Georgia Amy Stroup

This photo was sent to me by Cathleen Pilalas. This is a much better photo that the one I had on file. It was taken about 1870. What a beautiful young lady.

Georgia Amy was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Stroup and Elizabeth Sarah Roach. She was born 15 Feb 1850 at Stamp Creek, Georgia. She married Samuel Earl Davis on 23 Jan 1870 in Marietta, Georgia. They had one son, James Robert and one daughter Elizabeth Sarah. Georgia died about 1876/77 in Walaska, Georgia.

Thanks Cathleen

Mike Stroupe

More Moses Stroup Jr

This photo was sent to me by Bryan Crenshaw. He is also the one who sent me the charcoal of young Moses Jr.

We do not know everyone in the photo but are working on it as I type this.

Front row children L to R: Lyman, Mike, Moses Sons of Beatrice Stroup Kiser

Middle row adults L to R: William Kiser, Moses Stroup Jr, Susan Coon Stroup (Moses Jr wife) on the far right is Laura Beatrice holding Ilese (her daughter), to her right is Mary Loula Stroup (her sister)

Back row second from the left is Zona Stroup (Beatrice Stroup's half-sister)

Children of Adam Wesley Stroup

A special thanks to Barry H. Beattie who provided this photo.

This photograph probably taken in about 1930 of the children from Adam Wesley Stroup and Margaret Ann Connor Beam Stroup. (In back from left to right) Marion Lee Stroup age 60, John Wesley Stroup age 57, Daniel (Dan) Boyd Stroup age 53, Adam Loyd Stroup age 42. (In front from left to right) Dora Ann Stroup age 55, Rossie Cardelia (Delia) Stroup age 49, & Carrie Bell Stroup age 52.

Mike Stroupe

Jessie Belle Sellers

Photo was taken 1991

Jessie Belle Sellers was born on 18 August 1918. She was the daughter of Hiram Sylvanus "Van" Sellers and Dora Ann Stroup. She passed away on 29 April 2007.





Jessie Sellers Moss spent a significant amount time and energy to preserving and documenting the legacy of the Stroup, Sellers and Moss Families of Cherryville. She worked closely with Ethel Belle Stroupe on her Stroup research. Her daughter Linda Moss Ballard continues the tradition.





Sid and I work very closely with her daughter Linda in our research. We all share the same enthusiasm in our quest. Some of our best times are searching for hidden cemeteries.





Mike Stroupe

James Pierce Stroup Family

This is the first chapter of this book written by Mamie Estelle Stroup Hayes in 1954. I found this chapter very heart warming. The original is written in all caps with many grammar errors.

CHAPTER I - A LOVE STORY

IN THE YEAR 1836 (1852?), A FAMILY BY THE NAME OF JAMES CRUTCHFIELD OF CHATHAM COUNTY N.C, DECIDED ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS TO GO WEST, LAND HAD BECOME EXHAUSTED IN CHATHAM COUNTY AND SO, OFF TO GREENER PASTURES, SLAVES) CATTLE, HOGS, CHICKENS, AND CHILDREN, ALL ALONG IN A COVERED WAGON TRAIN.

JAMES JOINED IN THE LONG LINE OF NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS, THOUGH NOT ALL FOR SOME OF HIS CHILDREN WERE MARRIED AND DID NOT CHOOSE TO GO. FOR JAMES CRUTCHFIELD OWNED THE ORE HILL FARM AND WAS CONSIDERED A GOOD FARMER AND BETTER "LIVER" THAN MANY OTHERS, SO, SOME OF THE OLDER CHILDREN TOOK OVER AND REMAINED BEHIND.

SOME MIGHTY INTERESTING HISTORY WAS MADE BY THIS MIGRATION IN SO FAR AS THE PRESENT SKETCH IS CONCERNED. THEIR ROUTE MUST HAVE CARRIED THEM TOWARD THE WEST ALONG SOMEWHAT IS NOW NO.70 HIGHWAY STRIKING THE PIEDMONT ALONG ABOUT LINCOLNTON AND THEN ON WEST, PERHAPS, THRU WAUTAUGA COUNTY INTO TENNESSEE.

ALONG THE ROUTE, OTHER SUCH FARM FAMILIES JOINED IN TO SWELL THE MIGRATION. BY THE TIME IT REACHED THE LOWER MOUNTAINS, A GREAT HOST HAD ENLISTED. CAMPING AT NIGHT WAS A GRAND TIME FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE OLDER ONES. MANY QUESTIONS WERE RAISED AND SETTLED AROUND SUCH CAMPFIRES. NATURALLY, THE YOUNG PEOPLE "CAST EYES" AT ONE ANOTHER, NOT A FEW FRIENDSHIPS THUS BEGUN BECAME FAST AND LASTING.

