Collateral Family: The STRONG Connection

With two daughters married to Maddens, at least one a relative and common interest in vessels on the Great Lakes, it seemed prudent to investigate the Strong family of Tonawanda, New York.  Here are the basics.

The patriarch, Thomas Nicholas Strong, was born about 1820 in Ireland. He died in 1886 at the age of 66 in Tonawanda, Erie, New York and is buried in St. Francis Cemetery (1).  He married Eliza Hammond who was born on 25 Aug 1831 in Liverpool, England. She died on 23 Jun 1907 at the age of 75 in Tonawanda and was buried in St. Francis Cemetery.  Thomas is listed as a sailor in the 1860-80 census.(2)

They had the following children

A. Belinda Caroline Strong was born in 1852 in New York. She died on 29 Jan 1925 at the age of 73 in Tonawanda.  Belinda married John Rhadigan, a sailor born in Canada, about 1879.  In 1880 they were living in Port Huron, MI. (3) They had three children.  John bn about 1881 married (1) Delsia Brighton and (2)Catherine.  He also followed a maritime career.  William married Pearl and had at least one child. Belinda married Raymond Ball and had children.  

B. William H Strong was born in 1854 in New York. He died in 1908 at the age of 54. He was buried in 1908 at St. Francis Cemetery. By 1880 William had followed his father into the maritime business. He is listed as a sailor in the census.

C. Thomas N Strong Jr. was born in 1856 in New York. He died in 1865 at the age of 9 in New York, United States. He was buried in St. Francis Cemetery. 

D. Eliza A Strong was born in 1859 in New York.. She died in 1881 and is buried in St. Francis Cemetery.  Eliza married .... McInnis.  No further information has been found to date.

E. Clara Strong was born in 1862 in Tonawanda, New York. She died on 12 Mar 1936 at the age of 74 in Tonawanda.  Clara married William L Misner who in 1900 is listed as Clerk of Canal.  They had James, William, Rosette and Matthew.  The Misner's had an interest in at least one of the Strong vessels plying the Great Lakes. Clara and William sued other Strong family members over interest in the Emory. (Misner research). 

F. Isabella "Belle" Strong was born on 22 Oct 1863 in Tonawanda, New York.  She died on 2 Jul 1946 at the age of 82 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan and was buried on 4 Jul 1946 in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Isabella "Melle" Strong and Michael Madden were married about 1884 in Tonawanda.  See Great Lakes: Captain Michael Madden of Saginaw

G. Emma Strong was born in 1866 in Tonawanda, New York and in 1934 at the age of 68. She was buried in 1934 at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, Erie, New York.  Emma married Philip Heppner who was born in 1864. He died in 1917 at the age of 53 and is also buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.  They had Elizabeth 1895-1976, who married David Reid 1895-1976 and Mary E. 1896-1985. Also see  Family: John J. Madden for information on Capt. Heppner being injured in 1905.

H. Dora Strong was born on 24 Aug 1870 in Tonawanda, New York.  See Family: John J. Madden

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(1) All Cemetery Links for St. Francis Cemetery and Mt. Olivert Cemetery are found on FindAGrave

(2) Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.  Tonawanda, Erie, New York; Roll: M653_750; Page: 566; Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Tonawanda, Erie, New York; Roll: M593_931; Page: 565A; Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. onawanda, Erie, New York; Roll: 827 pg 174A

(3)Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.Port Huron, St Clair, Michigan; Roll: 605; Page: 323A