Person:Samuel Strode (3)

Founder of Strode Station in Mason County, Kentucky

Cartmell’s History page 104 The Gen. George Rogers Clark campaign to the Illinois Forts in 1778, should be of sufficient interest to the Old Frederick County’s History. As is well known to many readers, there were officers and their Indian allies, that became a burden to all settlers in the territory eastward and along the Ohio River. Gen. Clark was chosen to command the expedition fitted out to capture those forts. We will briefly state that this little army equipped for light marching, was composed of men who had endured hardships and were fully acquainted with Indian warfare. We will only mention that two of this companies were commanded by Capt. Joseph Bowman of Fredrick Co. and Leonard Helm of Faugquirer Co. and will only give the names of other officers and privates that may be familiar to Valley people. ..many of their descendants are to be found in the Counties from Shenandoah to the Potomac River. the enlistments were made in the dead of Winter January, 1778; and when the expedition encountered the hardships of the march and the warfare needed to capture Old Fort St Vincent (now Vincennes- where John Couts-Chrisley Sr’s son moved to) and Kaskaskia, they stamped themselves heroes, and received from the government substantial recognition for their services by grants of land in the captured country: Company Officers Sergt. Samuel. Strode, Private Christopher Coontz . ... survivors were discharged in August, 1778.