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