William Stronach was born 1803 in Stroneveagh ("the place of the Stronachs") in Elginshire, Scotland, the son of Thomas Stronach and Ann Barron. Well educated, he learned the trade of stone masonry in his native land, and at about age 30, immigrated to America arriving in New York ca. 1833. The building boom in the cities of the Northeast, like New York and Philadelphia, drew skilled laborers from Europe in droves to fill the need to build the fine edifices.
In 1833, William was just one of many skilled laborers recruited by Scottish architect, David Paton (1801-1882) to come to North Carolina and work on the rebuilding of the State Capital building in Raleigh, which had burned in 1831. Stone would be the principal building material. Stronach's name first appeared in the "List of stone-cutters employed at the Capitol," in the December 4, 1834, report of the superintending commissioners. His pay was $2 per day.
In August 1835, William applied for U.S. citizenship. While the capitol was still under construction, he opened his own marbleyard at his home at 555 East Hargett Street in Raleigh and began furnishing the stone for not just the new Capitol building, but other building as well. He was also crafted tombstones and gravemarkers, many of which can still be found in the area.
Around 1836, 33-year old William married 22-year old Sarah Eubanks Moody, a young widow from Virginia, previously married to a man named Savage.
The couple would become parents to 6 known children (2 girls/4 boys): Their first born child, an unnamed daughter, is believed to have been born and died in about 1837; followed by Mary E. Stronach (1840-1883), George Thomas Stronach (1842-1887), William Carter Stronach (1844-1901), Alexander Baron Stronach (1847-1910), and Frank E. Stronach (1851-1934).
In addition to carving grave markers, Stronach offered all kinds of granite work, plastering and mason work of all kinds. No specific building projects have been attributed to him, though several of Raleigh's antebellum buildings featured granite block foundations and other stonework that may have been his work. He supplied and installed stone for many purposes. He provided "heart [stones], paint stones, slabs for Soda Founds, Baker's slabs, and Nova Scotia grindstones." The state employed him after the capital was essentially complete for "putting up Gothic Mantle Pieces in the Library" (where the Gothic Revival style woodwork was installed by the Conrad Family of carpenters and joiners). In 1847 William Stronach and Raleigh blacksmith Silas Burns won the contract to construct the stone coping and iron fence surrounding Union Square, around the State Capitol; it was completed in 1848. The iron fencing was removed in 1898 to enclose the City Cemetery.
Stronach became a substantial Raleigh citizen. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a founding leader of a local temperance organization, and a Whig.
William Stronach died in May 1857 at age 53. His wife of 21 years survived him almost 9 years, passing in 1866 at age about age 52.
None of his sons followed in the stone mason business, but all became substantial citizens of Raleigh. Three of his sons, George, William and Alexander, would serve with the NC Confederate Army and following the war would become noted grocery merchants in the city. After the death of William Stronach, another Scots stonemason, his foreman, Donald Campbell, took over the business until 1863. [Note: Donald Campbell, the "Big Scotsman", is buried in Old City Cemetery.]
It has also been reported that William Stronach trained his slave, Columbus, in the craft of stonemasonry. Several graves in Mount Hope Baptist in Raleigh bear the mark, "Columbus Stronach Cutter". This African American Cemetery established by black citizens shortly after the Civil War in 1872 contains nearly 6,000 names and burial dates.
In 1833, William was just one of many skilled laborers recruited by Scottish architect, David Paton (1801-1882) to come to North Carolina and work on the rebuilding of the State Capital building in Raleigh, which had burned in 1831. Stone would be the principal building material. Stronach's name first appeared in the "List of stone-cutters employed at the Capitol," in the December 4, 1834, report of the superintending commissioners. His pay was $2 per day.
In August 1835, William applied for U.S. citizenship. While the capitol was still under construction, he opened his own marbleyard at his home at 555 East Hargett Street in Raleigh and began furnishing the stone for not just the new Capitol building, but other building as well. He was also crafted tombstones and gravemarkers, many of which can still be found in the area.
Around 1836, 33-year old William married 22-year old Sarah Eubanks Moody, a young widow from Virginia, previously married to a man named Savage.
