HISTORY OF THE JACOB STROUP MONUMENT

Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina
August 2013.

2013 marks the fiftieth (50th) year anniversary of raising the Jacob Stroup Marker.  This beautiful, elaborately engraved granite monument, was erected at a cost of $440.84 in 1963 by the local descendants of Johann “Jacob” Straub, later Stroup.  Jacob immigrated as a child with his parents, Johann Pieter & Barbara Straub, and his siblings in 1733 from the Kingdom of Württemberg (now Germany).

Standing over 8 feet high and weighing in excess of several tons, the monument is located just west of the crossroads, Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina - very near the original Stroup settlement, circa 1770.

The monument's formal dedication occurred in 1963 at the Stroup Family Reunion.  The stone was interred in memory of Jacob, his wife Nancy Hambright Stroup and twelve of their children, early settlers of Tryon, later Lincoln, and now Gaston County, North Carolina.  It is inscribed:

IN MEMORY OF

JACOB STROUP

1732* - 1804

AND WIFE

NANCY

(NATIVES OF GERMANY)

CHILDREN

Adam                                    Barbara [Dellinger]

Betsy [Unmarried]                       Elizabeth [Unmarried]

Fanny [Eckert]                              Hannah [Posten]

Mary [Reel]                                       George

Philip                                              John

Michael                                             Daniel

Erected 1963

Arthur L. Stroup, Sec & Treas

* Johann Jacob Straub (Stroup) was actually born 7 January 1722, rather than 1732.  Source:  Birth Records, Evangelische Kirchengemeinde, Großgartach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.  2011

Arthur Little Stroup [1891-1971] of Stanley, North Carolina was Secretary/Treasurer of the Reunion group during the late 1950s when the idea of a memorial was first introduced to family members.  Nearly 200 years had passed since the Stroup's had migrated from Pennsylvania and settled in the southern Piedmont area of North Carolina.

Arthur Stroup's love of family and rich family history was key to igniting a spark of interest, later a "Stroup Determination" that a large granite marker, one that will endure for all time, would be erected.  
From our family history archives and transcribed from letter sent to Ethel Stroupe [Vochko] in 1985 by Mr. Nard Cloninger of Gaston County:  "Arthur L. Stroup was my “favorite Stroup.”  He was real smart but acted like a nut.  He was one of the two strongest men I ever knew --- the other being Will Mathis from up around Rutherford [County, NC], who farmed with oxen in the 1930’s.  Will and Arthur used to pick up a Model T Ford by the front bumper, the heavy end and push [it] around like a wheelbarrow.  Arthur and another one of his best friends and were caught in the 1960’s making whiskey.  Arthur was still living at the old John W. Stroup home place.  I’ll never forget either one of them.  Arthur was a good worker in the American Legion also.”

CONTRIBUTORS TO PURCHASE THE MONUMENT 

1960-1963 (Penned by Arthur L. Stroup)

"We, the undersigned, subscribe the amount set opposite our names, for the erection of a monument to perpetuate the memory of Jacob STROUP, born in ... Germany, sailed from Rotterdam, Holland ... with his parents and siblings, came to America on British Ship, Pennsylvania Merchant, Captain John Stedman Master, arrived in Philadelphia, where he took the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown Sept 18 1733.  ... settling in North Carolina, acquiring property in what is now known as Gaston County, near Alexis N.C."

As evidenced by Mr. Stroup's accounting log [below], most of the contributions were $1.00, $2.00 ... several larger in amount.  The total cash was raised over roughly 3 years.  At least one of the contributors, Mrs. Craig [Margaret Alvah Stroupe] Stroupe of Morganton NC, survives today, is an impassioned family historian and attends our Reunion each year!

