New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-20

at Reading at O'Clock on Wednesday evening.
William Strong was born In Somers. Talland Coun-
ty. Conn. May 8. 1895. He prepared for college
Planfed Academy. and was graduated from
Yale College in 1923 He taught school In Connectl-
and New-Jersey for several years after he left
college. and studied law in his intervals Of leisure
In 1882 ne was admitted to the Bar In Philadelphia.
and soon afterward he began to practise his pro-
fession at Reading. Penn. He was 'Locofoco
candidate for Representative in the XXXth Con-
from the IXth Pennsylvania District twhlcn
consisted Of Berks County, and was elected he
was reelected to the XXXIst Congress. Among
his associates IN the XXXth Congress were Abra-
ham Lincoln. Horace Greeley. Alexander H. Sic
phens Robert Toombs, Joshua r. Gddings. ROBERT
c. Schenck Howell Cobb Richard W. thompson
and Andrew Johnson. After his retirement from
Congress in 1851. Mr. Strong resumed the practice
OF his profession. In 1857 he was Democratic
candidate for Judge OF the Supreme Court OF Penn
sylvania and elected for term OF hfteen years
In 1870. before the expiration OF his official term
Judge Strong appointed an Associate justice or
the Supreme Court Of the United States by Presi-
dent Grant. succeed Associate Justice Grier. OF
Pennsylvania. who received his commission from
President Polk in the same year that Judge Strong
first elected to Congress. He was then sixty
two years old and his judicial experience had COW
cred a period Of thirteen years as member OF the
highest tribunal OF his adopted State. This ap-
pOlntmcnt was the reward OF an t"dt o"'o1
Strong had long cherished. and in his letter OF ac-
know gment to President Grant he wrote:
You have done me a great service snail ever
gratefully remember your kindness. seat in the
Supreme Court OF the United States would satisfy
all my ambitions except to perform its duties we'll
During the ten years OF his service as a member
OF that high tribunal Justice Strong found abundant
opportunities Of which did ne neglect. to
realize his praseworthy ambitions. His abilities and
sound judgment commanded the highest respect
and utmost confidence not only of his colleagues,
but Of members of the bar and suitors also While
ne was a member Of The Court several decisions of
great Importance delivered which were formu-
lated by him among which the judgments in
the legal tender and civil rights cases. In 1871 he
was a member Of the Electoral Commission. and
during the closing weeks of the sitngs OF that tri-
he received daily from excited partisans letters
and messages CT the most abusive and threatening
tenor-letters and messages that were simply wasted
when addressed to a of his calm judicial tenn
permanent and cool courage and resolution. An old
and intimate friend said of him.
He is the most consistent and conservative OF
men. cautious and painstakng. OF deliberate and
sound judgment An opinion once formed, he Is
firm and unaerable for this tenacity ne has been
accused Of stubhornness, but 1t Is small way Of
looking at the man..
Opportunities for political preferment
peatedly offered Justice Strong in his later years.
and as often declined President Grant earnestly
President Hayes also earnestly desired him TO enter
his Cabinet as Secretary Of the Navy, but he de-
clined. and Richard W. Thompson. OF Indiana, one
OF his former associates in the XXXth Congress,
appointed TO the place.
Even in his infancy Justice Srong's mind seems
TO have had legal bent. His ia Their was Pres
byterian clergyman-s cassmate at Yale and warm
personal friend Of Associate Justice Stephen j.
Fields father. According to one of the stories re-
latins to the boyhood Of the future Associate
Justice he absracted cake from the family table.
which was spread for some festive occasion. The
loss was not discovered until the family and guests
were seated the table. and nothing was said
about it at the ume. After the guests had de-
parted. however the reverend father OF the young
epicure said HIM:
Don't you know. my son, that in taking that
cake you broke of Gods commandments
Question. s.. " responded the young hoperu,
who had the cetechism at mis- tongues end is
any man able perfectly to keep the commandments
of God"
Answer 81 No mere man. since the fall is able
in this life perfectly TO keep the commitments Of
Cod but dom daily break them in thought word
and deed ="
What reply. If any was made to this by the boys
father is not a matter Of record but it will be
generally admitted that the future jurist there and
then fairly won his first case.
on December H. 1889. Justice Strong, still hale
and vigorous mentally. well physically al
placed upon the retired list at his own re-
quest lie preferred that the question. why does
he resign" rather than why doesn't he resign
should be mooted among his associates and men,
bers OF the bar. After his retirement from the
bench. Justice Strong lived in Washington the life
OF active and usefu. citizen. II was b. no
means the life of a who had chosen 10 with
draw himself from the daily activities and concerns
Of his feilow-ctizens. but that OF one VINO was
responsive his surroundings. For many years
PRIOR 10 his death he was the President or the
American Tract society and Of the American sun
day Scnool Union AT the time OF his death ne
elder the Presby terrain Church.
had been for many years. and 10 his efforts more
than 10 those OF any other man were due the
ganizaton. establishment and Iiourisning condition
VI the society which Duilt the Cnurch OF the Cove
ndnt, one OF the Oest and handsomest edInces
voted religious Uses the National Capital
justice Strons muscular as well as sincere
Christian he ardent lover OF athletic sporta
and stories great physical strength. mis- Keats
OF swimming and has accomplishments and prowess
in all the games then IN vogue. are sun current at
Yale. He WAS d keen sportsman and until the
weight OF years became too heavy he was among
the foremost with the rod and gun.
A pleasant picture Of his home life and surround
ngs in his later years given in The Tribune
several months ago From It the following extract
is made:
Judge Strong lives with his two daughters in a. big
oId-fashioned mouse IN HIST, near fourteehti Inc
exterior Is simple and unpretentious. but the In
terror is handsome and most agreeaDly arranged.
A wide hail separates the long drawing room on one
side from the cvsey living room and dining room on
the other The are large and ample. and
their adornmept shows "A refined and discriminating
taste Sunlight pours In from every side, open fires
glow In the CRATES and through the whole house
there II a genial and hospltable atmosphere. The
venerable Judge spends most OF his time in the
sunny library. Here he reads and writes and plays an
friend who drops in upon him. His one dissipation
r. whist. and In great while ne ATTENDS tea
other social function. On fine days he goes
for a long walk. or. when the weather Is not IN
wiling for a drive HIS slender figure and kindly.
genial face are In frequent evidence In the street
In the summer Judge Strong and his daughters go
TO Lake Minnevaska. I'm the Shawangunk Noun
tains The hotel II kept by Mr.. Smiley. one or the
famous Quaker brothers whose work among the