The morning times., 1895-08-20

Justice Strong was born in Somers, Conn,
in May, 1S0S. He descended OF a long line
of New Englanders, many of whom were
Presbyterian ministers, as was his father.
AS the eldest of eleven Children, five of
whom still survive-tAe two brothers be-
ing Rev Edward Strong, of Pittsfield,
Mass, and Theodore Strong, the banker
ofPittston, Pa.-Willian Strong wasbrought
up in Puritan simplicity and with Puritan
. strictness, knowing his Bible and West
minister catechism while boy as few
people know them now adays, and laying
the foundations OF the mental and physical
strength which made his after career pos
sible.
His father sent him to Yale, where he
himself had been graduated, one OF his
classmates, and close friends, being that
other New England Presbyterian minister,
who afterwdrd became the father of Justice
Stephen j Field, Cyrus w. Field, David
Dudley Field, and Rev. DR.. Henry NJ. Field,
and the grandfather of Justice David j.
Brewer, who now sits with his venerable
uncle on the Supreme Bench
Both as a pupil and as an athlete young
Strong made lasting reputation at college.
He swami across New Haven harbor and
back again and otherwise distinguished him
self as a swimmer, while he was almost
equally good at football At Cape May,
many years after, his skill and experience
as swimmer ena bIed him to save the lives
of two drO wning men, one of whom was his
own brother.
Graduating before he was 20 young
Strong established himself near Philadel-
phia, where he taught school by day and
read law at night. He began the practice
of law ut Reading and within a year had
| built up good practice, and in less than
two decades had attained high standing
at the bar When 80 years old he served
two terms in Congress.
He refused a place III the Cabinet twice,
first when Gen. Garnt asked him TO be-
come Attorney General, and afterward
when Mr. Hayes asked him to be Secre
tary of the Navy. He did, however, sit
on the supreme bench of Pennsylvania
| for time, afterward going tn Philadel-
| phia, where he resumed the practice of
| his profession.
| At siXty-two years of age, while earn
! ing $4,000 a year by practicing law,
| he was nominated by President Grant to be
| an associate justice of the Supreme Court,
was promptly confirmed, and sat on the
bench ten years, serving meanwhile on the
| electoral commission. In 1880 he availed
| himself of the provision OF law which en-
| ables Supreme Court judge TO retire
| on his full salary after ten years ser
vice.
| A practical Christian, Judge Strong al
ways literally aided all denominations,
| but especially the Presbyterian, his af
| fection for It being hereditary.
The Church OF the Covenant where Har-
| rison and Blaine and many other prominent
| people have worshiped might be called
| Judge Strong's monument, for he did more
and gave more for il than any other person
The very sight OF him, bearing the sacred
embems down the main aisle on commun-
ion Sunday, touched many heart more
| deeply than words; and this will be what
all those who We're in the church the last
day he thus officiaGed win aIwa ysremember
| in connection with him.
| His temperate habit and methodiGal
| manner of living caused Justice Strong
| to be well preserved notwithstanding his
advanced age. Last November when he in
| troduced General Booth, of the Salvation
| Army, at the meeting in Convention Hall,
it seemed to the audience that Judge Strong
must be twenty years younger than Gen
eral Booth, instead of General Booth being
twenty years younger than Judge Strong
Judge Strong was erect, broad-chested
and vigorous looking, with fresh, health
ful complexion, SO that in spite OF his white
hairs, he certainly seemed to be the Junior
OF the veteran soldier of the cross
Justice Strong has been twice married