Hezekiah Bulkley Strong

Notes:

"a farmer in Butler, Johnson Co., O (sic): m. in 1843 Caroline STOCKING (dau. of Hezekiah STOCKING and Abigail HUBBARD)." (Dwight, p 194).

The census listing for Hezekiah and Caroline from 1850 through 1880 follow. It is noteworthy that 1850, 1860 and 1870, Hezekiah had either a niece or nephew living with him. Hezekiah's biography, which also follows, indicates he was a prosperous man. Perhaps he was helping family members who were struggling to provide for their families. Or perhaps it was his pioneering spirit that attracted his relatives to his home.

HEZEKIAH B. STRONG one of the prominent early settlers of Nebraska, and who probably arrived here before anyone in this locality now living, has for the last twenty-two years been a resident of Todd Creek Precinct, and is the owner of a valuable farm embracing 185 acres of highly cultivated land with commodious and substantial buildings. He at one time owned a much larger acreage, but has sold off considerable.
Our subject arrived on the soil of Nebraska the 7th day of August, 1856, nearly eleven years before it was admitted into the Union as a State. He had made the journey overland from Wisconsin with teams and crossed the Missouri River on a flatboat. He settled first in Richardson County, near the present site of Falls City, but a year later changed his location to the present site of Nemaha City. There he purchased land, paying $1,000 for 160 acres, in Buchanan's Addition, taking all he could secure. That land he improved, making two miles of fence the first year. He held the property five years, in the meantime erecting buildings, setting out twenty acres of forest trees and two or three acres of fruit. In company with his wife and daughters, he put up one of the finest barns then in the county. This farm is now owned by Thomas Kean, and lies three miles southwest of Nemaha.
The neighbors of Mr. Strong at the time of his coming here were few and far between, and Indians roamed over the country, but aside from stealing whatever they could lay their hands upon, they did not molest the settlers, who were thankful to get off thus easily. Mr. Strong finally took up his residence on the Nemaha River, purchasing a tract of land in 1865, where he. began the building up of a homestead which he has disposed of. He was the founder of the town of Butler's Mills, and operated the first flouring-mill in that locality, grinding corn for people at Beatrice, and turned out the first bag of flour in the county.
It will be seen that Mr. Strong was one of the leading men of this section of country, and it is quite natural that he should be one of the first appointed Postmaster, which office he held for two years at Butler, and was succeeded by a Mr. O. M. Holmes. He was also the first Station Agent for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, and as such was in the employ of that company a period of five years. In the meantime he steadily proceeded with the improvement of his land, and in the fall of 1881 finished one of the finest residences in this part of the county. This is a large, two story, frame structure, conveniently arranged, finely finished and handsomely furnished. The main barn corresponds entirely with the residence, and the sheds and cattle pens afford ample shelter for stock. Mr. Strong is largely interested in the breeding of road horses, and has one of the finest Hambletonian stallions in the State. He also has a three-year-old mare of the same breed, which is very valuable. His cattle are the Short-horns and his swine the Poland-China. The farm is enclosed with hedge fencing, and the fields which are not at present under cultivation are rich in good pasturage. About sixty acres of valuable timber add to the importance of the property, while the waste is utilized for fuel.
The subject of this sketch was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 30, 1822, and lived there with his father until a lid of thirteen years. About 1835, leaving the Empire State, he emigrated to Wisconsin, making the journey via the first lake steamer set afloat. A few years afterward our subject sold the first peaches and apples ever marketed on the streets in the State of Wisconsin. He lived there about four years, then went East, and was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Stocking, a native of his own county, and soon afterward returned with his bride to Milwaukee. Later they settled on the Whitewater River in Jefferson County, where Mr. Strong became owner of a valuable tract of land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Strong there were born three children--Emma, Edward B. and Ella, all of whom are deceased. Ella married Peter Wright, and became the mother of three children, one of whom, a son, Carlton, is still living, and makes his home with his grandfather, attending school. Mrs. Caroline (Stocking) Strong was born Feb. 19, 1820, and was reared to womanhood in her native county, living there with her parents until her marriage. Site received a common-school education and that careful home training which fitted her for her subsequent duties in life.
Mr. Strong cast his first Presidential vote for J. K. Polk, being then a member of the Democratic party, but soon after the organization of the Republicans, considered he had reason to change his views and for the last thirty-two years has been one of the warmest supporters of Republican principles. After the outbreak of the late Civil War, he enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Infantry, being mustered in in November, 1862, and serving as a non-commissioned officer. He was at the battles of Perryville, Crab Orchard, Murfreesboro, and various other engagements and skirmishes, and at the end of his term of enlistment received his honorable discharge in March, 1863.
Ansel Strong, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, in about 1785, and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Hannah Stocking. They removed to Onondaga County, N. Y., where they spent the remainder of their days, the death of the father taking place about 1865 (sic), after he had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The mother died about 1826. The parental family consisted of five children.

From BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF JOHNSON & PAWNEE COUNTIES NEBRASKA http://www.rootsweb.com/~neresour/OLLibrary/pbjp/pages/bajp0044.htm (published bet. ca 1878-1890?)

(Research):Census Information:

1850 Census
Wisconsin, Jefferson County, Cold Spring
5 September 1850
859-893
H.B. STRONG 28 M Farmer NY
Caroline STRONG 29 F NY
Emma STRONG 4 F Wisc
Adeline STOCKING* 19 F Wisc
H.J. PRINTUP 30 M Farmer NY
*Adeline is most likely the sister or niece of Caroline

1860 Census
Nebraska Territory, Nemaha County
539-505
STRONG, Hezekiah 38 M Hotel Proprietor $4000 $900 NY
STRONG, Caroline 39 F NY
STRONG, Emma 14 F Wisc.
STRONG, Ellen 6 F Wisc
OPELT, Edward 14 M Race: HB Missouri
STRONG, Ansel* 21 Mail Carrier $150 Wisc.

*Ansel is most likely the son of Hezekiah's older brother, Reuben, and was from Greenfield, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1870 Census
Nebraska, Johnson County, Todd Creek Township, Tecumseh P.O.
5 July 1870
99-83
STRONG, H.B. 47 M W Farmer $6800 $800 NY
STRONG, Caroline 50 F W Keeping House NY
STRONG, Ella 16 At School Wisc
STRONG, R.B. 12 M W Works on Farm Oh (Parents foreign born)
WRIGHT, Petri 22 M W Farm Laborer Wisc

Note: Hezekiah Strong is an Uncle of R.B. (Ralph) Strong, age 12. The census incorrectly indicates that Ralph's parents are foreign born. The enumerator probably meant to check that Petri Wright had parents that were foreign born

1880 Federal Census
Horatio (sic) STRONG Self M Male W 58 NY Keeps Hotel Ct Ct
Caroline STRONG Wife M Female W 60 NY Keeping House Ct Ct
Willis WRIGHT Gson S Male W 4 NE WI WI Source Information: Census Place Elk Station, Johnson, Nebraska
Family History Library Film 1254751 NA Film Number T9-0751
Page Number 735D

Hezekiah married Caroline Stocking about 1843. Caroline (daughter of Hezekiah Stocking and Abigail Hubbard) was born on 19 Feb 1820 in New York; died after 1880. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Emma Strong was born about 1846 in Wisconsin; died between 1860 and 1870.
2. Edward B. Strong was born after 1848 in Wisconsin; died between 1848 and 1860.
3. Ella Strong was born about 1854 in Wisconsin; died before 1880.

Notes:

Benjamin Dwight notes that he was still living (in 1871) in Vesper, Onondaga County, New York. He had been in Vesper since 1814, previously living in Tully, also in Onondaga County. (Vol. I, p. 194).

(Research):1850 New York, Onondaga County, Tully
Ansel STRONG 60 M Farmer $4000 Con
Hannah STRONG 43 F NY
Wm. W. STRONG 9 M NY P.
Carlos STRONG 6 M NY
Asenath Let. STRONG 2 F NY
Bridget LUBY 24 F Ireland

1860 New York, Onondaga County, Tully, Vesper P.O. 16 Jun 1860
Ansel STRONG 70 Farmer $4000 $800 Con
Hannah N STRONG 52 Housekeeper NY
William W STRONG 19 Laborer NY
Peter C STRONG 17 Laborer NY
Acenith STRONG 12 NY
Muriah L STRONG 10 NY

1870 New York, Onondaga County, Tully, Otisco P.O.
Ansel STRONG 81 Farmer $5600 $1000 Conn Hannah STRONG 64 Keeping House NY
Carlos STRONG 26 $300 NY
Frank STRONG 2 M W NY

