William Hope Stringer
William Hope Stringer, retired farmer and livestock dealer, of Rayland, O., has practically been a lifelong resident of Jefferson County, but was born March 25, 1832, in Belmont County, Ohio, a son of Jefferson D. and Marian (Tilton) Stringer. William Stringer, great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of England and one of the earliest settlers of Chester County, Pennsylvania. His eldest son, William, and grandfather of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and served in the Revolutionary War under General Green. His brother George served throughout the entire war. William was the father of fifteen children and died at the age of eighty-four years.
Jefferson D. Stringer was bom in 1800, in West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and in 1806 came with the family to Belmont County, Ohio. He was reared in Peas Township, became a farmer and subsequently fell heir to the home farm. He married Marian Tilton, a daughter of Joseph Tilton, and a descendant of the well known Tilton family of Tiltonville, Belmont County, Ohio, and she died in Belmont County in 1834, and three years later the family came to Jefferson County and settled at Rayland, Ohio, where Jefferson Stringer died, in 1888. He became one of the substantial farmers of the township and was the owner of three tracts of farm land. He was an adherent of the Republican party. Two sons were born to Jefferson and Marian Stringer: William H., the subject of this record; and Joseph, who died in 1878.
William Hope Stringer was quite young when his mother died and was afterward cared for by his aunt, Jane Stringer, who came to live with them. The father moved to Rayland, then known as Portland, O., and there our subject attended the public school and afterwards took a course at Jenkins College, of Mt. Pleasant, O. Early in life he engaged in farming, and was afterwards for some time associated with his brother Joseph in the grain business, and then became interested in live stock, and for years was one of the most extensive shippers of hogs in the county. Mr. Stringer retired from business activities in 1890 and has been living at his present residence, which is known as the old stone house or John Bayless mansion, since April, 1859, and he also owns a tract of ninety acres in Warren Township. He is politically a Republican and has served six years as assessor, and was appraiser in 1880.
Mr. Stringer was married October 23, 1862, to Alzira Hutton, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Tonner) Hutton, and to them were born the following children: Jefferson D., who married Emma Kodell, has three children—William, Helen and Anna Virginia; Mary Jane, who is the wife of J. P. O'Brien, has three children—James, Mary and Anna; Anna; Jessie; Joseph Franklin; Sallie; Oliver C, who died aged twenty-six years; Cornelia T.; George S.; Benjamin C.; and Edith E. Mrs. Stringer died January 29, 1910, aged sixty-nine years. The religious connection of the family is with the Presbyterian church.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910