TOO, THE CRUTCHFIELDS MEN, TRADERS, WHO HAD BEEN OVER THE ROAD MANY TIMES BEFORE AND KNEW THE HAZARDS BOTH FROM THE RUGGED COUNTRY AND THE INDIANS. THE LATTER AT TIMES A REAL MENACE SINCE THEY FELT THE OUTRAGES OF HAVING TO GIVE UP THEIR "HUNTING GROUND" TO THE WHITE PEOPLE. THUS THE MORE MEN OF ABLE BODIES AND THAT COULD CARRY A MUSKET, WERE THE MORE WELCOMED AS FELLOW TRAVELERS.

ONE MAN OF THIS KIND, YOUNG AND ENERGETIC AND ABLE-BODIED BY THE NAME OF HOSEA HOLCOMB STROUP LIVED IN LINCOLN COUNTY ALONG WITH HIS PARENTS. WHEN THE CARAVAN REACHED HIS VICINITY, HE FELT CONSTRAINED TO JOIN THEM, AND FELL IN AS A TRUSTED FELLOW TRAVELER AND HELPER.

IN THE CRUTCHFIELD FAMILY WAGON WAS A BRILLIANT YOUNG TEENAGE GIRL, JUST TURNING 16, VERY ATTRACTIVE AND WILLING TO HELP MAKE THE MOVE AS LIGHT ON ALL AS POSSIBLE. SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE NAME OF
NANCY SALINE CRUTCHFIELD.

ALONG THE WAY, THEY CAME TO A TOLL-BRIDGE OVER WHICH ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER COULD CROSS AT ONE TIME. NANCY WISHING A LITTLE BETTER VIEW OF THINGS, CLIMBED UP ON THE GATE GOOD AND HIGH. HOSEA BEING SOMEWHAT OF A CUSTODIAN OF THE FAMILY, SAID TO NANCY,"YOU HAD BETTER GET DOWN, YOU WILL TEAR YOUR DRESS". SO "WORDS FITLY SPOKEN ARE LIKE APPLES OF GOLD IN PICTURES OF SILVER". NO ONE IS ABLE TO TELL THE LAST FROM SUCH CASUAL WORDS SPOKEN.

THESE WERE THE WORDS OF A LASTING FRIENDSHIP "TIL DEATH DO US PART". THE LONG TEDIOUS JOURNEY LASTED ON INTO THE WEEKS AND MONTHS; HOSEA HAD MORE BUSINESS WATCHING THE WAGONS NEAREST TO NANCY'S. WHAT WAS A WORD OF CAUTION IN THE BEGINNING BEGAN TO RIPEN INTO A REAL ROMANCE. THE FLOWERS, HILLS, AND WAGON TRAIN ALL BECAME MORE ATTRACTIVE. TIME WAS BEGUILED BY MANY A SWEET WORD SPOKEN IN THE TWILIGHT OF A FAST BLINKING CAMP FIRE. OFTEN, THEY WERE IN THE SAME WAGON, OFTEN ON THE LONG STRETCHES OF UP HILL ROAD THEY WALKED TOGETHER, AND IT SEEMS THAT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN WELL "AGREED".

THE CRUTCHFIELDS WERE CARRIED ON FARTHER THAN THEY LIKED BY THEIR NEWFOUND FRIENDS. WHEN THEY REACHED ARKANSAS, THEY DID NOT LIKE THAT COUNTRY AT ALL. SO, TURNING BACK, THEY CROSSED THE MISSISSIPPI, ABOUT THIS TIME MOTHER CRUTCHFIELD BECAME VERY SICK. THEY CAMPED A LITTLE NORTH OF MEMPHIS AND BIDED THE TIME WHEN MOTHER CRUTCHFIELD WOULD BE ABLE TO RESUME TRAVEL. THUS, TIME WAS GIVEN TO CAST ABOUT AND SEE WHAT THE COUNTRY HAD TO OFFER. FINDING GOOD FERTILE LANDS AND PLENTY OF TIMBER, THEY DECIDED TO MAKE PURCHASE THERE. THERE REMAINS TO THIS DAY THE WISE SELECTION OF JAMES CRUTCHFIELD IN THE CRUTCHFIELD HEIRS.

