Smith Family Log Cabin

Smith Family Log Cabin

BUILT 1847-48, Ursa, Adams County, Illinois

Original owners: William Bryant (1823, Muhlenberg Co, KY - 1882, Ursa, Adams Co, IL) and Susan Lowery Smith (1830, Londonderry, IRE-1884 Ursa, Adams Co, IL).

 

Thursday, January 26, 2012: Our Smith Log House will soon have a new home, about 1/4 mile to the east of the present location at the south edge of Ursa. We hope to have it moved before the end of February--depending upon the weather. The Smith family includes several other major family branches: Exon, Stroup, Keim and McCormick. The cabin sat on the family homestead that grew to 969 acres of good farmland. It now sits just across the hard road and overlooks the family farm and Smith Family Cemetery II.

The actual move was 1/2 mile south on a dirt lane, 1/4 mile east on a gravel road and 1/2 mile north on the hard road. It was jacked up, put on a low boy and pulled with a tractor by our farmer guys who are used to moving buildings. Estimated weight of the 20' x 25' cabin was between 50,000 and 60,000 pounds! The logs are 6" x 12" x 20'. The move took about 30 minutes without a hitch.

 

The North Adams Historical Society (Meyer, Marcelline, Lima, Ursa, Mendon, Loraine & Fowler), has the vision to use it as an historical museum. The property owner wants it moved from the original site and has given us a .9 acre lot to put it on; this is just across the hard road from our Smith Family Cemetery II.

One person is donating the seeding of the ground after it's done; another bulldozing and leveling the lot; slab work, etc.

PS: This log house was built for William Bryant and Susan Lowery Smith, married in 1848, Ursa, Adams County, Illinois. For the Exon/Stroup families--Wm B was a brother to Mary Ellen Smith/Samuel Exon who married Andrew Jackson Stroup. This was located on the original homestead land where Mary Ellen grew up.

PPS: There were 3 of us working down there today; got the fireplaces exposed; some wains coating "cleaned" of nails and bundled; back porch almost torn off; scrap lumber to the burn pile; and other small jobs. We also got 2 signs painted; one showing where the Log Cabin is now and the other one on the hard road at the new location "Future HOME of NORTH ADAMS HISTORICAL MUSEUM". It will also have an arrow pointing to the cabin and hours we're working over there.

An interesting note: Negro Jim is buried in the Smith Family Cemetery II, just across the road from the Log Cabin; he is listed in the Family Bible at the bottom of the Birth Pages and found in Census reports. He, along with the hired hands slept in the room above the 20' x 20' addition. There was a back stairway and no door cut through to the original cabin where the girls and boys slept upstairs. We will eventually put the 20' x 20' addition back on too. It will make a nice museum and there's been a lot of interest shown from local people to display their family history/artifacts, etc. A lot of stuff has been given to us already too.

 

We accept tax-deductible donations. We have had labor, materials and monetary donations beyond belief; the community has responded very graciously. We are concentrating on rock chinking and mortaring the outside of the cabin, weather-proofing for winter. We're also working on the original double sash, 6 over 6 pane windows. If you want to make a donation contact me and I’ll send you instructions.

 

Eli vs Elisha

There has been a lot of discussion that Eli (b1801) and Elisha (b1811). Below I have made a comparsion between the two based on marriages and census records plus other facts. They are posted below:

Eli Stroup 

Eli was born in 1801 and was the son of Philip Stroup. He is listed in his father’s will.

He married Elizabeth Shetley and obtained his marriage bond in Lincoln County, North Carolina on 15 February 1830.

There are stories in the family that he went to Mississippi in 1838 however I have not found evidence of that.

In the 1850 census he was located at Etowah, Georgia with his wife and son Alexander.

On July 18, 1867 he registered as a voter in Georgia. He took an oath that he had not participated in the war against the United States or served during the Civil War.

I was unable to locate him in the 1860 census.

In the 1870 census he was in Bartow County Georgia taken during the month of September.

We do not have his date of death but will have to speculate it will be after 1870.

 

Elisha Stroup

Elisha was born in 1811. His father was Jacob Stroup II.

He married Jane McGinnas on 11 February 1830. His older brother Moses signs the marriage bond.

In the 1850 census Elisha is in Cass County Georgia with his wife and six children.

In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served with the Etowah guard. This unit was established to protect the iron works. It was made up of men too old to serve in the regular Army.

In the 1870 census he was in Cherokee County, Alabama. He is located at the Ironworks with his son Aaron.

In the 1880 census he is back in Cass County Georgia with his new wife Liza Ann. His son Aaron lives next door with his son Marion. Elisha his son John also lives next door.



