HON. FLEET F. STROTHER

Hon. Fleet F. Strother---Americans ought to and do feel a pride in looking over the records of American biography.  Nowhere are there presented so many lessons of value to him who feels the desire to succeed in life, and independently of the turns of fortune to carve out a future for himself. America, too, has a title of nobility that she gives to her sons, not unearned and often undeserved by the mere chance of birth, but she gives it only upon merit, and to him who has brains and the energy so necessary to back it up, she awards just so high a position as he can gain for himself.  Hence the turn, "Nature's Nobleman," so fitly applied to the better sort of our American citizens.  These few remarks will very properly preface the short sketch we give herewith of the active and useful life of one of San Francisco's eminent men, Hon. Fleet F. Strother, is now the Auditor of the city and the holder of other responsible positions.

     Mr. Strother is a native of Virginia, the son of John Strother and Elizabeth Waldegrave Clopton, the mere mention of the names being sufficient to call up in the mind of anyone acquainted with the annals of the Old Dominion recollections of many an honorable deed and gallant action in the early history of our country. The families are among the oldest and most influential of Virginia.

     While he was very young, Mr. Strother's parents removed to Illinois, making their home at Galena, so noted as being the home of great men, such as General Grant, General Rawlins, Hon. E. C. Washburn, Judge Hoag, General Smith and many others only less eminent.  Here he was brought up and received his education.  Determining to enter the law, he became a student in the office of Judges Higgins and Beckwith, both men of distinguished ability and foremost in their profession.  After completing his studies with them, Mr. Strother was admitted to the bar, passing a brilliant examination and being highly complimented.  He went to Minnesota and there opened an office, rapidly building up an extended practice, and receiving from the people their acknowledgment of his abilities by being elected to several judicial positions.  In 1864, however, desiring a wider field and milder climate, he came out to California, making the trip by water via the Isthmus of Panama.  He was at once admitted to the bar in San Francisco and began the practice of law.  The following year however, he bought a seat in the San Francisco Stock Exchange and for ten years, or during the continuance of the exciting Comstock days, was actively identified with the interests of the stock board.  During this time, too, he built up a most enviable reputation for financial ability and integrity.  Never once did he fail to meet his contracts, and never was he the subject of inquiry from a committee of the board.  Mr. Stother was very successful in this undertaking, amassing a comfortable fortune, and finally selling out his seat, receiving for it $30,000 against a cost in the first place of $950, and retiring from active business.  From now begins Mr. Strothers's active part in political matters.

     In 1875 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, outvoting on this occasion Mr. Brock, the strongest candidate in the opposite party.  In 1881 he was again elected to the board, having a record for hard and honest work in the duties of that onerous position.  In 1884 he was nominated and elected Auditor of the city, although in that year Blaine was given a majority of 4,000 votes at the head of the Republican ticket.  In 1886 and 1888, Mr. Strother was each time again nominated and elected, always with rousing majorities.  The best sign of his great popularity, and the absolute trust that is reposed by party and people alike in his ability and integrity, is seen in the fact that he never sought the office, and never gave a pledge to anyone and yet was always nominated by acclamation.  So strong indeed is the feeling in his favor that hints are freely given among the better classes of his name being placed in nomination for other and more honorable, if not more responsible offices in the near future.   Mr. Strother is also a trustee of the State Library.  At the time of his election there were no less than twenty-five candidates for the position, and although he did not even go to Sacramento or solicit the vote of all in the Legislative caucus, yet he was chosen by a vote of forty-nine out of a total of fifty-five.

     Of course Mr. Strother is a Democrat, being such by birth, education and affiliation.  For many years he has been intimately identified with the interests of the party and active in all its councils.  Yet he posesses equally the confidence of either party, in that they know he will act according to his convictions and will not discriminate unfairly against anyone.

 

 

Transcribed 12-3-04  Marilyn R. Pankey.