IT SEEMS THAT HOSEA DID NOT STAY WITH THEM BUT RETURNED TO NORTH CAROLINA. WHEN ONE IS BITTEN WITH THE "LOVE BUG" IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP TOO GREAT A DISTANCE BETWEEN PARTIES. SO, RETURNING IN ABOUT A YEAR, HOSEA FOUND THEM AT THE HOME WHERE HE LEFT THEM, AND NANCY AS CHARMING AS EVER. JUST HOW LONG THIS VISIT WAS AND MUCH WORK WAS DONE TO HELP THE CRUTCHFIELDS WITH THE CLEARING OF THE LAND, I DO NOT KNOW. AT ANY RATE, HOSEA STAYED LONG ENOUGH TO GET THE KNOT TIED GOOD AND FAST AND RECROSSED THE BLUE RIDGE WITH HIS CHARMING BRIDE.

ONE INTERESTING STORY SURVIVES ABOUT THIS CROSSING THE RIDGE. IN NANCY’S YOUNG FANCY, EVERYTHING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. SHE ADMIRED THE PRETTY BIRDS FLITTING ABOUT IN THE TREES, THE MOUNTAIN LAURAL, RHODENDRON AND OTHER FLORA CAUGHT HER ATTENTION ON EVERY SIDE. THE YOUNG HUSBAND TRIED TO COMPLY WITH EVERY REQUEST. HOWEVER THIS, CONTINUAL STOPPING TO PLUCK FLOWERS WAS TELLING ON THE TIME LIMIT. SO, THERE HAD TO BE A LIMIT PLACED ON THE FLOWER PLUCKING. "THERE I WAS A LITTLE SILLY THING DELAYING MY HUSBAND ALL FOR A LITTLE FANCY". SAID NANCY MANY YEARS AFTER.

AFTER A LONG AND UNEVENTFUL JOURNEY SAVE FOR THE FLOWER PLUCKINGS, THEY REACHED THEIR DESTINATION IN LINCOLN COUNTY, NOW GASTON COUNTY SETTLING DOWN NEAR THE LITTLE TOWN OF ALEXIS, N.C. TIS HERE IN THIS VICINITY THAT NORTH CAROLINA STROUPS HAD THEIR BEGINNINGS IN AMERICA AS WE SHALL SEE A LITTLE LATER ON.

Margaret Amanda Stroup Neill

First I want to thank long time Stroup researcher Cathey Smith. Cathey sent me this photo along with many others. She doesn't have a computer but has access to one at her work, which she uses at every opportunity. About every 2 weeks she phones me and we update each other.

Now to our subject. Margaret Amanda Stroup was born 20 December 1844 in Lincoln County, North Carolina to Jacob Cephus "JC" Stroup and Barbara Dellinger. I'm sure the parents had a wonderful Christmas that year.

Margaret Amanda married Peter Neill about 1867.

They settled and started their family in Cherryville, NC. They had 10 children between 1868 and 1885. Peter died on 8 March 1921 from Brights disease. He was buried in St. Marks Cemetery in Cherryville. Peter was a farmer.

After Peter died Margaret Amanda moved in with her son, Charles Elbert. She died on 27 Janurary 1941 in Charlie's home located in Crouse, N.C. She died of senility (old age). Charlie signed her Death Certificate.

Thanks again to Cathey Smith,
Mike Stroupe

Moses Stroup Jr.

Moses Stroup Jr. was the son of Moses "MC" Stroup and was born 2 March 1838 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. After he served in the Civil War, he married Sarah Ann Carpenter. They had 6 daughters and one son. After Sarah died in 1881, Moses married Susan Coon Hovis and they had 2 daughters and one son. In his later years Moses own a farm on "Kings Mountain-Dallas Road". His son David and wife Hallie lived next door. As his health started failing he moved in with his son David Augustus.

Moses Stroup Jr. Civil War Record:

Moses volunteered for the Confederate Army for a period of 1 year on 30 Jul 1861 at the age of 22 in Dallas, Gaston County, NC. He was a private in Company B, 28th Regiment under the command of Captain T.H. Edwards. Moses was born on 2 March 1838 in Gaston County, son of Moses Stroup Sr. and Mary Ginsey Clark. His records show that he was 5ft 7in tall, dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair. Moses was a grandson of John Stroup, another original Stroup settler of Cherryville (Gaston County), North Carolina.
Moses re-enlisted on 1 March 1862 for 2 more years.
He was captured on 27 May 1862 near the Hanover Court House and transferred to Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. Moses was released on 6 August 1862.
Moses mustered with his company August through October 1862
He was docked one months pay for being AOL in January-February.
Moses was wounded and captured on 5 July 1863 at Seven Stars, Virginia. He was held in US Army General Hospital in Chester, Pa. On 21 September 1863 he was transferred to City Point, Virginia for exchange.
Moses was captured again on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania. Confined at Point Lookout, Maryland. He was released on 19 June 1865 when he took Oath of Allegiance at Elmira.

