John Strong (Michigan politician)
Encyclopedia
John Strong, Jr. was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
in Greenfield Township, Michigan
, which is now part of Detroit. He received a common school
education and engaged in farming. In 1863, he moved to Monroe County
where he founded South Rockwood and engaged in milling, manufacturing barrel staves, heading, lumber
, merchandising
, farming
and raising cattle
. During a sawmill
accident, he lost two fingers on his right hand. He married Emily Buhl, the sister of two Detroit mayors, Frederick
and Christian H. Buhl
. His nephew John Strong Haggerty (1866–1950) served as Michigan Secretary of State
from 1927 to 1931.
to the Michigan House of Representatives from Wayne County
(2nd district), just as his father had been from 1835 to 1836, and served from 1861 to 1862. In 1878, he was again elected to the state house, yet instead from Monroe County (2nd district) and served from 1879 to 1880. In 1880, he was elected to the Michigan Senate
from the 5th district and served from 1881 to 1884.
In 1890, Strong was elected as the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
and served under Governor Edwin B. Winans from 1891 to 1893. He was the first Democrat to be elected to the office of lieutenant governor
in Michigan since Andrew Parsons
thirty-eight years earlier. In 1912, he served as an alternate delegate
from Michigan to the Democratic National Convention
which nominated for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson
who won in the general election.
. He died in South Rockwood just five days before his eighty-third birthday and one month after Wilson’s first inauguration. He is interred at Riverside Cemetery of South Rockwood.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life and family
Strong, the son of John Strong Sr. (1798–1881), from Wroxton, Oxfordshire, England, was a first generation American born in a log cabinLog cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
in Greenfield Township, Michigan
Greenfield Township, Michigan
Greenfield is a former civil township of Wayne County, Michigan; it was created from a portion of neighboring Springwells Township in 1833. Greenfield eventually encompassed the survey township T1S R11E....
, which is now part of Detroit. He received a common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
education and engaged in farming. In 1863, he moved to Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
where he founded South Rockwood and engaged in milling, manufacturing barrel staves, heading, lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, merchandising
Merchandising
Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer...
, farming
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and raising cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. During a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
accident, he lost two fingers on his right hand. He married Emily Buhl, the sister of two Detroit mayors, Frederick
Frederick Buhl
Frederick Buhl was a businessman from Detroit, Michigan. He served as the city's mayor in 1848.-Biography:Frederick Buhl was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1806, the second of eleven children...
and Christian H. Buhl
Christian H. Buhl
Christian H. Buhl was a businessman and industrialist from Detroit, Michigan. He served as the city's mayor in 1860-61.-Biography:...
. His nephew John Strong Haggerty (1866–1950) served as Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the third-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. As the name implies, the officeholder was originally responsible for much of state government, but now the duties are similar to those of the other 47 secretaries of states...
from 1927 to 1931.
Politics
In 1860, Strong was elected as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Michigan House of Representatives from Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
(2nd district), just as his father had been from 1835 to 1836, and served from 1861 to 1862. In 1878, he was again elected to the state house, yet instead from Monroe County (2nd district) and served from 1879 to 1880. In 1880, he was elected to the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from the 5th district and served from 1881 to 1884.
In 1890, Strong was elected as the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
and served under Governor Edwin B. Winans from 1891 to 1893. He was the first Democrat to be elected to the office of lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
in Michigan since Andrew Parsons
Andrew Parsons
Andrew Parsons was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life in New York:Parsons was born in Hoosick, New York...
thirty-eight years earlier. In 1912, he served as an alternate delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
from Michigan to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
which nominated for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
who won in the general election.
Death
During his life Strong became a member of FreemasonsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He died in South Rockwood just five days before his eighty-third birthday and one month after Wilson’s first inauguration. He is interred at Riverside Cemetery of South Rockwood.