2012 Stroup Reunion Minutes

83rd ANNUAL STROUP(E) REUNION

Descendents of Johann Jacob Straub / Stroup

Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina

August 5, 2012

 

 

The annual Stroup(e) Reunion was held on Sunday, August 5 in the gym of the Family Life Center of Alexis Baptist Church in Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina.  This was the 83rd reunion held in Alexis since 1925, with a 4-year interruption due to World War II.  Approximately 103 family and friends attended this year.

 

James G. “Jim” Stroupe of Winston-Salem, Vice-President of the Reunion, called the reunion to order at 1:00pm and welcomed everyone to the annual event.  Jim provided opening remarks, asked that each person “meet and greet” those at their dinner table and that each attendee officially register in our Reunion Book.

 

To help each attendee understand where they “fit” in the Stroup(e) family tree, this year individual nametags were created ahead of time and “tagged” with a colored dot … a differing color for each son of immigrant Jacob Stroup – signifying from which son the attendee descends.  Each table was supplied with the written minutes from last year reunion as well as the abbreviated “Straub/Stroup Family History.”

 

The first order of business was to take group pictures:  one picture of attendees who carry the Stroup(e) surname by birth (34 attendees) and another picture of the entire family.  Special “thanks” to Rita Quesada-Rodgers, Linda Moss Ballard, Todd Cloninger and others for acting as “family photographers”.

 

 

 

Susan Stroupe Laughter gave the invocation, which was followed by a bountiful, ”covered dish” meal.  

Following lunch, Jim led the business session, starting around 2:00pm:

1. The minutes from the 2011 Reunion, including the financial report, were read and approved. 
2. Jim publicly thanked our hard-working and dependable set-up committee, comprised of Alan and Maria Hipp, Mike and Ruth Hipp and Daphna Stroupe Shelton.  Every year their significant efforts are key to our hosting such a large, successful reunion.
3. A majority of the Reunion Officers agreed to make a $100.00 donation (includes rental) to the Alexis Baptist Church this year.
4. History Committee Report.  Sid Stroupe, speaking on behalf of our history committee comprised of David Bartlett Hanna of Charlotte, Carolyn Fogle Mullins of Panama City Beach Florida, Nancy Stroupe Morrison of Greeneville Tennessee, Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill South Carolina, Linda Moss Ballard of Cherryville provided a brief update on accomplishments this past year.  As a reminder there are many internet sites and interesting booklets available on our family:
1. In 2012 Mike Stroupe completed an updated biography of our shared immigrant Jacob Stroup and is more than willing to share his substantial booklet electronically or mail it to you.  Contact him for more information.
2. “Descendants’ of Jacob Stroup and the US Civil War”.  A 90 page booklet, documenting the descendents (grandsons & ggrandsons) of Jacob Stroup who participated in the US Civil War, Confederate States Army. 
3. “Stroup Family Cemeteries of Gaston County”.  This booklet documents the Stroup family ancestors who are buried (circa 19^th Century) in the four private, abandoned cemeteries in the Alexis and Cherryville areas.  Each cemetery has been inventoried, a brief bio of the deceased has been written and color photos of all legible grave markers are included.
4. A distant cousin, Diana Gale Matthiesen, has created a tremendous website, chocked full of very old Straub and Stroup(e) family history.
5. “Family Tree DNA” Project: At least two males in our local family have participated in the Straub/Stroup DNA project.  Their “match” has solidified our position that we are in fact descended from the Straub family of Germany. 
6. This year the official minutes from the Stroup(e) Reunions, dating back to 1927 were displayed.  We want to thank Martha Hipp Daniel who organized and created this booklet for our family.
7. The history committee will create a “lineage / family tree” document (free of charge) for any descendent.  Just contact a Sid or Mike by email or phone.
5.  Milestones since our last Reunion:
1. Deceased:        

                                             i.     George A. Quesada Sr., age 86 of Aubrey Texas, 15 July 2012; husband of the late Bonnie Parr Stroupe Quesada.

                                                   ii.     Billy Ray “Pete” Stroup, age 55 of Shelby, 16 July 2012; Jacob > Daniel > Matthew Wallace > Matthew Wallace Jr. > Milton Columbus > Charles Franklin > Clarence Edwin > Pete Stroup

                                                 iii.     Sarah Lindley Stroup, age 95 of Lincolnton, 30 May 2012; wife of the late Chauncey Depew Stroup Jr.