Mike Stroupe

Florence Hindman Cox Family Memories

Today I was digging for about 3 hours in Ethel Stroupe's files looking for information on Ethel and Ruth Stroupe of Cherryville, who were friends in the WACC during World War II. What always happens when I do this I find something new. Well no surprise I found this document and thought you might enjoy it. Florence is the granddaughter of Catherine Susanna Stroup. I hope you enjoy it.

Mike Stroupe

My Family Memories: Florence Hindman Cox 05-25-89

After reading the description of John Huggins, father of the Rev. John A. Huggins I would say our grandfather Joseph A. Huggins must have resembled him. He did have reddish brown hair and a mustache. As far back as I can remember he lived with his daughter Addie Huggins Bagley. He was a mild mannered man. In the winter he sat by the fireplace in his room reading. He loved to read history. In summer he sat on the front porch in his favorite place in a cane bottomed straight chair. He seemed to enjoy his grandchildren and we all loved him. He had a white Airedale dog named Rex. I could devote a chapter to this dog. He had a close relationship with his brothers and sister. I wish I had asked more questions about our grand­mother. I know he missed her. She died in 1909 and he died in 1929. Every Sunday afternoon Uncle Ed and Aunt Pearl drove over from Lancaster and Uncle Charlie, Aunt Gaines, Uncle Jett and Aunt Sallie drove out from Chester to visit with him, my mother and my aunt. Looking back, they were a congenial family.

My Aunt Addie and Uncle Charlie strongly resembled the Huggins side of the family. Uncle Ed, Uncle Jett and my mother resembled the Stroupe side. It was often mentioned that Cousin Will Huggins (son of Charles Wesley Huggins and Hannah Stroupe) and Uncle Ed looked enough alike to be brothers.

Uncle Charlie was a builder. He had his own company in Chester. I suppose he inherited the Irish temper. He could tolerate no workmanship that was not excellent. He had a fox terrier dog named Brownie that road in the car with him when he went from job to job. He often let his namesake - my brother, Charles Huggins Hindman go with him. Charles was just a little guy and loved to go with him. Uncle Charlie used to say he only belonged to two organizations: the Democratic Party and the Methodist church. Aunt Gaines was the only Baptist among all these Methodists. Aunt Gaines (her real name was Effie according to her tombstone. Do you know? I never knew this) and Uncle Charlie liked to have family gatherings at their home especially holidays.


I have a lot of fond memories of Aunt Addie. Before my mother sold her home in Chester and built a home next door to my aunt and my grandfather in Richburg - I used to spend a couple of weeks in Richburg every summer. Aunt Addie read to me the children's pages in the. Little Grit and Comfort Magazine. She told me stories about her grandparents. She was the family chronicler and historian. It was she who started my interest in family trees. Those were happy summers with my cousins. Ruth loved music and dancing and it was fun being with her and play-acting. Evelyn did beautiful handwork and taught me to embroider and crochet. I never did learn to knit however. Ella Mae had left home to teach school and met and married Martin Blackmon. Keith had also left home and worked in Chester. While we still lived there he stayed in our home. He and my brother Heyward was the same age. Their yard in Richburg had the most beautiful flowers especially roses and millions of daffodils and other spring bulbs. There was a large oak tree near the road that ran in front of the house. Along the bank were beds of iris. We made play houses under the tree and the guinea fowls roosted in the tree at night. I cannot recall any time when there wasn't a plate of cut out cookies on the dining room table.

Uncle Ed was next in line. He was an engineer on the L & C railroad. I visited in their home often as a little girl and teenager. He was a quiet, family man. All of their children were musical. It was usually a jolly household in spite of the tragic death of Ora Lee when he was a young teenager. Aunt Pearl was quite a homemaker and loved beautiful handwork. She was active, always moving fast. She loved children. Since the railroad ran back of our house in Richburg, we ran out to the back steps to wave to him every afternoon.