Ansel married Hannah Shailer Stocking on 25 Oct 1810 in Onondaga County, New York. Hannah (daughter of Benjamin Stocking and Dimmis Shailor) was born on 6 Feb 1792 in Connecticut; died on 14 Sep 1826 in Onondaga County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Dwight lists her as the "dau. of Benjamin STOCKING of Chatham, Ct., and Dimmis SHAILER." The book "Early Connecticut Marriages" by Frederick Bailey shows 'Benjamin Stocking & Dimmis Shailor Aug 1789' in Haddam, Middlesex County, Ct.

Notes:

Benjamin Dwight list's him as "a farmer in Middle Haddam, Ct., where he d. about 1818, aged 58." (Dwight, p 193).

Benjamin STRONG, brother of Josiah jr. and Joshua, was born February 15, 1759, married November 27, 1782, Susannah TROWBRIDGE, and settled in Middle Haddam, where he died about 1818. His children were: Reuben, born October 6, 1783, and Benjamin, born 1785, both lost at sea November 19, 1809, when sailing to Norfolk, Virginia; Susan, who married Oliver ACKLEY; Ansel, who married Hannah STOCKING; Rhoda, who married Alfred HUBBARD, and Lovina, who married Chauncey B. BULKLEY. Braddock Strong resided on the homestead, and filled various offices at profit and trust in the gift of his fellow townsmen, dying September 30, 1878, nearly 79 years of age, universally respected.


From The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885
J. H. Beers & Co, 36 Versey Street, New York
1884
Pages 198-217
Chatham,
The Early Settlers and Their Descendants, Part 2
(transcribed by Janece Streig)
http://dunhamwilcox.net/bios/chatham_bios2.htm

Benjamin married Susan Trowbridge on 27 Nov 1782 in East Hampton, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Susan was born about 1758 in Connecticut; died about 1843 in Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Benjamin Dwight cites her father as being from Colchester. (Dwight, p 193).

Notes:

Married:
Benjamin STRONG, brother of Josiah jr., and Joshua, was born February 15th 1759, married, November 27th 1782, Susannah TROWBRIDGE, and settled in Middle Haddam, where he died about 1818. His children were: Reuben, born October 6th 1783, and Benjamin, born 1785, both lost at sea November 19th 1809, when sailing to Norfolk, Virginia; Susan, who married Oliver ACKLEY; Ansel, who married Hannah STOCKING; Rhoda, who married Alfred HUBBARD; and Lovina, who married Chauncey B. BULKLEY. Braddock STRONG resided on the homestead, and filled various offices of profit and trust in the gift of his fellow townsmen, dying September 30th 1878, nearly 79 years of age, universally respected.

The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885 J. H. Beers & Co., 36 Vesey Street, New York 1884 CHATHAM. THE EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. PART 2 Pages 198-217. [transcribed by Janece Streig] http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/bios/chatham_bios2.htm

Benjamin married Dimmis Shailor in Aug 1789 in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Dimmis was born before 1772; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Benjamin Stocking & Dimmis Shailor Aug 1789 From Early Connecticut Marriages by Frederick Bailey 1896-1901

Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT, Marriages performed by Rev. Eleazer May of the Congregational Church between 1756 and 1799 (rearranged in aphabetical order)

Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/source_files/haddam_rev_may_marr.htm

Notes:

A farmer in Colchester and Middle Haddam, Ct. (Dwight, p 173).

Josiah married Hannah Fuller on 1 Nov 1733 in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut. Hannah was born on 10 Jul 1710 in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts; died after 1760 in Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown by Frank Bertinchamps, on the Rootsweb World Connect Project Tree titled "Bertinchamps/Scott/Hackleman/Sailors/Saint-Paul," as the great-granddaughter of Samuel FULLER and Jane LOTHROP. Samuel arrived to the Plymouth Colony in 1620 aboard the Mayflower, along with his parents, Edward and Anne Fuller of Norfolk, England.

Said to the daughter of Matthew Fuller and Patience Young, but her date of birth contraindicates this. Need to follow up more throughly.

Abner married Ruth Higgins on 5 Feb 1749 in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Ruth was born about 1733; died about 1766. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to be the daughter of Israel Higgins and Ruth Brown.