                                                 iv.     Frances Ruth Stroupe Wise, age 93 of Cherryville, 22 May 2012; Jacob > Daniel > Albert Abner > Joseph Jason “J.J.” > Daniel Robert > Spurgeon Lee > Frances Ruth

                                                   v.     Evelyn Chapman Stroup, age 69 of Shelby, 14 May 2012; wife of the late Gary Wyndol Stroup.

                                                 vi.     Mary Pauline “Polly” Hudson Stroup, age 98 of Bessemer City, 2 March 2012; wife of the late David Russell Stroup.

                                                vii.     Donald Bert Stroupe, age 86 of Sheridan, Wyoming, 6 February 2012; Jacob > Adam > Joseph > David Rufus > Solomon Rufus > Thomas David > David Bert

                                              viii.     Virginia Smith Stroup, age 87 of Fort Mill South Carolina, 6 Feb 2012; wife of the late William Oates Stroup Jr.

                                                 ix.     Dr. Henry L. Smith Jr., age 80 of Mount Holly, 2 February 2012; husband of the LaVonne Elaine Stroupe Smith.

                                                   x.     Betty Lee Stroupe Hudson, age 95 of Cherryville, 7 January, 2012; Jacob > Daniel > Albert Abner > Joseph Jason “J.J.” > Daniel Robert > Spurgeon Lee > Betty Lee

                                                 xi.     Mary Nette Link Stroup, age 93 of Lincolnton, 16 December 2011; wife of the late Chauncey Depew Stroup Jr.

                                                xii.     Helen Harrietta Abernathy Hallman, age 87 of Cherryville, 11 December 2011; wife of the late John Daniel Hallman.

                                              xiii.     Marcus Elliott Stroup, age 64 of Charlotte, 21 November 2011; Jacob > Adam > Joseph > David Rufus > Samuel F > Franklin F > Oscar A > Gregory Elliott > Marcus Elliott

                                              xiv.     Charles Franklin Stroupe, age 84 of Conover, 28 September, 2011; lineage unknown

                                                  xv.     Herman Clarence Stroupe, age 71 of Crouse, 10 August 2011; Jacob > Daniel > Albert Abner > Christopher Columbus > John Christopher > Howard Columbus > Herman Clarence

2. Births:

                                                    i.     Beatrix Rose Recinos, 14 August 2011, daughter of Jesse & Jennifer Recinos; Jacob Stroup -> Adam -> Solomon -> Susanna Stroup Stroup -> Giles Preston & Jacob Stroup -> Philip -> Moses -> Bartlett -> Giles Preston & Jacob Stroup -> Adam -> Solomon -> Mira Stroup Hovis

                                                   ii.     Timothy Nicholas Leahy, 18 November 2011.

                                                   iii.     Caleb Edward Stroupe House, 21 July 2012, son of Kelly Stroupe & Zach House of Charlotte; Jacob Stroup -> Daniel -> Albert Abner -> Columbus -> John Christopher -> Howard Columbus -> Dennis A Stroupe

3. Marriages:  None announced this year.

6. Election of Officers for term 2012-2013
1. President.  Jim Stroupe of Winston-Salem was nominated and elected unanimously as President.
2. Vice President.  Motion by Sid Stroupe to nominate Carole Stroupe of Lilburn, Georgia.  Group unanimous vote “yes”.
3. Secretary-Treasurers.  Sid Stroupe was re-nominated; group unanimous vote “yes”.
4. Family Historian.  Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill, South Carolina was re-nominated by unanimous vote approved.
7. Collection.  Alan and Maria Hipp passed the collection plate through the crowd.

                  Cash Collected this Year           $538.56

                  Cash Saved From Prior Years    $542.29

                  Less:  2012 Expenses*               $408.90*

                  Cash on Hand for 2013             $671.95

 

                  * This year’s expenses:

                  Donation to Alexis Baptist        $100.00 (includes rental fee)

                  Door Prizes                               $100.00

                  Table Cloths / Plates etc            .           $  92.00

                  Drinks                                      $  10.00

                  Printing Invites / Mailing          $106.90

                  Total Expenses                         $408.90

 

8. Recognition, Door Prizes and Other.
1. Dr. Lee Kucera, from Laguna Beach, California attended her first Stroup(e) Reunion in Alexis.  Dr. Kucera is the daughter of the late Ethel Belle Stroupe (Vochko) who was a well-known and widely regarded historian for the Stroup(e) Family.  The significant research that Ethel Stroupe compiled during her lifetime was instrumental in our endeavor to record and preserve our family history.
2. Oldest Woman attending:  Jimmie McClure Stroupe of Alexis, Age 92 years.
3. Oldest Man:  Homer A. Orren of Cornelius, Age 92 years.
4. Youngest Boy:  Jonathan Hanna of Sanford, Age 8 years
5. Youngest Girl:  Kinley Grace Stroupe of Drexel, Age 1 year.
6. Traveled Farthest:  Lee Kucera, California.
7. Door Prizes:  Caleb Edward Stroupe House of Charlotte, Lewis Burton of Georgia, Karen Stroupe of Alexis, Vivian Stroupe of Lincolnton, Connie Stroupe of Valdese and Johnny Stroupe of Cherryville. 