I think I would do him an injustice if I didn't mention Club. He is a “down country" South Carolina colored (black). My cousins Oscar and G. W. were musicians in the dance band "The Southern Collegians". They played at Myrtle Beach every summer. Club was just a very young man he had no family. Oscar and G. W. brought him home with them. Aunt Pearl and Uncle Ed gave him a home. She taught him to cook, and helped in the house and yard. He drove my uncle’s car. And as long as they lived he took care of them. He also took care of my Cousin Jeanette as long as she could live in her own house. He is still alive and when he needs something Oscar's daughters Rachel and Rebekah take care of it for him.

My mother is next in line.
She was a beautiful 42-year-old mother of four when our father died after a long illness. She resembled her mother. She was always doing for other people. She was active in her church all her life and as my brother, Charles, used to say, “You had to have a broken neck before you missed Sunday School." She delighted in holidays. Even during the depression she managed to make Christmas, Easter and birthdays special. I remember when she lived with me in Conover, N. C. she dyed Easter eggs and gave them to the neighborhood children. She loved children and was so proud of her grandchildren Florence Evelyn McAbee and Charles Huggins Hindman Jr. She would have loved all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren that were to come after she died in 1945.

I must add three extra people that meant so much to us when we were growing up. "Aunt" Ollie Cloud worked for Aunt Addie. She was a small colored (black if you prefer) woman and we all loved her. To me, when I was a child, she seemed old. But then every adult seems old to children. She died when I was a teen-ager. I remember going to the A. M. E. Church to her funeral.

Love Rice, a tall, slim, light colored girl worked for our family when we lived in Chester. I have to smile over my memories of her when Charles and I were small. Up on a high shelf in the kitchen she had a can of Red Devil Lye. When either of us were really "bad" she would say, "Come on Charles (Flonce) here's your pitcher" and take down the can of lye. We dearly loved her and when she came to Richburg to help my mother get settled in the new house, we hid her suitcase when she was ready to leave.

After we moved to Richburg when I was 10 years old Helen Howard McCullough worked for our family. Helen was a large, black woman in her early 40’s. She had two other families she "helped": the Porters who lived next door (a field between our houses) and the Ropers. She went with us to nick blackberries and would warn us to watch for that "ole He Cow". Helen was always there at Christmas or when our older brother and his family came and our sister and her family. I remember so well the day I was leaving home to go to Greenville to Business College, I sat on her lap and we cried! Years later when I visited Richburg, I took my two little girls to see her. Uncle Jett was the youngest and the "feistiest" (if there is such a word) when he was small. My mother used to laugh when she told us of the things she and Uncle Jett used to do. They were very much alike. A street separated our homes in Chester. He was an avid gardener and did beautiful work with wood. He made a doll cradle for me and a hound dog for Charles. He built a desk for my mother and a hall settee. He was "the joiner" of the boys. He belonged to several lodges. I still have a doll he gave me the Christmas after our father died.

The best thing about my memories of these uncles and aunts and my mother is the relationship they had. There didn't seem to be any ugliness that so often happens in families. I'm glad.

These are my impressions. I'm sure my sister, Effie, and my brother, Charles and my cousins Ella Mae Blackmon and Walker Huggins have theirs.

My mother was close to her family in North Carolina and we remember fondly the summers we all went to Lincoln County to visit great Uncle Charlie Huggins on his farm. His first wife Hannah Stroup died in 1902 so we did not know her. But my mother had stories of her visits when she was a little girl. And the one I like best - she had been visiting her Uncle Charlie and Aunt Hannah (they called her Aunt Han) and when she was returning home by train, Aunt Han gave her a bag of turnip greens to take home to her mother. Aunt Han put her dime fare in the bottom of the bag so she wouldn't lose it. My mother said she was trying the find the dime in the bottom of all those greens and the conductor had to leave the car he was laughing so hard. I guess my mother was mortified! But every time I think of this and get the picture in my mind I can't help laughing also.

My mother was also very close to her cousins Louester and Marshall Dellinger and I have fond memories of our visits there. Cousin Will Huggins and Cousin Amanda and their children were close to our families when we were all "young".

