Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

shilling and fifteen pence, which shows
he was one of the wealthy men of New
England. The name of his first wife,
whose youngest child was Samuel, is not
known.
Rev. Cyprian Strong, son of Captain
Asahel (2) and Ruth (Hooker) Strong,
was born May 26, 1743. He was graduated
at Yale in 1763; served as town
clerk of Farmington in 1766; and was
ordained a pastor of the church at what
is now Portland, Connecticut, August 9,
1767. It is said that "his preaching
abounded in clear reasoning and sound
instruction rather than in power of imagi-
nation or fervor of feeling." He married
for his second wife, May 4, 1786, Abigail,
born August 8, 1760, daughter of Judge
Ebenezer White, of Chatham, now Port-
land, Connecticut, and Ruth (Wells)
White, of East Hartford, daughter of
Captain Samuel, Jr., and Esther (Ellsworth)
Wells. She died May 2, 1795,
aged thirty-five years. Rev. Cyprian
Strong died November 17, 181 1. (An ex-
tensive sketch of his life and character
appears in volume I, Sprague's "Annals
of the American Pulpit").
Erastus Strong, son of Rev. Cyprian
Strong, was born May 6, 1789. He was
a farmer and for many years was clerk
of the Congregational church in Portland.
He married, April 22, 1818, Mary, born
April 28, 1800, daughter of Abel and Mary
(Cruttenden) Lewis, of Portland, Con-
necticut.
John Ellsworth Strong, son of Erastus
Strong, was born August 28, 1824, in
Portland, Connecticut, and died in Hart-
ford. He was a retail hatter in Hartford,
following this line throughout his active
business years. He was a captain of foot
guards for many years, and was elected
major, a commission which he resigned,
however, two days after he received it.
He was affiliated with the Masonic order.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
57
He married, February 1, i860, Eunice,
daughter of Captain Henry and Eunice
(Clark) Barnard. Captain Henry Bar-
nard gained his title through sea service
he was a cousin of Henry Barnard, the
educator. Mr. and Mrs. Strong were the
parents of two children : Harry Barnard,
mentioned below ; and Mary Amelia, born
October 15, 1863, married A. W. De-
barthe, of Wethersfield, who died May 7,
1917, at the age of fifty-six years.
Harry Barnard Strong, son of John
Ellsworth and Eunice (Barnard) Strong,
was born in Hartford, Connecticut, July
25, 1 861. He was educated in the grammar
and high schools of his native place,
being a member of the class of 1880 in the
latter institution. Upon leaving school
he entered the employ of "The Beehive,"
where he remained a short time. In 1876
he entered the employ of Brown, Thom-
son & Company, which was then a small
concern, but now carries on the largest
department store business in Connecticut.
His rise in this connection has been rapid
and he has been a member of the firm
since 1895. Mr. Strong is a director of
the Phoenix National Bank and the Syndicate
Trailing Company of New York
City. He is affiliated with the great
Masonic body, being a member of Lafa-
yette Lodge, No. 100, of Hartford ; the
Hartford Golf Club ; City Club of Hartford
; Country Club of Farmington ; Automobile
Club, and Wethersfield Country
Club. His residence is in the town of
Wethersfield.
Mr. Strong married, October 20, 1886,
Hattie, daughter of William Meggat, of
Wethersfield. Mr. and Mrs. Strong have
three children: 1. James M., born September
15, 1888, was educated at the
Westminster School, Simsbury, Connec-
ticut, and is now associated with the
house of Brown, Thomson & Company,
of Hartford. 2. Eunice Barnard, born
;