Biographies for Ada County Idaho

STRODE, JOHN

     John Strode was born in Tennessee February 6, 1833. During his childhood his parents moved to Missouri, where he remained until he was 19 years of age. He then left for California, driving an ox team the entire distance. The company of gold seekers of which he was a member were four months and eight days making the trip, which was marked by untold hardships, some of the party dying en route. Young Strode engaged in mining for a short time and then in ranching in Contra Costa county. From there he went to Siskiyou county where he again turned to mining. Later he mined in Baker county, Cal. He was very successful, his clean-ups averaging $50 to $60 a day. In Siskiyou county one day he found a nugget worth $3033.
     In 1862 Mr. Strode left California and remained a short time in Oregon, coming the following year to Idaho. He engaged in mining in the Basin at Atlanta Gulch. His good luck had not deserted him. He continued to make money rapidly. He became interested in the Monarch mine, which proved to be a good property. He sold some of his stock in this mine for $15,000, retaining $50,000 worth.
     Leaving the mining business Mr. Strode located in Boise valley, engaging in farming and stock raising. Success crowned his efforts. Besides his stock his valuable home farm near Boise and some good city property, he owned several hundred acres of Idaho land, a 160 acre farm in Oregon, two grape orchards in Sonoma county, Cal., and a 30 acre orchard near Nampa. While unpretentious to a degree, it is believed he had accumulated much more wealth than the average man engaged in the stock and farming business in this state.
     In 1869 Mr. Strode married Miss Sophia Yost, who died in 1886. He then married Mrs. Flora A. Deeds, from whom he was divorced. Eight children were born to him by his first wife, Harvey, Lee, John, Sophia, William, James, Charles and George. They are all living. The daughter is the wife of Arch Cunningham of this city.

Idaho Daily Statesman, Boise City Idaho June 4, 1901

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