History of northern Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources, an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers, views of county seats, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881. p.1165

George F. Stroud. One of the most public-spirited and enterprising
business men of the city is George F. Stroud. He was born Dec. 10, 1836,
in Willsboro, Essex Co., N.Y. His father, William D. Stroud, is a native
of New Hampshire, and his mother, whose maiden name was Laura A. Lee, was
born in Vermont. Two of Mr. Stroud's ancestors on his mother's side were
signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1851, Mr. Stroud's family
emigrated to Wisconsin and located at Oshkosh the 15th day of April in that
year. For some time, George F. Stroud attended a select school, and
afterward assisted his father in the management of his farm, and also in
getting out building stone from the stone quarry now known as the Lutz
quarry, which was managed at that time by William D. Stroud. He next
engaged as a traveling salesman for a Rochester nursery until the fall of
1867. In that year he engaged in the paint and oil trade, and, in the
spring of 1868, opened the first store in the state devoted exclusively to
this specialty. The business proved a success from the start. Commencing
in a small way, with limited capital, it gradually increased, until it now
requires two large stores and two warehouses, and Stroud's traveling
salesmen visit every town and village in Northern Wisconsin. Mr. Stroud
was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Miss Angeline F. Reed, sister of Maj. L.B.
Reed, and has three children. Mr. Stroud is always read to encourage and
promote any enterprise which promises to benefit the city, and is ever
foremost in all public works. He is an active member of the Business Men's
Association, and, in connection with Mayor Beckwith and Ossian Cook, worked
up the subscription which secured to the city the carriage works of Parsons
& Goodfellow, which now employ upward of 150 men. During the political
campaign of 1880, Mr. Stroud was President of the Garfield and Arthur Club,
and performed his arduous duties in the same energetic and whole-souled
manner which characterizes all his business transactions. Mr. Stroud is
emphatically a self-made man, and one who deserves great credit for the
success which has marked his efforts.