There were others of my mother's cousins that I remember, either from their having visited in our home or our going to theirs: Cousin Lizzie Jenkins and her daughter Flossie. I do not recall a son but there must have been one since Mary Frances Jenkins Swift is a descendant. I remember the Chronister “girls” especially Cousin Connie and Cousin Ida. Cousin Sophie and her two children, Nellie and Carey Thompson, visited in our home also. I probably remember Flossie and Nellie for they were teenagers when my sister, Effie, was and they visited one another. Cousin Sophie's last visit to our home was around 1928 before our grandfather died. I do remember her mother great aunt “Jennie” (Eliza Jane Huggins Stroup). She came to help my mother with “the children" the summer our father was so ill. Charles and I used to drive her out of her mind when we’d run away and hide “over at the Bankhead’s”. We knew the Rozzel Stroupe family well. Edna was married to our first cousin Vance Huggins and they lived in Chester. I do not recall the other children of Cornelius Stroup and "Jennie" Huggins Stroup. These are just a few memories of my mothers family members.

My Grandmother Catherine Susannah Stroup (Susan Stroupe Huggins) has recorded the birth date of my grandfather, Joseph Aldolphus Huggins, and her own birth date, and the birth dates of her children; Catherine Adelade Huggins (Addie Huggins Bagley), Charles Wesley Huggins, Edward Benjamin Huggins, Effie Anna Huggins (Hindman), Don Herrington Jethro (Jett) Huggins, and Dom Pedro Dotson Huggins (3 times) and her baby sister Emily Theodocia Stroup (Dellinger) in her Bible which is in the possession of Florence Hindman Cox.

Cherryville Gray Rock School 1909-1910

This is a photo of the Gray Rock School in Cherryville around 1909 or 1910. As you can see there are many different aged children in the class. All of my Cherryville family attended this school including my Grandfather Alfred plus my Great Aunts and Uncles. I still have my Grandfathers slate board that he wrote his assignments on. Below is the list of students. The Stroup girls are my Aunts.

GRAY ROCK SCHOOL (19—) (1874-1921)
First Row, seated, l to r: Evelyn Dellinger, Dora Allen, Della Stroup, Lillian Stroup, Mae Dellinger, Edith and Ethel Henry (twins), Jane Dellinger, Ray Styers, Conley Kiser, and Jenkins Henry.

Second Row: George Kiser in front of Charlie Dellinger, behind Charlie is Paul Styers, Vada Putnam, Rose Dellinger, Laura Wacaster, Addie Delllnger, Belva Allen, Bedie Dellinger, Elizabeth Stroup, Annie Henry, Will Henry, and the teacher Mr. Jesse Caldwell.

Third Row: Henry Dellinger, Howard Henry, Virgil Sisk, Carla Dellinger, Durham Dellinger, Lee Wacaster, Henry Putnam, Marion Garrison, and Fred Dellinger.

Lon Stroup Sings for Bonnie and Clyde

The following is from Col. Ray Stroup, son of Lonidas "Lon" Stroup. He is providing us some great stories and his niece Jeri Humphrey is providing us some fabulous photos. The part I found most interesting was that Lon sang at the funeral of Bonnie and Clyde. Another interesting tidbit in Stroup family history.

THEY CALLED THEMSELVES "THE POST OFFICE QUARTET". THEY SANG FOR FREE - WHENEVER AND WHEREVER. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TENOR/TRUMAN, COUNTER TENOR/I FORGET HIS NAME BUT HE WAS ALBA/WINSTON'S LANDLORD. BARITONE/BASS/OR COUNTERTENOR/LL (HE COULD SING ALL THREE), BASS/FORGOT HIS NAME BUT HE STOLE MAIL TO PAY GAMBLING DEBTS AND SPENT SOME TIME IN JAIL. THE QUARTET SANG AT THE FUNERAL FOR BONNIE AND CLYDE (WHO WERE BURIED IN PAUPERS GRAVES IN DALLAS).

AT STROUP REUNIONS, THERE WAS SINGING OUT OF YOUR EARS. THE STROUPS REALLY LOVED MUSIC. THERE WERE MANY COMBINATIONS - ALBERT, LEO, LL, HETTIE AND NETTIE. I DON'T RECALL THAT ANYONE OF MY GENERATION HAD TALENT, EXCEPT FOR RUTH.

LL SANG IN THE HASKELL CHOIR. WHEN THE CHURCH HAD TO STOP PAYING A DIRECTOR, LL BECAME THE DIRECTOR, TAUGHT A YOUNG ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.

LL LIVED AT 2314 UNTIL I LEFT FOR THE WARS IN 1940. WHEN I HAD OVERSEAS ORDERS, HE ASKED WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT HIM MOVING TO CALIFORNIA. THE MARRIAGE HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR MANY YEARS AND HE HAD BEEN SEEING ANOTHER WOMAN (HE LATER MARRIED HER MOVED TO EMORY). I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD EXPECTED HIM TO MOVE OUT WHEN I GOT MARRIED IN 1938, SO, GO TO IT.

