Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 237-238; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Jesse W. Strong is the editor and proprietor of the Canton
Republican, one of the numerous papers of this county which lays just
claim to a liberal share of public patronage and enjoys it. The
sheet is a six-column, eight-page paper, neatly printed upon a power
press and issued on Thursday of each week. It is devoted to the
advancement of Independent principles and the political issues of the
day are well handled by its editor. Its local columns are well
arranged, its items of news are well selected, and in every respect it
is a creditable sheet. The plant is owned by Mr. Strong, who
purchased it about September 15, 1890. The journal was
established in June, 1877, under the name of the Advertiser and
conducted independently of political partisanship. The name was
afterward changed to the Times and again to the Fulton Republican, the
last change being made in 1880 when the present name was adopted.
It is now the leading Independent paper of the county.
The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced as a
native of the city in which he is now carrying on his journalistic
labors, having been born April 9, 1859. He is the youngest son of
Dr. O. G. and Bethina (Pavey) Strong, of whom a more extended notice
will be found elsewhere in this volume. After receiving a
fundamental education in the public schools he spent some time in study
at Columbus, Ohio, and upon his return to his home took up the
newspaper business. Going to St. Louis, Mo., he was employed on
the Post-Dispatch and Journal and then having returned to Canton for a
time was a member of the force on the Register.
In July, 1880, Mr. Strong went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he held
a position on the Courier until December, 1881, when he returned to
Canton with his health much impaired. For a few months his chief
endeavor was to restore his physical forces to their normal condition,
and after regaining his strength he began work on the Canton Register
in July, 1882. He held a position in that office practically
until July, 1889, when he resigned to take charge of the journal he is
now ably conducting.
By reason of his general intelligence, his good breeding and
upright character, Mr. Strong is respected by those who enjoy the
pleasure of his acquaintance. He is looked upon as one of the
rising members of the journalistic profession and one whose power is
likely to be felt still more strongly in years to come. He is a
member of the social order of Red Men. February 3, 1886, our
subject led to the hymeneal altar, Miss Carrie Strong of Union City,
Ohio. This cultured young lady is the second daughter of Augustus
and Lucina Strong. Of the above union two children have been
born; Olive and Bethina.