With the business meeting closed, the Reunion was adjourned. 

If there are any corrections to this draft document, please forward to GWALSS@NC.RR.COM 

The next Stroup(e) Family Reunion meeting will be held, as is custom, on the first Sunday in August, 2013. 

Hope to see you then.

Submitted

Sid Stroupe

Sid Stroupe CPA, Secretary / Treasurer

 

 

 

David Rufus Stroup Bio

ORIGIN
“David” Rufus Stroup (c1815 +1870) was the son of Joseph and Catherine Martha (Creasman) Stroup. He was born and raised on his father’s large wheat farm on Bull Creek a few miles west of Riceville in Swannanoa Township, Buncombe Co., western N.C. He and his siblings attended the little one room schoolhouse that was built on Riceville Road within sight of their home, near Stroup’s Chapel, the little log Dunker church built by Joseph Stroup, where the Stroup and Creasman families worshiped in German until the 1850’s.

A FARMER, NOT A MILLER
David’s father gave partnership in his flourmill to his son-in-law Jesse Clark (wife Nancy Jane Stroup), and David took up farming on a tract of land on Shope’s Creek that he either inherited or bought with money from his father.

INHERITANCE
On August 14, 1851 David’s father died, and his large farm was divided between his children with Jesse and Nancy Jane (Stroup) Clark receiving the part that included the old Stroup mill at the head of Parker Lane where it joins Riceville road near the Bull Creek Bridge. His younger brother Silas (b 1816) inherited the part of his father’s farm that included his parent’s small house on Parker Lane, downhill from Jesse Clark’s house and mill.

TWO WIVES NAMED MARY
David Stroup, b c1815 married 1st c1832 Mary Porter, born c1811 in North Carolina, by whom he had at least seven children, but she died before the 1840 census. His second wife was also named Mary ---, and she was called “Polly”. From the census records, she was born c1820 in Virginia.

Addition by Inga: At this point, I am not sure if David had one or two wives. Perhaps his first wife was named Mary (maiden name unknown, but possibly Burnett as the death certificate for David's daughter Mary indicates that her mother's maiden name was Burnett. Mary was born in 1835 and is the second known child of David Stroupe). David's second wife was also named Mary. I believe her maiden name was either Porter, Partun, or Parteen. I deduced this because the death certificate for David's youngest child, Solomon Rufus Stroupe, shows his mother as being Mary Porter (possibly Partun or Parteen - the handwriting is difficult to read). But then again, perhaps David had only one wife named Mary and the people who gave the information on the death certificate for Mary and Solomon were mistaken in the info they passed on.
At this point, the only child I feel comfortable answering for is his youngest child - Solomon Rufus Stroup (my great, great grandfather). I have his death certificate which lists his parents as David Stroupe and Mary Partun (possibly Parteen or Porter - the handwriting is difficult to ascertain). I think I found Solomon's sisters, Nancy and Martha in the US Census records. If I am right, then they were often living together. I don't think either one of them ever married. I did find that one of David's daughters, Mary (Stroup) Reed's death certificate, which lists her mother's maiden name as Burnett. Perhaps David had married twice? I can't find a marriage certificate for him yet.

I am trying to find information on all of David's children in the hopes of finding out who their mother was. It is slow going, and there are so many people living in North Carolina with the same name, it is hard for me to distinguish, which is in the line.

MIDDLE YEARS
As recalled by Silas Stroup’s children, “Uncle David lived near his sister, Aunt Nancy Clark., Uncle Dave and his brother, Uncle Henry, lived close to the old mill, and Uncle David Stroup lived at the head of Shope's Creek.”
The 1840 census showed David Stroup as head of a household, but he had no wife in his home. His children were: one male aged 10-15 (Joseph); 1 male 5-10 (unidentified); 1 m. under 5 (George); 1 female 5-10 (Mary); 3 females -5 (Cecilia & Eliza M. Stroup.)

THE CLARKS
In the 1870’s Jesse Clark built a large, two-story home in front of Stroup’s millpond. For many years operated the old mill that had been built and operated from about 1810 to 1850 by Joseph Stroup.
By 1900 it was called “the old Clark mill,” and Clark was appointed Riceville’s Postmaster, operating the post office from a bedroom window that opened onto his front porch.

