BIOGRAPHY: Joseph STRODE, Mifflin County, PA
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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 600-601.
JOSEPH STRODE, Strodes Mills, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the homestead
where he now resides, October 18, 1815. He is a son of Amor and Catharine
(Stilly) Strode.
Among the many noble figures presented by English history is that of William
Strode, one of the five sturdy and patriotic members of Parliament who withstood
the tyrannical encroachments of Charles I upon the liberties of their county.
Those five, Pym, Hampden, Hollis, Haselrigge and Strode, are among the "few, the
immortal names, that are not born to die." For the independent stand then
taken, and on account of his subsequent connection with the signing of the death
warrant of Charles, Strode was of course a particularly obnoxious person to the
Royalist party. He disappears from English history from the time of the
execution of the king in 1649, and it is supposed that he at once sought refuge
in the New World, far from the vicissitudes and dangers with which his native
land was beset. Three Strodes, sons, brothers, or other relatives of his,
appear to have settled in the valley of Virginia, in what is now Berkeley
county, W. Va., in 1650. There they built a stone fort, on a tract afterwards
known as the "Stone fort farm." John Strode married and had a family; and one
of his sons removed to Newcastle county, Del., where he also married and became
the father of a family. One of his sons was Joseph Strode, grandfather of the
present gentleman of that name.
Joseph Strode was one of the pioneer settlers of the Juniata valley. About
1766 he came into this region with his brother Isaac, and they took up a tract
of land, now a part of Mifflin county. He then returned to Virginia, where he
married Catherine Smith on January 5, 1773. In 1787 they removed to
Pennsylvania, and resided on the land which Mr. Strode had warranted, and which
he at once began to clear and cultivate. It is supposed that he built the first
mill called "Strode's mill." He and his worthy "helpmeet" both lived to be
octogenarians. Their children were: Amor, the father of Joseph Strode, Jr.;
William, married Mary Wakefield, had four daughters and one son; Isaac, died
single at the age of thirty-eight; Joseph, married Rebecca Caldwell, had two
sons, Isaac and Andrew; Sarah; Mary; Elizabeth; Orpah, marred Robert McKee,
had children, Andrew W., Robert, J. Strode, Harvey, Catharine, Mary and Hannah.
Amor Strode's birthplace was New Castle county, Del.; while he was still a
youth the family removed to Mifflin county. His education was acquired in the
country schools. He was married to Catherine Stilly in October, 1800, in the
old Swedes church in Wilmington, Del. Their bridal journey to the new home in
Mifflin county was performed on horseback. During most of his active life, Amor
Strode was a miller. His family, born and brought up on the homestead, included
the following children: Joseph; Catherine; Mary; and Elizabeth. Catherine
married William Wakefield, of Oliver township, and had four children: Col. Amor
W. Wakefield; Isabella (Mrs. William Swansey); Martha Elizabeth, who died in
childhood); and James Woods, who died while in his teens. Mary Strode became
Mrs. John Ickes. All of their children are deceased, except Jesse Boone, who
resides in Altoona. Elizabeth Strode married George Wakefield, had two sons,
McClellan, who died aged about forty, and George Miles, who married Jenny
Gregory, of Northumberland county, and had eight children.
The birthplace and early home of Joseph Strode was the homestead still
occupied by the family. He was educated in the district schools, at the academy
at Lewistown, and by private tuition under Rev. Robert Piggott, of Lewistown,
Pa. Until he had passed his majority he was his father's assistant in the mill
and on the farm. In 1837 he became engaged in mercantile business in Mt. Union,
Huntingdon county, Pa., and two years later came to the homestead at Strodes
Mills, where he has prosperously carried on the same business ever since. Mr.
Strode had acted as postmaster under his father for several years before
receiving his own commission. He is reputed to be the oldest postmaster in
service in the United States. He was first appointed under Postmaster General
Cave Johnson, during President Polk's administration. Mr. Strode is an
influential member of the community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his
fellow-citizens. He was formerly a Whig, and has been a zealous supporter of
the Republican party ever since its formation.
Joseph Strode was married October 18, 1840, to Elizabeth, daughter of John
and Elizabeth (Vance) Horning. Their children are: Ellen (Mrs. James
McFarlane), died in 1893, leaving two children, Joseph William and Anna Lillie;
Catherine Stilly; Elizabeth Horning (Mrs. Joseph Kyle), has three children,
Charles Strode, James Vance and Annie Virginia; Amos Albert; Margaret
Isabelle; and Anna Mary; the last three all reside at home. Mr. Strode is a
member of the Episcopal church at Lewistown, and Mrs. Strode of the Presbyterian
church at McVeytown. John Horning, the father of Mrs. Strode, was a substantial
farmer of Oliver township. Their children were: Robert, died single, aged
about seventy; Michael, married Catherine Gillespie, had seven children and
removed to Illinois, where their descendants now reside; Annie Elizabeth (Mrs.
Strode); Albert, married Jane Norton, has three daughters and one son, resides
at McVeytown; and Samuel, deceased, who married Margaret Dull, and had two
children, with one of whom, Mrs. Erckstein Smith, the widow now resides. Mrs.
John Horning died in her forty-second year; her husband survived her until he
attained to the age of three score and ten.