Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Strong, Warner P 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Warner P. Strong, long identified with the agricultural interests of Will 
county, where he has resided continuously for sixty years, was born in Elk 
county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1845, his parents being Erwin and Lucy 
(Warner) Strong. The father, who was born near Ithaca, New York, March 10, 
1819, died June 11, 1897, and his wife, whose birth occurred in Clearfield 
county, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1823, departed this life August 11, 1900. 
They were married in her native county, September 11, 1844, and both spent 
their last days in Florence township, Will county, Illinois. In early life 
Erwin Strong entered Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and after 
studying there for a time matriculated in Jefferson Medical College at 
Philadelphia, from which he was graduated. On the completion of his course he 
located for the practice of medicine in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, where he 
remained for three years, and in 1847 came to Wilmington. For three or four 
years he resided in the village and then removed to Florence township, where 
he made his home for a half century. He was a close student of his profession, 
keeping abreast with the advanced thought of the day and was recognized as one 
of the ablest as well as one of the earliest physicians of Wilmington and his 
portion of the county. He did great good as a pioneer practitioner and indeed 
his entire life was of signal service and usefulness to his fellowmen. He held 
membership in Wilmington lodge, No. 208, A. F. & A. M.; Wilmington chapter, 
No. 142, R. A. M.; and Joliet commandery, No. 4, K. T., while his political 
allegiance was given to the whig party and later to the republican party. Unto 
him and his wife were born five children, of whom four are now living: Warner 
P.; Caroline; Sarah E., the wife of John Lardner, a resident of Wilmington; 
and Mary, who is with her sister Caroline on the old homestead. Warner P. 
Strong was but thirteen months old when brought by his parents to Illinois. He 
was educated in the public schools and being the only son of the family took 
charge of the home farm and throughout his entire life has carried on general 
agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. In 1900 he purchased a residence near 
the old homestead in Florence township. He has lived a life of thrift and 
industry characterized by honesty in business and devotion to the daily duties 
which have devolved upon him and by all who know him he is highly esteemed and 
respected. On the 17th of June, 1875, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna E. Alkire, who was born in Brookston, Indiana, October 30, 1853. Her 
parents were Jackson and Mary (Lucas) Alkire, who were married in Brookston, 
Indiana, August 15, 1852. The father was born at Mount Sterling, Madison 
county, then a part of Pickaway county, Ohio, February 5, 1815, and died May 
14, 1899, while his wife, whose birth occurred at Brookston, Indiana, May 5, 
1824, passed away at her home in Petaluma, California, in 1906, at the age of 
seventy-two years. Jackson Alkire was first married to Belinda Shearer, 
December 25, 1848, at Battleground, Indiana. She died August 5, 1850, leaving 
one daughter, now Mrs. Mary D. Hunt, of Chicago. By the second marriage there 
were nine children, of whom five are living, namely: Mrs. Strong; Florence F., 
who married Harry Parker and resides in Petaluma, California; Taylor H., 
Edward C. and Ella C, all in Petaluma. It was in 1866 that Jackson Alkire came 
with his family to Wilmington, where he engaged in the grocery business until 
1873. He then took up his abode in Florence township, where he purchased a 
farm of two hundred and seventy acres and thereon built a home. He devoted his 
time and energies to general farming and stock-raising until 1881, when he 
sold his property and removed to Petaluma, California, where he remained for 
about eight months. He next went to San Bernardino, California, where he lived 
for four years, when he returned to Petaluma in 1885 and there spent his last 
days. He was esteemed by all as an honest, upright man and good citizen. For a 
number of years while living in this county he served as school director and 
all who knew him entertained for him high regard. His wife survived him and 
also passed away in Petaluma. She was a highly esteemed woman, a devout 
Christian and a loving wife and mother. All who knew her loved her and her 
death caused genuine sorrow. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strong have been born four 
children, two sons and two daughters: Edna B., who died March 22, 1881, at the 
age of five years and three months; Erwin J.; Marcus A.; and Bernice F. The 
family is well known in Will county, where Mr. and Mrs. Strong have spent 
almost their entire lives, enjoying in large measure the kindly regard and 
friendship of those with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Strong-served as 
township supervisor in 1886 and 1887, was township clerk for ten years and has 
been assessor for one term. He was also school treasurer for more than a 
decade, school trustee for two terms and highway commissioner. In all of these 
positions he has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity and a 
sense of conscientious obligation. In politics he is a republican, recognized 
as one of the leaders of his party in Florence township. In business life he 
has displayed industry, enterprise and keen discernment and is accounted one 
of the leading agriculturists of the county. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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