The couple would become parents to 6 known children (2 girls/4 boys): Their first born child, an unnamed daughter, is believed to have been born and died in about 1837; followed by Mary E. Stronach (1840-1883), George Thomas Stronach (1842-1887), William Carter Stronach (1844-1901), Alexander Baron Stronach (1847-1910), and Frank E. Stronach (1851-1934).
In addition to carving grave markers, Stronach offered all kinds of granite work, plastering and mason work of all kinds. No specific building projects have been attributed to him, though several of Raleigh's antebellum buildings featured granite block foundations and other stonework that may have been his work. He supplied and installed stone for many purposes. He provided "heart [stones], paint stones, slabs for Soda Founds, Baker's slabs, and Nova Scotia grindstones." The state employed him after the capital was essentially complete for "putting up Gothic Mantle Pieces in the Library" (where the Gothic Revival style woodwork was installed by the Conrad Family of carpenters and joiners). In 1847 William Stronach and Raleigh blacksmith Silas Burns won the contract to construct the stone coping and iron fence surrounding Union Square, around the State Capitol; it was completed in 1848. The iron fencing was removed in 1898 to enclose the City Cemetery.
Stronach became a substantial Raleigh citizen. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a founding leader of a local temperance organization, and a Whig.
William Stronach died in May 1857 at age 53. His wife of 21 years survived him almost 9 years, passing in 1866 at age about age 52.
None of his sons followed in the stone mason business, but all became substantial citizens of Raleigh. Three of his sons, George, William and Alexander, would serve with the NC Confederate Army and following the war would become noted grocery merchants in the city. After the death of William Stronach, another Scots stonemason, his foreman, Donald Campbell, took over the business until 1863. [Note: Donald Campbell, the "Big Scotsman", is buried in Old City Cemetery.]
It has also been reported that William Stronach trained his slave, Columbus, in the craft of stonemasonry. Several graves in Mount Hope Baptist in Raleigh bear the mark, "Columbus Stronach Cutter". This African American Cemetery established by black citizens shortly after the Civil War in 1872 contains nearly 6,000 names and burial dates.
William Stronach was born 1803 in Stroneveagh ("the place of the Stronachs") in Elginshire, Scotland, the son of Thomas Stronach and Ann Barron. Well educated, he learned the trade of stone masonry in his native land, and at about age 30, immigrated to America arriving in New York ca. 1833. The building boom in the cities of the Northeast, like New York and Philadelphia, drew skilled laborers from Europe in droves to fill the need to build the fine edifices.
In 1833, William was just one of many skilled laborers recruited by Scottish architect, David Paton (1801-1882) to come to North Carolina and work on the rebuilding of the State Capital building in Raleigh, which had burned in 1831. Stone would be the principal building material. Stronach's name first appeared in the "List of stone-cutters employed at the Capitol," in the December 4, 1834, report of the superintending commissioners. His pay was $2 per day.
In August 1835, William applied for U.S. citizenship. While the capitol was still under construction, he opened his own marbleyard at his home at 555 East Hargett Street in Raleigh and began furnishing the stone for not just the new Capitol building, but other building as well. He was also crafted tombstones and gravemarkers, many of which can still be found in the area.
Around 1836, 33-year old William married 22-year old Sarah Eubanks Moody, a young widow from Virginia, previously married to a man named Savage.
The couple would become parents to 6 known children (2 girls/4 boys): Their first born child, an unnamed daughter, is believed to have been born and died in about 1837; followed by Mary E. Stronach (1840-1883), George Thomas Stronach (1842-1887), William Carter Stronach (1844-1901), Alexander Baron Stronach (1847-1910), and Frank E. Stronach (1851-1934).
In addition to carving grave markers, Stronach offered all kinds of granite work, plastering and mason work of all kinds. No specific building projects have been attributed to him, though several of Raleigh's antebellum buildings featured granite block foundations and other stonework that may have been his work. He supplied and installed stone for many purposes. He provided "heart [stones], paint stones, slabs for Soda Founds, Baker's slabs, and Nova Scotia grindstones." The state employed him after the capital was essentially complete for "putting up Gothic Mantle Pieces in the Library" (where the Gothic Revival style woodwork was installed by the Conrad Family of carpenters and joiners). In 1847 William Stronach and Raleigh blacksmith Silas Burns won the contract to construct the stone coping and iron fence surrounding Union Square, around the State Capitol; it was completed in 1848. The iron fencing was removed in 1898 to enclose the City Cemetery.