Moses Stroup Jr Daughters

We believe these ladies are the daughters of Moses Stroup Jr. (1838-1920). We have identified a couple, if you recognise any of the others let us know. We think this photo was taken at the celebration of Laura Beatrice Stroup Kiser and her husband Dr. William Caswell Kiser's 60th wedding anniversary. It was taken in Cherryville, N.C. in 1940.

Mike Stroupe

29 May 2009

We have identified all the ladies but one. I would love to know who the small boy is.

Straub Family Crest

Straub Coat of Arms Research

THE NOBLE FAMILY OF STRAUB OF BADEN AND THEIR COAT OF ARMS

Heraldry and the use of coats-of-arms date generally to medieval times, and relate directly to knighthood, chivalry and tournaments. With a knight covered from head to toe in a suit of plate armor, it was imperative that a heraldic device could easily identify him on his shield. This identifying mark was also placed by the front door of his castle, on the sleeve of his coat, on the dress of his wife, on the letterhead of his stationary, on his silver-ware, carved on his church-pew and gravestone, and stamped with a seal in wax on documents he signed.

Each item of the heraldic device had some special meaning, such as an animal or flower that was the family mascot or emblem. When a man married a lady of noble family, her father's arms were combined with her husband's in the arms borne by her sons.

The first hint that the Straubs were a noble family came in finding them, in medieval times, with the name ending -bent, -bait, -bold, and -bald, Teutonic endings denoting "of noble birth". The actual arms were found in J.B. Rietstap's ARMORIAL GENERAL, TOME XII, which shows four coats of arms for the STRAUB family in Germany, one of which is for Baden Province, from which our own family originates. Let all understand clearly, however, that at this point we do not claim this coat-of-arms connects to our own family. All we know at present is that our family and the arms originate in Baden Province. Our immigrant ancestors could have borne these arms or could have been from an entirely separate branch of the Straub family in Baden from the owners of the arms. They are presented here, properly, as part of a study of the family in general.

The evidence learned from the arms is firmer ground. They are most ancient; being very simple forms of arms, that is, without mottoes, crests, supporting figures or other late medieval additions. The Straub arms are found in the form used by a knight on his shield, and they remain in the simple shield shape, in the original silver metal color, for the escutcheon. Across this running diagonally from the lower left corner to the upper right (non-heraldic terms are used here for simplicity) is a bar of azure blue, and in the two corners (upper right and lower left) are two leafy, green branches. Evidently the knight who first used the Straub arms identified himself simply wait a sky blue bar diagonally across his silver shield. Later, he or his son married a lady of noble family, and her family sign was a leafy branch, placed in two corners of the shield, and then the two were combined (quartered).

A still later form of the arms has Straub of Argovie, Baden and this form of the arms has the upper part of a man (head and shoulders only). He wears an azure robe with a stiff, flaring collar bordered with silver (a later medieval form of dress). In each hand he carries a branch of rose tree, which has leaves on the left and four roses placed two above the hand and two below, on either side of the branch. One of the popular ways of choosing a device was to portray the man whom the family traditionally descends, its founder or hero. Another was to make a pun upon the family name. It is possible that this rose tree branch might be a pun on STAB or "staff or even that "rose‑tree" might be a very old meaning for Straub. We can be sure that it once had some meaning for the man who put it on the early Straub arms, and, if we can unravel the meaning, we will, through heraldry, get another glimpse into the inaccessible period in which we can hardly hope to find written family records.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COAT OF ARMS, STRAUB OF BADEN, ARGOVIE

The following from the Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia 7, Pa. Taken from Tome XII of Armorial General by J.B. Rietstap, page 853.

