Biography

03/16/1829 - 05/10/1884

Butler B. Strang (R16) Cameron, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties 1872-1874 (R25) McKean Potter and Tioga Counties 1875-1876

Early Life: 

Butler B. Strang, born, March 16, 1829, Greenwood Township, Steuben County, New York; son of the Reverend Francis and Elizabeth Strang; employed, family mercantile store; Tioga bar, 1852, attorney-at-law; elected, District Attorney, Tioga County, 1856-1859; elected, burgess, Westfield; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1861-1862 terms, not a candidate for reelection, 1862; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1868-1871; elected, Speaker, 1870; not a candidate for reelection, 1871; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1872-1876; elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1873-1876; delegate, Lancaster Republican State Convention, 1875; appointed, Chair, Pennsylvania Centennial Committee, 1876; appointed, United States Marshall, Dakota Territory, 1882-1883; died, May 10, 1884, suicide, gunshot, Westfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; interment, Potter Brook Cemetery, Potter Brook, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Employed, family mercantile store; attorney-at-law.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Wesleyan Methodist Church

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, District Attorney, Tioga County, 1856-1859; elected, burgess, Westfield.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1861-1862 terms, not a candidate for reelection, 1862. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1868- 1871; elected, Speaker, 1870; not a candidate for reelection, 1871.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 16th district, Cameron, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties, 1871-1874; Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, McKean Potter and Tioga Counties, 1875-1876; chairman, Finance Committee, 1872, chairman, Judiciary Committee, 1873 chair, Judiciary Committee, 1874, member Constitutional Reform Committee, 1875; elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1873-1876, Constitutional revisions, Pennsylvania Constitution Convention, passed while Speaker, 1873.

Delegate, Lancaster Republican State Convention, 1875. 

Appointed, Governor John F. Hartranft, chairman, Pennsylvania Centennial Committee, 1876.

Appointed, President Chester Alan Arthur, United States Marshall, Dakota Territory, 1882-1883.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Distinction as the last state legislative executive to serve a full session under the 1838 Constitution, and only one of seven to serve as Speaker of the House and Speaker (or president pro tempore) of the Senate.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1875). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 602, 606-608.

The Potter Enterprise (Coudersport, Pennsylvania) · Wednesday, May 14, 1884 · page 3. 

Butler B Strang (1829-1884) - Find a Grave Memorial