Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Strong, William A ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 1:50 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County WILLIAM A. STRONG, who was long president of the Joliet Gas Company, was born in New York in 1828, and received a public-school education in his native town of Waterloo. There he engaged in the hardware business from 1845 until 1850. During the latter year he came to Joliet and formed a partnership with his uncle, under the firm name of W. A. Strong & Co. In 1855 the title was changed to Strong & Co., Messrs. Brooks and Barrett being admitted into partnership. Under different firm names the business was successfully conducted until 1865. On retiring from the company, our subject accepted the position of president of the Joliet Gas Company, and through his wise oversight and sound judgment the corporation became a very successful one. He also was connected with other interests of a private or public nature, and until his death was one of Joliet's most prominent men. The confidence reposed in him was shown by his selection to take charge of the settlement of various large estates. As bank director and, for a few years, as an owner of stock in a quarry business, he had diversified interests. His fellow-citizens, appreciating his business ability and high character as a man, selected him to represent them in the city council and as mayor of Joliet, where his administrative and executive faculties found a useful sphere of activity. Early in his residence in Joliet he bought one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he platted in a subdivision known as Glenwood. In 1855 Mr. Strong married Miss Charlotte A. Buell, who died at Thomasville, Ga., March 20, 1889. Of their four children, two were daughters and two sons. One of the daughters, Mrs. Budlong, died in January, 1885. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/strong1067gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 2.5 Kb