1850-1920 CENSUS RECORDS
1850: Family lore is that the following families lived on farms near each other, and this seems accurate from their listing in the 1850 Federal Census for Buncombe:
Farm #1710. Jos. & Cate Stroup.
Farm #1711: Jesse & Nancy (Stroup) Clark.
Farm #1714: Peter & Mary (Stroup) Harper.
Farm #1717. D. Stroupe, Jr., 41 c1809, wf Mary 36 c1814, and 10 children. ("Jr" here means "the younger", his Uncle David Stroup being on Rock House Creek.)
The 1850 US Census for Buncombe County, North Carolina, enumerated the 11 November 1850, yields the following information:* D. Stroupe Jr., aged 41* Mary, aged 36* Jos., a male, aged 20* Mary, a female, aged 15* Coelia, aged 13, a female* Minerva, a female, aged 11* Geo., a male, aged 9* Nancy, a female, aged 8* Sarah J., a female, aged 6* John, a male, aged 5* Silas, a male, aged 3* Daniel J. (or David O.?), a male, aged 2

1860 US Census for Jackson, North Carolina, enumerated the 21 of July 1860, yields the following information:* D. Stroup, a farmer, aged 53* M. Stroup, female, aged 53* N.E. Stroup, a female, aged 18* S. J., a female, aged 16* J. I., a male, aged 14* S., a male, aged 12* R. T., a male, aged 6* T., a male, aged 9* M., a female, aged 8

1870 US Census for Swannanoa, Buncombe County, North Carolina, enumerated the 25 Aug 1870, yields the following information:* David Stroup, a farmer, aged 60, born in North Carolina* Mary, keeping house, aged 59, born in North Carolina* Nancy E., aged 29 born in North Carolina* Sarah J., aged 24, born in North Carolina* Samuel D., aged 21, a laborer, born in North Carolina* Martha L., aged 19, born in North Carolina* Solomon R., aged 15, born in North Carolina

1880 US Census for Avery Creek, Buncombe, North Carolina, enumerated the 8th of June, 1880, yields the following information:* Mary Stroup, aged 50, keeping house, born in North Carolina as were both her parents* Nancy, aged 35, her daughter, born in North Carolina* Martha, aged 28, her daughter, born in North Carolina[Note: Mary's husband, David, had passed away in February of 1880].

1900 US Census for Inanda, Buncombe County, North Carolina, enumerated the 15th of June, 1900, yields the following information:* Mattie Stroup, a nurse, aged 49, born in August of 1850 in North Carolina* Nancie, her sister, aged 48, born in April of 1852 in North Carolina. She is working as a washwoman.

1910 US Census for Avery's Creek, Buncombe County, yields the following information:* Nancy E. Stroup, head, aged 69, born in North Carolina, working as a spinner* Martha, her sister, aged 57, also born in North Carolina and working as a spinner[Note the difference in ages in the 1900 and 1910 census records]

1920 US Census for Avery's Creek, Buncombe County, North Carolina, enumerated the 6th of January, yields the following information:* Cynthia Creasman, head, aged 64, born in North Carolina, is a farm manager of the home farm* Martha Stroup, servant, aged 65, born in North Carolina[Note: Cynthia Creasman appears as the informant on Marth's death certificate]

