1904, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Justice of the Peace Spiva and is performing the duties of this office at present.

On December 20, 1878, Mr. Strother was married to Rebecca S. Nethercult, who was born in Carter County, Kentucky, and they have two children, viz: George S. and Ora B., aged respectively 18 and 15 years.

Mr. Strother has been an active public man since he reached his majority and has been a masterful force in the Democratic party and closely identified with party leaders. His fraternal connections include membership with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. Since locating at Galena Mr. Strother has taken a public spirited interest in the city and its development. He has established his permanent home in the city, purchasing the valuable property on the corner of Sixth street and Bellevue avenue, in East Galena. His office is located on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, opposite the City Hall.

Mr. Strother was called upon in early life to endure some rough discipline, but the results have proved that this only made his character stronger. His wide experience in the law, his legal knowledge and a judicial temperament have brought him unusual professional success, while his high sense of honor and unsullied integrity have brought him the confidence and esteem of his professional brethren and the public. A particularly genial personality has always insured him a wide circle of friends.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Sprin gs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 5/5/97.