Stronach became a substantial Raleigh citizen. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a founding leader of a local temperance organization, and a Whig.
William Stronach died in May 1857 at age 53. His wife of 21 years survived him almost 9 years, passing in 1866 at age about age 52.
None of his sons followed in the stone mason business, but all became substantial citizens of Raleigh. Three of his sons, George, William and Alexander, would serve with the NC Confederate Army and following the war would become noted grocery merchants in the city. After the death of William Stronach, another Scots stonemason, his foreman, Donald Campbell, took over the business until 1863. [Note: Donald Campbell, the "Big Scotsman", is buried in Old City Cemetery.]
It has also been reported that William Stronach trained his slave, Columbus, in the craft of stonemasonry. Several graves in Mount Hope Baptist in Raleigh bear the mark, "Columbus Stronach Cutter". This African American Cemetery established by black citizens shortly after the Civil War in 1872 contains nearly 6,000 names and burial dates.
In 1833, William was just one of many skilled laborers recruited by Scottish architect, David Paton (1801-1882) to come to North Carolina and work on the rebuilding of the State Capital building in Raleigh, which had burned in 1831. Stone would be the principal building material. Stronach's name first appeared in the "List of stone-cutters employed at the Capitol," in the December 4, 1834, report of the superintending commissioners. His pay was $2 per day.
In August 1835, William applied for U.S. citizenship. While the capitol was still under construction, he opened his own marbleyard at his home at 555 East Hargett Street in Raleigh and began furnishing the stone for not just the new Capitol building, but other building as well. He was also crafted tombstones and gravemarkers, many of which can still be found in the area.
Around 1836, 33-year old William married 22-year old Sarah Eubanks Moody, a young widow from Virginia, previously married to a man named Savage.
The couple would become parents to 6 known children (2 girls/4 boys): Their first born child, an unnamed daughter, is believed to have been born and died in about 1837; followed by Mary E. Stronach (1840-1883), George Thomas Stronach (1842-1887), William Carter Stronach (1844-1901), Alexander Baron Stronach (1847-1910), and Frank E. Stronach (1851-1934).
In addition to carving grave markers, Stronach offered all kinds of granite work, plastering and mason work of all kinds. No specific building projects have been attributed to him, though several of Raleigh's antebellum buildings featured granite block foundations and other stonework that may have been his work. He supplied and installed stone for many purposes. He provided "heart [stones], paint stones, slabs for Soda Founds, Baker's slabs, and Nova Scotia grindstones." The state employed him after the capital was essentially complete for "putting up Gothic Mantle Pieces in the Library" (where the Gothic Revival style woodwork was installed by the Conrad Family of carpenters and joiners). In 1847 William Stronach and Raleigh blacksmith Silas Burns won the contract to construct the stone coping and iron fence surrounding Union Square, around the State Capitol; it was completed in 1848. The iron fencing was removed in 1898 to enclose the City Cemetery.
Stronach became a substantial Raleigh citizen. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a founding leader of a local temperance organization, and a Whig.
William Stronach died in May 1857 at age 53. His wife of 21 years survived him almost 9 years, passing in 1866 at age about age 52.
None of his sons followed in the stone mason business, but all became substantial citizens of Raleigh. Three of his sons, George, William and Alexander, would serve with the NC Confederate Army and following the war would become noted grocery merchants in the city. After the death of William Stronach, another Scots stonemason, his foreman, Donald Campbell, took over the business until 1863. [Note: Donald Campbell, the "Big Scotsman", is buried in Old City Cemetery.]
It has also been reported that William Stronach trained his slave, Columbus, in the craft of stonemasonry. Several graves in Mount Hope Baptist in Raleigh bear the mark, "Columbus Stronach Cutter". This African American Cemetery established by black citizens shortly after the Civil War in 1872 contains nearly 6,000 names and burial dates.
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