History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

CHAPTER XLI.
CALEB STRONG.
Birth and Descent. It is Sb fact of 110 little significance that the
name of Strong, which in the person of
Elder John Strong represents one of the most prominent
figures in the settlement of Northampton, and occupies so
important a place upon the first pages of this work, should,
at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the end of the
first one hundred fifty years of the town's history, stand
for the most illustrious of all her sons, the Hon. Caleb
Strong, Governor of Massachusetts. Caleb Strong was
born in Northampton, Jan. 9, 1745, being a direct descendant
in the fourth generation from Elder John Strong. His
father, Lieut. Caleb Strong, and his mother, whose maiden
name was Phebe Lyman, "were both distinguished hj an
original strength of mind, a sound judgment, and a prudent,
pious, and exemplary christian deportment."^ From
such a line of ancestry, and in such favoring surroundings
as were presented by his native town, were produced the
judicial calm, the far-sighted sagacity and the unflinching
integrity which constituted the character of the man, and
fitted him to guide the Ship of State through the troubled
waters which led to the new era of peace.
Education. Being ail only son, Caleb enjoyed every educational
advantage which was then to be
had. He was fitted for college by the Rev. Samuel Moody
of York, Maine, an eminent teacher of the day, who
recognized the ability of his pupil and gave him not only
1 Tiiis chapter is compiled from notes and references found among the papers of
the late James Russell Trumbull.— Ed.
2 Appendix to funeral sermon delivered by Dr. Joseph Lyman at the interment of
the Hon. Caleb Strong.
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