Biographical Sketch of

William D. Strong

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 355 and 356

William D. Strong, a pioneer settler of Berlin of June, 1847, is the 
oldest surviving settler of that town. His brother, Nathan H. (now 
deceased) was the first settler and the only one that preceded him. 
On the 4th of July, 1847, our subject and his brother celebrated the 
Nation's birthday on the site of the present city and were the only 
white people present on the occasion. Indians were numerous in the 
vicinity but did not join in the festivities, which were very simple, 
consisting principally of a primitive lunch and a swim in the river. 
Mr. Strong embarked in farming in this wild and unsettled country and 
has since here made his home.

He was born in Grand Isle County, Vermont, on Isle La Mott in Lake 
Champlain, his birth occurring Aug. 20, 1808. His parents were Nathan 
and Sally Strong. His father was born in Massachusetts, May 2, 1782, 
and was born of English descent. He settled on Isle La Mott near the 
close of the eighteenth century and was married in Montreal, Canada, 
Aug. 7, 1805, to Sally Westover, a native of that city. Fourteen 
children were born unto them, six sons and eight daughters, of whom six 
are now living. The parents came to Wisconsin in its territorial days 
and passed their declining years in Berlin, in the cemetery of which 
city they now lie quietly sleeping. The father passed away Aug. 4, 1862, 
and the mother was called home Aug. 12, 1852. They were worthy people 
and were greatly respected by all who knew them.

In 1824, when our subject was a youth of sixteen years, the family 
removed to Franklin County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. In his 
twenty-first year, he was united in marriage with Miss Eunice Bemis, 
celebrating Independence Day of 1829 by that important event. The 
parents of Mrs. Strong were Timothy and Lois Bemis. Ten children graced 
the union of our subject and his worthy wife, and the record is as 
follows: Phoebe M., the eldest, died in infancy; Judson also died in 
infancy; Harriet married Peter Gore and departed this life in December, 
1878; Angeline died at the age of five years; Henry V., who served his 
country as a member of the 5th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, married 
Sabrina Bailey, and is now living in Emmett County, Iowa; John W. died 
of smallpox when an infant; Ann Eliza, wife of Henry Bates, is living 
in Cooper County, Missouri; Cynthia A. died at the age of five years; 
Alice A. married Edgar Loper and is living in Madelia, Minn.; William 
A. died in infancy.

In the autumn of 1834, Mr. Strong first left the East and emigrated to 
Coldwater, Mich., but after two years went to La Grange County, Ind. 
The following year, 1837, he came to Wisconsin Territory, settling in 
Racine County, in that section which has since been called Kenosha 
County. He there resided until September, 1844, when he removed to 
Ceresco, Fond du Lac County, and in the summer of 1847, settled on the 
site of the present city of Berlin, where he has since made his home. 
Sorrow visited his household the following winter, occasioned by the 
death of his wife on the 2nd of December. Mr. Strong was in 1849 again 
married, the lady of his choice being Miss Tryphena Bignall, daughter of 
Henry and Aurelia (Bates) Bignall. Theirs was the first wedding 
celebrated in Berlin. Mrs. Strong was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, 
and taught the firsts chool in Berlin. Mr. Strong's sister, Eliza, wife 
of Hiram Barnes, was the first white woman of that city, the date of 
her settlement being in the winter of 1847-8. Another sister, Cynthia, 
wife of Oscar Wilson, was the first white woman to die in Berlin, her 
death occurring Feb. 15, 1848.

One child was born of the second union of Mr. Strong, a daughter, Eunice 
C., who now resides with her father. He was one of the founders and is 
now a member of the Baptist Church, of Berlin, being the only surviving 
one of the original members of that society. He was first made a Deacon 
in the Baptist church in Kenosha County, March 12, 1838, and has been a 
Deacon of the church in Berlin since 1856. His first wife was also a 
faithful member of the same church and his second wife a consistent 
member of the Congregational Church. Her death occurred in Berlin Dec. 
18, 1878. Her daughter, Eunice, is a member of the same church and 
various societies, and like her father delights in doing good, in 
lifting up the fallen, in relieving the wants of the poor and needy 
and speaking a word of kindness and sympathy to the distressed. 

In early life Mr. Strong was a Whig in political sentiment but as he
resided upon the frontier from 1834 until Wisconsin's admission as a 
State, had no opportunity for voting for a candidate of that party and 
his first vote for President was cast for Gen. John C. Fremont, in 1856, 
since which time he has been a Republican. Mr. Strong was one of the 
many who, in their zeal and public spirit, risked the mortgage on their 
farms to encourage building of a railroad into the county and like others 
lost his property for his pains. The road was built and the county has 
prospered by the advantages it has brought, but the individuals who 
suffered through the process find but little consolation in the general 
prosperity. Mr. Strong has lived an honorable life and is entitled to and 
enjoys the respect of all who know him.






Back to the Marquette Pages Menu