DAVID R. STROUP’S CHILDREN BY FIRST WIFE
1. Joseph Stroup, b c1830; 1850 census, age 20. (age 10-15 in 1840 census).
2. Mary Stroup (b 21 Mar 18350-27 Jun 1914) m. Dec 10, 1856 William R. Reed (1833-1869).
3. Unidentified son --- Stroup, age 5 - 10 in 1840 census.
4. Cecilia S. Stroup (b 26 Nov 1836-27 Mar 1939), m. Mr. --- Munday; to Texas. (1840 census -5)
5. Eliza Minerva Stroup, b c1838, m. William “Henry” Clark c1858. Under 5 1840 (Under 5 in 1840)
6. George Stroup, b c1839; 1850, Swannanoa Twp, age 9 home of D. Stroup & wife Mary b 1814. Under 5 in 1840 m 1840
7. Nancy E. Stroup, b c1841/2.
8. Sarah J. “Sally” Stroup, c1844/6; 1880, unm, age 24.
9. John E. Stroup, b c1846, m. Elvina “Lina” Britton Rice c1868 and had two children born Buncombe. By 1870 John E. and Elvina lived in Precinct #8, Burnett County, Texas where four more children born. John and Elvina died Texas of yellow fever after 1882. Five of their six known children were sent back to Buncombe and were raised by their maternal grandparents William and Rosella Melinda (West) Rice of Riceville.
10. Silas Martin Stroup (27 Feb 1846 - 24 Nov 1920); C.S.A., Pvt., Oct 1864. Married 1st c1867 Sarah Creasman, 2nd Mrs. Clarissa Ann “Clara” (Hughey) Jones (widow of Albert Jones).
Federal Census, Buncombe County, 26 Aug 1870:
Silas Stroup, 24, wife Clarissa 26, Louisa 2, female infant 3/12, William Jones 15, Roxanna Jones 13, Sarah Shope, 30, Edward Shope. Lived Bent Cr., Swannanoa Twp. Silas Martin Stroup’s children by 1st wife Sarah Creasman: (1) Louisa S. Stroup.
By 2nd wife Clara Hughey:
(2) Laura Jo Stroup.
(3) Florence Lillian Stroup.
(4) Samuel Christopher Stroup.
(5) Alice Rebecca Stroup.
11. Samuel Taylor Stroup, b 1849/50, s/o David and 2nd wife Polly. M. Frances Elizabeth “Lizzy” Creasman The 1870 Buncombe County Census, Swannanoa Twp., showed: David Stroup, age 60, wife Mary, age 39 (born c1831), son Samuel, age 21 (born c1849.)
Tombstone: “Lizzie Stroup, wife of Samuel Taylor Stroup, J.P., born 14 Jan. 14, 1855, died Dec. 24, 1899” Riceville Presbyterian Church cemetery, Riceville Road.
12. Martha C. “Mattie” Stroup, b Aug 1850- 9 Apr 1920; 1850 Buncombe Co. Census, age 19, in the home of David & Mary Stroup, Swannanoa Township. The 1900 census showed Mattie C. Stroup, born -- Aug 1850, age 49, Lower Hominy Twp. When the 1900 census was made, Martha “Mattie” Stroup was in the home of her sister Nancy Stroup, born in Apr 1852.
13. Solomon Rufus Stroup, born 1 Jan 1853-14 Oct 1922 m. Margaret Brevard m2 Harriet Amanda Redmon

RICEVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Several of the Stroups joined Northern Presbyterian Church when a minister was sent to the area, but other Stroups remained Baptists. David’s wife Polly joined Berea Baptist, formed partly from the congregation of old Stroup’s chapel.
In the spring of 1876, College Hill Presbyterian Church was formed at Riceville with 19 charter members including Silas and Clarissa Stroup. This new church met for a time in the home of James Hughey on Bull Creek. Their first meetinghouse was built on land donated by part of the heirs of Joseph Stroup.
This donation included the little cemetery for old Stroup’s Chapel that stood on the Riceville road, the last resting place for Joseph b 1776 and Catherine b 1777 Creasman. Her mother Jane (Reed) Creasman is buried here along with other Stroups and Creasmans. The Presbyterians promised to tend the old graves, and were permitted to add new graves to it.
Family members came out from Asheville twice a year to tend the ancient graves from time to time. The Stroup plot had an unusually lovely pink and rose peony, beneath which bloomed white narcissus that David’s siblings had transplanted up from his parent’s home place, plants descended from cuttings and bulbs that Joseph’s mother, Jane Reed, brought by wagon from West Virginia in 1787.
Unfortunately, the modern Presbyterians forgot how they acquired this cemetery and ripped out all its tombstones and flowers “to make it easier to cut the grass”, and threw the 1776 and 1777 stones into a ditch. These two stones were rescued by horrified family members and have been restored, but the farmer who now owns Joseph’s old home place used all the rest to build a rock wall.

Special thanks to Inga who helped me compile all this information. She has done extensive research on this family.

Ruth Beam Stroup Obit

 

CHERRYVILLE - Ruth Beam Stroup, 80, of Old Post Road, died Aug. 26, 2012, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 28, 1931, in Gaston County, daughter of the late D. Beverly and Bryte Sain Beam.

Mrs. Stroup was an educator, teacher, and leader of young minds having retired after 33 years of public school teaching, from
Gaston County Schools in 1995, as an eighth grade History teacher but held many other duties in her career. She was admired and loved by her students, friends and commu-nity. Ruth was a graduate of Belmont Abbey College, longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church, active in the Daughters of the American Revolu-tion, NCAE and NEA, Cherryville Historical Society, and various other community groups.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth E. Stroup, Sr. in 1983 and two brothers William Glenn Beam and Cline J. Beam.