Straub (Baden - Argovie)
"D'ARGENT A LA BARRE D'AZUR, (Silver (shield) with a bar of azure)
"COTEYEE DE DEUZ BRANCHES FEUILLES DE SIN., (Going down the left side (or wife's) side two leafy branches)
"CELLE EN CHEF RENV.
(Those in the chief (area of the escutcheon) reversed)
"CQ. COUR. (Believe this stands for: COQUERELLES-noisettes daps leur gousses et reunites au nombre de trios. COU RONN E- ornament exterior de 1'ecu.)
(Hazelnuts in their shells, united to number three, outside ornament)
"C.: UN HOMME ISS., HAB. D'AZUR
(C: a man, issuant (with only upper part visible, heraldic term), in azure habit.)
"REBR. D'ARG., AU RABAT DU MEME
(Embroidered - or bordered-with silver, at the rabat (a stiff, flaring medieval collar, as of lace) of the same.)
"TENANT DE CHAQUE MAIN UNE BRANCHE DE ROSIER (Carrying in each hand a branch of rose-tree)
"FEUILLE DE SIN., FLEURIE DE QUATRE ROSES DE CU., (Leafy on the sinister (left) side, flowered with four red roses,)
"DON'T DEUX AU-DESSUS DE LA MAIN ET DEUX AU-DESSOUS, (Of which two are above the hand and two below,)
"LES ROSES DE CHAQUE BRANCHE L'UNE SUR L'AUTRE. (The roses of each branch one on the other.)
"L.: D'AR. ET D'AZUR." (L.: of silver and azure.)

The arms pictured in the copy of Rietstap in the San Francisco Library is without the figure of a man, having simply the bar and two branches. It would, therefore, be the most ancient form.

The above is quoted directly from Ethel Stroupe's notes, dated Jan. 3, 1967 1 also found this same information in my Aunt Velda's notes dated 1948.

Mike Stroupe

The Life and Times of L.S. "Doc" Stroup

Lawson Sidney "Doc" Stroup was born on 27 Dec 1879 [south of] Cherryville, Gaston County, North Carolina, and died on 30 Mar 1924 in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. He was the great/great grandson of Jacob Stroup, settler of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

Like many Southerners in the decades following the US Civil War, Doc Stroup's early life was marked by intense poverty. "Dirt-poor", Doc was determined to have a better life for his family than was afforded him as a child. His first business venture, around age 25, was opening one of (if not the first) “pool halls” in Cherryville. It was a financial success but carried a steep price … public admonishment from the “preachers” in town and loss of his Baptist church membership.

Around 1910 Doc heard the calling from South Florida ---- cheap land, warm weather and bountiful crops --- ideal for a young, adventurous entrepreneur who didn’t relish the thought of becoming just another “hand” in the North Carolina cotton mill industry. Over the next 10+ years Doc moved his family of six children annually between Cherryville and Fort Lauderdale as his new businesses rapidly grew. His career as a merchant and farmer in South Florida was notable.

At the time of his death at age 44, Doc owned his home on George Avenue in Cherryville, had 'paid down' on a soon-to-be constructed four-bedroom home in Florida and accumulated roughly 50 acres of real estate in Broward County --- half of which was sold by his wife Essie, at Doc’s death --- for $30,000 (1925 dollars!)

It’s been said that Doc Stroup often displayed his self-depreciating “Stroup” sense of humor. His relaxed pose alongside two of South Florida’s most vicious “gators” (see picture), is typical “Doc”. Recently Lula Beam Mauney, age 106, of Cherryville recounted a personal story to me about my Grandfather … “One time Doc brought one of them alligators home (to Cherryville), strapped to the back of his car!” According to Lula, once home, Doc tied it to an old oak tree in the backyard behind his house. Lula laughed about how curious and scary that alligator was to all the family and friends --- most of whom had never heard of (much less seen) such a creature!

Doc Stroup died in Fort Lauderdale during the family's "winter stay" in the spring of 1924. My Aunt Soonie Stroup, about 22 at the time, described the overwhelming sadness that enveloped the family and friends in south Florida at Doc's sudden death. A day or so before the family was to return by train to North Carolina for burial, the Seminole Indians (Doc had a lucrative fur-trading and shipping business with them) visited the Stroup home in the early evening and assembled silently in the front yard. As the sun set in the West, the Seminoles built a large bonfire in front of the home place, praying [as was their tradition] for Doc's swift entry into the Heavens.

Originally, Doc's headstone at Shady Grove Church in Cherryville was engraved "STROUPE" --- the “terminating e” having been a popular addition to the surname during the early 1900s. Subsequently Essie, his wife, had it removed --- under “pressure” from several very opinionated relatives of her husband Doc Stroup!

Stroup(e) Surname Pronunciation

... continuing to gather information to support my theory of the original pronunciation of the surname.

Again I find that the early settler's pronunciation followed "Straub", but with a "P" at the end.

In the 1870 Federal Census the enumerator recorded the Levi L Stroup family surname as "STROPP" (with a short "o") ... consistent with the widely-accepted fact that the enumerator often "recorded it as he heard it".

I believe that the current-day "Struup" and "Strawp" pronunications came about in the early 1900s.