Reuben S. Strahan

Born on January 1, 1835 in Lawrence County, Kentucky, Reuben was the son of John Strahan and his wife Selah Canterbury Strahan.[1] Reuben received his education from the Mexican Academy in Missouri.[1] Next he studied law in Louisa, Kentucky before passing the Kentucky bar in 1858.[1] Strahan then moved to Missouri where he became a probate judge for Sullivan County, Missouri, in Milan.[1] He served as judge from 1860 until 1864, and during this time married Sarah H. Wilson in 1861, they would have four children.[1]

Then in 1865 Strahan moved to Oregon 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.[2] Strahan won re-election in 1872, again representing Benton County as a Republican.[3] In 1884, Strahan was a supporter of the movement to raise money for the purchase of buildings for the Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis.[4] He would later serve as a regent for the school for a decade.[1]

Following his time in the legislature, he resumed private law practice in Albany, Oregon, before winning election to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1886.[1][5] 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.[5]

After his time on the court Strahan would work as legal counsel for the Oregon Pacific Railroad, and also helped to organize the Farmers and Merchants Fire Insurance Company.[1] On July 21, 1895, Reuben Strahan died at the age of 60.[1] In 1898, his daughter Fayne was tried for robbery and assault in New York City along with her husband.[6]