Jesse B. Strode

Figure 1

Jesse B. Strode came to Lincoln from Abingdon, Illinois where, like many aspiring lawyers in the late nineteenth century, he taught at a public school. There he first met Mary Sheedy, a student of his whom at the time was known as Mollie Gabriel.

Once in Lincoln, Strode became one of John Sheedy's long-time attorneys. Strode was also elected as county attorney, during which time his law offices were located at the county court house between Ninth and Tenth and J and K streets. Mary Sheedy hired him as a member of her defense council in 1891; the preliminary examination for her trial was held before police judge Houston on the second floor of the new county court house in the equity courtroom. The location was believed to have been chosen because it could accommodate the large number of people attending. (Figure 1) The actual trial was held on second floor in the district court room.

Strode belonged to the Lincoln Commercial Club and the Union Commercial Club, the group which resulted from the merger of the Commercial Club and the Union Club. As a member of the Commercial Club, Strode attended club meetings in their building at 1127 P Street.

People:
Sheedy, John [Narrative] [Brief Biography]
Sheedy, Mary [Narrative] [Brief Biography]
Strode, Jesse B. [Narrative] [Brief Biography]