Samuel Strong (July 17, 1762 - December 5, 1832) was an American businessman, farmer, militia officer, and politician from Vermont. He attained the rank of major general, and was most notable for his leadership of a contingent of Vermont militia soldiers during the War of 1812's Battle of Plattsburgh.
Samuel Strong | |
|---|---|
.png) Strong circa 1815. From the web site of the Daughters of the American Revolution John Strong Mansion Museum | |
| Assistant Judge of Addison County, Vermont | |
| In office 1813–1815 Serving with Ezra Hoyt | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Shepard |
| Succeeded by | Charles Rich |
| In office 1805–1808 Serving with Charles Rich | |
| Preceded by | Abraham Dibble |
| Succeeded by | Henry Olin |
| Mayor of Vergennes, Vermont | |
| In office 1811–1815 | |
| Preceded by | Josias Smith |
| Succeeded by | Smith Booth |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Vergennes | |
| In office 1804–1806 | |
| Preceded by | Amos Marsh |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Byrd |
| Sheriff of Addison County, Vermont | |
| In office 1787–1789 | |
| Preceded by | Gamaliel Painter |
| Succeeded by | John Chipman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 17, 1762 Addison, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 1832 (aged 70) Vergennes, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Vergennes Burying Ground, Vergennes, Vermont |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Mercy Bloomer (m. 1787-1832, his death) |
| Relations | John Strong (father) Frederick E. Woodbridge (grandson) Moses M. Strong (nephew) |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Farmer Businessman |
Early life
editSamuel Strong was born in Salisbury, Connecticut on July 17, 1762, the son of John Strong (1738-1816) and Agnes (McCure) Strong (1740-1829).[1] His parents moved to Addison, Vermont in 1766, and were among the town's first white settlers.[1] Samuel Strong was raised and educated in Addison and became a farmer.[1] In 1787, he was elected Sheriff of Addison County, and he served a two-year term.[1]
Move to Vergennes
editIn 1793, Strong moved to Vergennes, where he farmed and became involved in several business ventures.[2] Strong's enterprises included timberlands, a sawmill, and a wool carding factory, where he was among the first in New England to make use of mechanical carding machines rather than disentangling, cleaning, and intermixing fibers by hand.[2]
In addition to his farming and business interests, Strong was active in local politics and government.[2] He was elected to the board of aldermen soon after his move to Vergennes.[2] He represented Vergennes in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1804 and 1805.[1] From 1805 to 1807 and 1813 to 1815 he served as assistant judge of the Addison County Court.[1] From 1811 to 1815 he served as mayor of Vergennes.[2]
Military career
editStrong was a longtime member of the Vermont Militia, and advanced through the ranks to earn promotion to brigadier general as commander of 1st Brigade, 3rd Division in 1797.[3] He was promoted to major general in 1804 and appointed as commander of the 3rd Division.[1] He served in this position until 1810, when he resigned.[1]
In the summer of 1814, Strong received word that volunteers were needed to counter the advance of the British Army near Plattsburgh, New York.[2] Strong immediately traveled to Burlington, Vermont, where he was unanimously chosen to take the command of the Vermonters who had volunteered.[2] During the September Battle of Plattsburgh, Strong's militia contingent took part in the successful American defense, which caused the British to retreat to Canada.[2] After the battle, Strong was commended by Governor Martin Chittenden and the Vermont General Assembly.[1]
Strong was the 1816 Federalist nominee for governor, and lost to Jonas Galusha.[4][5] In 1818, the New York State Legislature presented Strong a commemorative sword as a token of their appreciation for his War of 1812 service.[1]
Later life
editIn 1816, Strong traveled to Georgia in search of a warmer climate that would enable him to regain his health, which had been impaired as the result of wartime service.[2] He remained for only a few months before deciding to return to Vergennes.[2] Strong remained active in several business ventures, including a Lake Champlain ferry from Ferrisburgh, Vermont to Essex, New York.[2] He also constructed and managed a turnpike from Middlebury to Vergennes, and from Vergennes to Adams Ferry in Panton, Vermont.[2] In 1827, he was one of the original incorporators of the Vergennes Bank, He was selected as the bank's first president, and served in this position until his death.[2]
Strong died in Vergennes on December 5, 1832.[1] He was buried at Vergennes Burying Ground in Vergennes.[6] His home, the Gen. Samuel Strong House, still stands in Vergennes and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[7]
Family
editIn 1787, Strong married Mercy Bloomer (1763-1852) of Dorset, Vermont.[1] They were the parents of five children who lived to adulthood.[1]
- Mary, who was the wife of Roswell D. Hopkins and daughter-in-law of Roswell Hopkins.[1]
- Clarissa, the wife of Enoch D. Woodbridge, daughter-in-law of Enoch Woodbridge, and mother of Frederick E. Woodbridge.[1]
- Susan, who never married and lived with her mother in Vergennes.[1]
- Samuel Paddock, who took over management of his father's business interests and also served as a general in the state militia.[1]
- Electa, who was the wife of William Hunter Smith.[1]
Strong's siblings included attorney Moses Strong (1772-1842), who was the father of Wisconsin politician Moses M. Strong.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Grand Lodge of Vermont (1879). Records of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont. Burlington, VT: The Free Press Association. pp. 35–36 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography, Samuel Strong". Township Information: Vergennes. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021 – via RootsWeb.
- ^ Walton, E. P., ed. (1876). Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont. Vol. IV. Montpelier, VT: J. & J. M. Poland. p. 144 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Federal Nomination". Vermont Gazette. Bennington, VT. September 2, 1816. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vermont Election". The Pittsfield Sun. Pittsfield, MA. October 24, 1816. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "City supports local business with second loan". Addison County Independent. Middlebury, VT. September 20, 2011.
- ^ Baughn, James. "Gen. Samuel Strong House, 64 W. Main St., Vergennes, Vermont". LandmarkHunter.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ Dwight, Benjamin W (1871). The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong. Vol. II. Albany, NY: Joel Munsell. pp. 1015–1018 – via Google Books.