Samuel Strong (Vermont politician)

Samuel 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]

In 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]

Strong 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]

In 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]

In 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]

• Samuel Strong at Find a Grave