She is survived by her sons Kenneth E. Stroup, Jr. and wife Jean of Morristown, NJ and Joseph Ben Stroup and wife Juliana of
Lorton, VA, two grand-sons Noah Ryan and Kenneth Cline Stroup of Lorton, VA., a sister in law Helen M. Beam of Roanoke, VA, caregivers and close friends Thelma Davis, Marcina McClain, Jeanette Oates, and Jennifer Corry and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 PM at St. John's Lutheran Church, with Dr. Eric Childers officiating with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday at Carpenter's Funeral Home from 7-9 PM and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, PO Box 100, Cherryville, NC 28021.

Condolences may be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net.

Published in Gaston Gazette on August 28, 2012



Stroup Reunion 2012

Another Stroup reunion has come and gone. If you didn’t make it you missed out on a lot of fun. Not counting all the great food. I am hoping Linda or Nancy will send me more photos. I will post more photos in the coming days. I didn’t take any photos because I think it is more important to visit with new cousins and help them with their trees. We had about 110 cousins attend this year.

We had a special guest this year. Lee Kucera who is Ethel Belle Stroupe’s daughter, who was so kind to give us her mother’s family history files. Everyone was excited to meet her and chat. Lee promised to send me some more Stroup photos when she returns to her mother’s home in Asheville.

I will be posting more as more info and photos come in.
Cousin Mike Stroupe

Billy Ray Stroup Obit

SHELBY-Mr. Billy Ray "Pete" Stroup, 55, passed away on Monday, July 16, 2012 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. A native of Cleveland County, he was the son of the late Clarence Edwin Stroup. He was also preceded in death by a son, Christopher Adam Stroup. Mr. Stroup owned and operated B & G Towing for 15 years and worked as a mechanic most of his life. He loved fishing, working on cars, watching NASCAR, cooking and camping. He was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his mother, Edith Hardin Stroup; wife of 23 years, Regina Burton Stroup; two daughters, Amy Stroup Manning and husband Keith of Blacksburg, Taylor Stroup of Shelby; two sons, Shaun Stroup and Travis Stroup and wife Ashley of Shelby; brother, Eddie Dean Stroup of Shelby; sister Barbara Kay Stroup Piercy of Boiling Springs; six grandchildren and his pet dog, Macy May Stroup. He was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation: The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cleveland Funeral Services & Crematory.

Time is near

First Sunday in August (the 5th) is fast approaching!!!!! On Saturday (the 4th) we meet at the Cherryville museum at 11 AM. We hang out there for a while then go out to Mt Zion Cemetery but we are very flexible. We do this for a couple of reasons one being to get a chance to visit Cherryville and the reunion on Sunday is too short because they have standard formalities they do which makes visit and chat time too short. On Sunday morning we meet at Alexis Baptist Church about 10 am for our tour of the cemeteries. We will visit 2 of them for sure but the one on Ballard Rd may not be accessible, again this tour gives us more time to chat and visit. The actual reunion starts about 12:30 pm (after church is out). It usually ends about 4 pm. Sid and some others usually stay at: Comfort Inn 1550 E Main Street (right off the intersection of Hwys 150 and 321) 704-732-0011 If there is anything you want me to bring just let me know. Cousin Mike

Buncombe County Photo Help

I need some help with this photo. What we know for a fact is the gentleman on the far right is William Eugene Stroup. He lived in Idaho. We believe the older man in the middle is his father William Henry and his wife. And on the left we believe that is his brother Paul Clifton and his wife. It is my guess that this photo was taken in Buncombe County as William Eugene came to visit his father and brother. William Eugene’s father and brother lived in Buncombe County. If anyone can shed any light on this photo I would appreciate it. Thank you, Mike Stroupe

Stroup Reunion

This is just a quick reminder for those that like to plan in advance. We only have a couple of months before its reunion time. If you do not receive an e-mail or a printed invitation please feel free to come to our reunion in Alexis, North Carolina at the Alexis Baptist Church on the first Sunday of August. We do not have official invitations all are invited. I will be publishing more details later this is just an early reminder. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to contact me anytime. Your cousin, Mike Stroupe

