Reuben S. Strahan
Encyclopedia
Reuben Scott Strahan was an American
politician and judge in Oregon
. He was the 15th Chief Justice
of the state’s highest court. A native of Kentucky
, served on the Oregon Supreme Court
for one term from 1886 until 1892, and prior to the bench served in the Oregon Legislature.
, Reuben was the son of John Strahan and his wife Selah Canterbury Strahan. Reuben received his education from the Mexican Academy in Missouri
. Next he studied law in Louisa, Kentucky
before passing the Kentucky
bar
in 1858. Strahan then moved to Missouri
where he became a probate judge for Sullivan County, Missouri
, in Milan
. He served as judge from 1860 until 1864, and during this time married Sarah H. Wilson in 1861, they would have four children.
and took up residence in Corvallis, Oregon
. There he set up a law practice before becoming Benton County
district attorney from 1868 to 1870. In 1870, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
. Strahan won re-election in 1872, again representing Benton County as a Republican. In 1884, Strahan was a supporter of the movement to raise money for the purchase of buildings for the Oregon Agricultural College
in Corvallis. He would later serve as a regent for the school for a decade.
Following his time in the legislature, he resumed private law practice in Albany, Oregon
, before winning election to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1886. Strahan only served the one six year term on the bench, but did serve as chief justice from 1890 to 1892 when he left the court due to his term expiring.
, and also helped to organize the Farmers and Merchants Fire Insurance Company. On July 21, 1895, Reuben Strahan died at the age of 60. In 1898, his daughter Fayne was tried for robbery and assault in New York City along with her husband.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 15th Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the state’s highest court. A native of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, served on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
for one term from 1886 until 1892, and prior to the bench served in the Oregon Legislature.
Early life
Born on January 1, 1835 in Lawrence County, KentuckyLawrence County, Kentucky
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 15,569. Its county seat is Louisa. The county is named for James Lawrence, and co-founded by Isaac Bolt, who served as a Lawrence County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. It is the home of...
, Reuben was the son of John Strahan and his wife Selah Canterbury Strahan. Reuben received his education from the Mexican Academy in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Next he studied law in Louisa, Kentucky
Louisa, Kentucky
Louisa is a city in Lawrence County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,018 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County. The Levisa Fork River and Tug Fork River join at Louisa to form the Big Sandy River...
before passing the Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1858. Strahan then moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
where he became a probate judge for Sullivan County, Missouri
Sullivan County, Missouri
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. In 2010, the population was 6,714. Its county seat is Milan.-History:Sullivan County, Missouri encompasses of high glaciated prairie covered by steep rolling hills and numerous creeks and streams in north central Missouri...
, in Milan
Milan, Missouri
Milan is a city in Sullivan County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Sullivan County. It is prounouced MY-lun.-Geography:Milan is located at...
. He served as judge from 1860 until 1864, and during this time married Sarah H. Wilson in 1861, they would have four children.
Oregon
Then in 1865 Strahan moved to OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and took up residence in Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
. There he set up a law practice before becoming Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
district attorney from 1868 to 1870. In 1870, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. Strahan won re-election in 1872, again representing Benton County as a Republican. In 1884, Strahan was a supporter of the movement to raise money for the purchase of buildings for the Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis. He would later serve as a regent for the school for a decade.
Following his time in the legislature, he resumed private law practice in Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
, before winning election to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1886. Strahan only served the one six year term on the bench, but did serve as chief justice from 1890 to 1892 when he left the court due to his term expiring.
Later life and family
After his time on the court Strahan would work as legal counsel for the Oregon Pacific RailroadOregon Pacific Railroad (1880-1894)
Oregon Pacific Railroad was a railroad in western Oregon, U.S. from 1880 to 1894, when it was sold to the Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad. A substantial part of the railroad is preserved as Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District....
, and also helped to organize the Farmers and Merchants Fire Insurance Company. On July 21, 1895, Reuben Strahan died at the age of 60. In 1898, his daughter Fayne was tried for robbery and assault in New York City along with her husband.