Among the
earliest settlers in the colonies, the ancestors of this family,
emigrating from Shropshire, England, and locating in Connecticut,
require mention. The years passed and progress was made, until, in 1785,
Elisha Strong, with wife (Anna Pinneo, of French Huguenot descent) and
son Jairus, moved farther west and took up a home in Greene County, N.
Y.
Hon. Jairus Strong, born at Sharon, Conn., May 4, 1774 (married,
January 9, 1799, Dosha Bissell of East Windsor, Conn.), became an
important factor in business and poltical affairs, and retained large
interests in mercantile and tanning operations until his death, in June,
1838, aged sixty-four years. His family consisted of ten children, --
Austin, born December 14, 1799; married Elizabeth Bigelow Morss, and
died March 16, 1872. Olivia, born November 3, 1801; married Hon. Henry
Kinsley, and died October 22,1850. Clarinda, born January 7, 1804;
married Loring Andrews and died April 9, 1828. Aurelia, born May 4,
1806; married Hon. Albert Tuttle. Minerva and Maria, born March 7, 1808. Minerva married Hon. Albert Tuttle, and died June 23, 1833. Maria, married Colonel George Robertson, and died April 17, 1877. Elvira, born February 10, 1810; married Dr. Josiah H. Stedman. Daniel Bissell, born July 4, 1812; married Mary Ann Peck, was colonel of the One Hundred and
Sixteenth New York Militia for many years, and died May 22 1874. Louisa, born December 1, 1814. Elisha Pinneo, born August 4, 1818. The mother of this large family died June 6, 1865, aged eighty-eight years. E. P. Strong, born at Ashlan, Greene County, N. Y., received his education at the common school of the district and at the Durham Academy, and in 1842
became interested in a tannery business at Woodbourne, Sullivan County, N. Y., with his eldest brother. Retiring from this connection in 1851, in the fall of that year he was nominated by the Democracy and elected to represent Sullivan County in the State Legislature. At the end of his term a home was once again made in Greene County and retained until his removal to Wayne County, Pa.
On attaining his eighteenth year, Mr. Strong had entered the State
Militia, becoming lieutenant in the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York
Regiment, commanded by Colonel D. H. Snyder, of which he became major
some time afterwards. After holding a commission there in four years, he
retired in 1840.
In 1852, in company with Mr Guernsey Osborne, Major Strong purchased
the Starrucca tannery property, and the first-named gentleman managed
the works until 1862, when Major Strong took control of the interest and
made a home in the borough, as aforesaid. Shortly after the purchase
above mentioned, and while engaged in getting its affairs into running
order, Major Strong was notified of his nomination for member of
Congress from Greene and Ulster Counties, N. Y., but owing to the
pressure of business affairs he could not give personal attention to the
canvass and was defeated by the candidate of the Whig party, aided by
the Know-Nothing branch.
At the next nominating convention, in 1854, he was again the choice
of his party for this honorable office, and, recognizing the strength of
the opposition, made a vigorous effort to overcome the majority which
they had regularly rolled up.
In this he was so far successful that, although his opponent was
elected to the position, yet it was with such a small majority (about
twenty) as to leave but little room for congratulation, and afforded
abundant testimony of the esteem of the citizens for the subject of our
sketch.
On July 6, 1846, he married Caroline Peck (born March 17, 1824), who
bore him Henry Peck, born June 10, 1847, married Amelia Dietrich, of
Dresden, Germany, while visiting in that empire. One child, William
Dietrich, born August 18, 1879, has resulted from this union, and the
family are residents of Boston, Massachusetts, interested in the New
England Conservatory of Music. Daniel Bissell, born July 23, 1849, chose
a medical career, and after passing through Claverack (New York) Academy
was educated to such end at Paris and Marseilles, France. In 1871 he
located at the latter place and has since practiced there with great
success, attaining a positon of prominence in the medical profession of
our sister republic. He married a daughter of France, who has borne him
four children -- Caroline Stephanie, Mary Magdalene, Elisha Emanuel and
Emma Louise (died in childhood). The death of Mrs. E. P. Strong occurred
October 14, 1863, and on November 26, 1877, Major Strong was united to
Estelle E.; daughter of Elisha and Maria Brown, of Jackson, Susquehanna
County, Pa., who has borne him one child, Louise, born May 16, 1879.
The subject of this article was engaged in the mercantile business
in the borough, and withdrew in 1884 after a career of some fifteen
years. During a period of about thirty years he carried on a heavy
business in the tanning of sole leather for the New York market and in
making and shipping lumber, in which operations he necessarily employed
considerable numbers of men, and through which the resources of the
county were greatly developed and benefitted. The depletion of the bark
supply caused the closing of the tannery in 1882. During the long
business career of over thirty years, Major Strong never had a contested
lawsuit. It is said of him "he has always been kinder to others than to
himself," and sentiments of respect and esteem are heard on all
sides.
He has served in various offices to help forward the interests of
the borough, and in June, 1884, was appointed by Governor Pattison to
the position of associate judge of Wayne County, and in the following
November was elected by the people to fill such office for the regular
term of five years.
Major Strong has largely interested himself in the dairy question
and has gathered a fine herd of Jerseys and Jersey grades, while he is
also endeavoring to bring the farming and dairying community to a
conception of the greater proportionate value of blooded stock for such
purposes.
Regarding the church as a motor necessary to the well-being of
civilized people, he gave to the Methodist Episcopal Society of
Starrucca a plot of ground and was mainly instrumental in the erection
of their building in 1871, and has since been identified with its
workings.
When the Catholic society became sufficiently strong to put up a
building for church purposes, he again came forward, presented them with
a piece of land and gave financial aid in the erection of their place of
worship.
Many years ago he joined the Masonic fraternity and holds membership
in the Susquehanna Lodge and Great Bend Chapter and Commandery.
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