Pauline Hudson Stroup Obit

PAULINE STROUP
1914 – 2012
BESSEMER CITY — Pauline Hudson Stroup, 98, passed away March 2, 2012.
She was born Jan. 4, 1914, in Gaston County, daughter of the late Alfred and Maggie Hudson.
Mrs. Stroup was a member of Concord United Methodist Church Bessemer City, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for more than 63 years. She was a charter member of the United Methodist Women.
A celebration of life will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at Concord United Methodist Church, Bessemer City, officiated by the Rev. Dr. John Blalock.
The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall.
Interment will be private.
Mrs. Stroup is survived by daughters and sons in-law, Mabel and Russell Young of Bessemer City and Margaret and Bill Stroupe of Cherryville; brothers, Thomas Roy Hudson of Gastonia and Don P. Hudson of Charlotte; sisters, Leona Mitchell of Bessemer City, Margaret Caldwell of Gastonia and Mildred Rhyne of Charlotte; daughter in-law Martha C. Stroup of Bessemer City; sonin-law Randall Certain of Bessemer City; sister in-law Allie Sue Houghton of Wilmington, N.C.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband David Russell Stroup; son Albert “Gus” Stroup; daughter, Ann Certain; and sister, Zelma Hudson.
Memorials may be sent to Concord United Methodist Church Budget Fund, 2404 Tryon Courthouse Road, Bessemer City, NC 28016 or Gaston Hospice/Robin Johnson House, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054.
A special expression of thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff and special thanks to Juano at the Robin Johnson Hospice House.
Arrangements are with the West Chapel of Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium, 216 Archie Whitesides Road, Gastonia, NC, 704-867-5521

Stroup Iron Masters Conference

There is going to be a symposium in Waleska, Ga. at the end of March. If you attend you will find out things that you never knew about the history of these iron makers. I have talked with Richard Wright many times over the years and he has more enthusiasm about the iron industry in Georgia than I have about the Stroups and that is going some. I believe everyone will have a great time and will learn a lot about what a tremendous role in our family had in the development of the iron industry in the South. You will learn what a brilliant man that Moses Stroup was and his major role in this development.

Currently my health is not good however I am going to make every effort possible to attend. I have about 1 ½ months to get it together. I am really looking forward to meeting Richard Wright and Jim Bennett. I really think that if you are part of this branch are have a great interest in this branch this event is a no-brainer. I can ensure you that everyone will have a good time and learn a whole lot about our family. I look forward to seeing all my cousins and friends so y’all come on down.

Just click on the link for details.

http://www.reinhardt.edu/Events/2012/History-Symposium.html

Mike

Johann Jacob Straub

I wanted to update everybody on what I’m doing currently. I am now rewriting Jacobs’s book that I wrote in 2007 with a lot of new updates. In 2007 I was excited and in a hurry when I wrote this book and I used Ethel’s notes with some corrections. Some of you may know that I am a “type a” and do things with a great sense of urgency and not a whole lot of thought. In retrospect I did a poor job on the first book. Now that my health has slowed me down I have plenty of time for thinking. Since that time we have discovered a lot of new information, including German church records and a diary from the voyage to the New World. I have also expanded the chapter on Jacobs’s life in Maryland and Pennsylvania. In my haste to get this book done in 2007 I omitted a lot of good material. This new version will be at least double if not more in size.

Some of you may not be aware of this but my ancestor Daniel (son of Jacob) first settled in the Cherryville area in 1814. So 2014 will be the 200th anniversary of this event and for his descendents a reunion will be held in Cherryville. Daniel is buried at Mount Zion in Cherryville and his headstone is lying on the ground and in need of repair. We are tentatively planning a big reunion in Cherryville for this event. For this event we have planned to have his headstone repaired and preserved also we want to erect a monument for him. As all of you know I hate to charge for any of my material. I do my best to make them available for free. However I am considering selling this new book maybe even on Ebay to reach some of our northern cousins and all proceeds will go to preserving Daniels headstone and the new monument. The selling of the book is something that I am just considering to defer some of the cost. Currently all of this is tentative.
Mike Stroupe

Betty Stroupe Hudson Obit

CHERRYVILLE - Betty Stroupe Hudson, 93, formerly of Fitzhugh Street died Jan. 7,
2012, at Courtland Terrace, Gastonia.

Betty was born Nov. 10, 1918, in Gaston County, a daughter of the late Spurgeon and Rena Newton Stroupe.

She was member of the First Baptist Church, Cherryville and Cherryville Senior Citizens
and a volunteer at Cherryville Area Ministries.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul M. Hudson.
Survivors include her son, Charles R. Hudson and wife Janice of Belmont;
two grandchildren, Kimberly Long and husband Steve, and Ashli Denton and husband
Kacy of Belmont; six great grandchildren, Nathaniel Long, Hunter Denton,
Alejandra Denton, Kennedy Denton, Alec Long and Abby Long, all of Belmont.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Cone Memorial
Chapel of Carpenter's Funeral Home with Dr. Vince Hefner officiating.

Burial will follow in City Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, from 12:30-1:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial may be made to First Baptist Church, Quilt Ministry, 301 E. First St., Cherryville, NC
28021.

Condolences may be sent to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net.
Published in Gaston Gazette from January 7 to January 9, 2012