JAMES COLLINS STRONG.

JAMES COLLINS STRONG, son of the late Dr. Henry Strong, of Moran, came to Allen County in 1874, and located upon section 25, almost adjoining the town of Moran. He was the eldest son of Dr. Strong, who brought his family to Kansas in order that he might the better locate them and establish them more advantageously about him. The latter made the selection of their future home and upon this he resided until the family home was broken up by the death of his wife.

Dr. Strong was one of the characters of Allen County. He was a gentleman of learning and of much force and foresight. He was one of the old-time practitioners and his life, from first to last was an open book for the inspection of all. He was northern by birth but somewhat southern by environment and training. Many years of his life as a young physician were passed in the heart of what afterward became the Southern Confederacy and it was but natural that he should absorb many of the habits and customs of the southern people. He left the South, though, before the questions which almost severed the Union came to be agitated with fatal seriousness and returned to live with the people and institutions of the North.

Dr. Henry Strong was born in the state of New York, October 9, 1811,

and was prepared for his profession in the Louisville, Kentucky, Medical College. He was a son of Rev. Henry Pierce Strong and a grandson of Adonijah Strong. Rev. Henry Strong was born February 2, 1785, and married November 16, 1810, to Laura Clark, who was born at Danbury, Connecticut. Rev. Strong was a graduate from Yale College, and of Andover Theological Seminary.

Dr. Henry Strong was one of a family of eight children. He began life at Buffalo, New York, and about 1833 went to Cold Springs, Miss., to locate. He remained there about twenty years (from 1833 to 1853) and returned north to Rockford, Illinois. He felt that the South was a poor place in which to rear a family and this impelled him to desert it. He spent the years from 1853 to 1874 in Winnebago County, Illinois, and arrived in Allen County, Kansas, December 4, 1874. He brought with him three sons and four daughters, all of whom survive.

Dr. Strong was first married June, 1835, to Phebe Pomeroy, of Lyons, New York. She died at Cold Springs, Miss., in June, 1845, and May 12, 1847, he married Eloiza Collins, of Adams County, that State. March 29, 1862, Eloiza Strong died at Rockford, Illinois, and he was married the third time at Rockford, 1867, to Salina Davis an English lady. The doctor's children are: Henry (the child of his first wife), Mary C., wife of Peter J. McGlashan, of Moran; James C., born December 24, 1849; William T.; Sarah O., wife of J. E. Montgomery, of Iola; Joshua Newton, of Des Moines, Ia.; Eloiza C., wife of G. M. Nelson, of Iola; Martha E., wife of C. M. Richards, of Iola, Kansas; Mrs. Caroline C. Millard, residing in Iola.

During the Rebellion the people of Rockford, Illinois, sent Dr. Strong to the front to care for the Illinois, and more especially the Rockford troops sick and wounded on the field. He went to the Bull Run battle ground and there plunged into the work of dressing wounds, working over the operating table, until all the wounded were cared for. He was made surgeon of the 74th Illinois, but was superseded by a young doctor who was seeking an opportunity to gain experience at the expense of the men. He was appointed surgeon of the 90th Illinois, an Irish regiment, and remained with it till the war closed, He was in twenty-two engagements, or under fire twenty-two times while in the performance of his duties. He let nothing interfere with the full and complete performance of that duty which contributed to the comfort of the sick and wounded. At the battle of Missionary Ridge he worked seventy-two hours dressing wounds, wearing out every other surgeon.

In politics the Doctor was originally a Democrat. During the war he was a firm friend of Lincoln, and after that trouble had passed away he became a potent factor in the moulding of local Democratic sentiment. In belief he was a Christian gentleman and was identified with the Presbyterian church, being one of the elders of the Moran congregation. He died at the home of his son, William T. Strong, July 5, 1898.

James C. Strong passed his youth and early manhood in Winnebago county, Illinois. His has been a life of devotion to the farm and he owns

one of the attractive and productive places in Marmaton township. His career in Allen county has been an honorable, though uneventful one and the demands of the farm and field have occupied his time.

Mr. Strong was married at New Milford, Illinois, November 11, 1875, to Elizabeth L., a daughter of John S. Watson, an early settler there and an Englishman. The children of this marriage are: Edith Eloiza, born June 6, 1878; Walter James, born January 18, 1883; and Curtis Henry, born October 30, 1840, Mrs. Strong was born February 21, 1850, and is the second of four children; Eva, wife of George Skinner, of Winnebago county, Illinois; Robert S. Watson, of Chicago, and George A. Watson, of New Milford, Illinois.

Mr. Strong is a rock-ribbed Democrat, has served a term as township clerk, treasurer of the township four terms and treasurer of the school district eleven years.

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