8/8/1960

C.D. Stroup, 374 East Water Street, Lincolnton NC, $50.00

Arthur L. Stroup, Stanley NC, $50.00

_ W. Cloninger, $5.00

Arthur B[oyd] Stroup, Waco NC, $25.00

Sallie C. Stroup, Cherryville NC, R.2, $2.00

Guy A Hovis, Stanley NC, $1.00

Mrs. Forrest Allen (Eunice Jane Stroup), Bessemer City, $1.00

Ernest L. Stroup, Bessemer City NC #1, $2.00

Thamer Stroupe, Bessemer City NC #2, $1.00

James C. Stroupe, $1.00

J. W. Stroupe, $1.00

Clara Adelle Stroupe, Rt 2, Bessemer City NC, $1.00

Mrs. Lorene Stroupe Bass, Rt 2, Bessemer City NC, $1.00

Mr. and Mrs. Fred F. Stroupe, Cherryville, $1.00

Mrs. Grace Stroupe Kiser, $5.00

Ben R. Stroupe, 426 Pickens Street, Rock Hill, SC, $10.00

Ben F. Stroup, 2301 Lowell Road, Gastonia NC, $5.00

Dave S. Rhyne, 1804 Country Club Road, Gastonia NC, $5.00

Mary Stroup Williams, Blacksburg SC, $1.00

6/11/1961         

John & Maude Stroup Breidenthal, Stanley NC, $5.00

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Moore and Family, Stanley NC, $3.00

M.A. Stroup Jr., MD, Gastonia NC, $5.00

Paul Hunter Stroup, North Main Street, Newton NC, $5.00

Stanley Earl Roper (D.C. Stroup), $4.00

__ Garrison, $5.00

Frank & Elizabeth Stroup Putnam, Cherryville, $1.00

E.M. Allen, Mount Holly NC, $1.00

W.R. Rhyne, Gastonia NC, $1.00

Wilson Rhyne, Stanley, Box 94, $1.00

Frederick Henry Rhyne, Maiden NC, $1.00

E. C. Rhyne, Dallas NC, $1.00

Marshall Dellinger, $1.00

L. L. Stroupe, $2.00

Charles Rhyne, $1.00

W.E. Stroupe Jr., Alexis NC, $10.00

T.W. Garrison, Alexis NC, $1.00

Ethel Richardson, $10.00

8/4/1962

Treasury Funds, $472.00

Mrs. Craig Stroupe, 123 Stevens Drive, Morganton NC, $1.00

Murle (?) Stroup Breidenthal, $2.00

Mrs. Alva Stroup, $10.00

Mrs. Henry Smith, 2876-A Rockland Pl, Lynchburg VA, $2.00

Mrs. Hilbreth Sherrer, Kings Mtn NC, $1.00

Mrs. Grace Rutledge, Dallas NC, $1.00

Mrs. George Quesada, 4616 Dallas Dr,  Fort Worth Texas, $1.00

Mrs. Jane Stroupe Recinos, 2530 Indpndnce Ave, NY, $5.00

Lee Stroup, Alexis NC, $10.00

Mrs. Loy Cloninger (Lanie Stroup), Clover SC, $5.00

Mrs. Mason (Lillie Stroup) Smith, R-1- Pineville NC, $1.00

A. U. Stroupe, Mount Holly, NC, $100.00

_ R. Brittain, Stanley NC, $1.00

Louis Presswood, Alexis NC, $1.00

Floyd T Stroupe, Monroe NC, $1.00

Mrs. S. F. Stroupe, Bessemer City NC, $1.00

Attorney John C. Stroupe, Hickory NC, $10.00

Mrs. Carl Stroupe, Route 3, Lincolnton NC, $2.00

Jim & L. F. Plonk, $5.00

Cash, $1.00

Henry Wesley Stroupe, Dallas [NC] Barber Shop, $2.00

Fred L. Payne, Box 654, Alexis NC, $5.00

Lee Hansee, Rt 1, Mount Holly NC, $1.00

Jim Murphy, Rt 1, Stanley, $1.00

Jack C. Moore, $5.00

L. A. McClure, Alexis NC, $5.00

R. L. Payne, Rt 1, Dallas NC, $1.00

B. J. Matthews, Rt 1, Stanley NC, $1.00

Gannon Smith, Rt 1, Dallas NC, $1.00

J. E. Wiley, Jr., $5.00

Mrs. Paul Shook, $5.00

David Stroupe, $1.00

Horace McGinnis, $1.00

Paul H. Stroup, Newton NC, $1.00

Mrs. John W. Stroupe, Gastonia NC, $5.00

Mrs. Mary Stroupe Abernathy, Alexis NC, $10.00

Mrs. John O Smith, Route Rt 1, Iron Station NC, $1.00

Steve Stroup, 406 Pine Avenue, Cherryville NC, $1.00

Eugene R. Stroup, 3500 8^th Street South, Arlington VA, $2.00

_____ Stroup __________,  $1.00

Vance _________________ , $1.00

John W. Stroupe, Webb Street, Gastonia NC,  $5.00

Again, the monument can be found on the High Shoals / Alexis Highway (south side of the roadway), and just west of the intersection with NC Highway 27.  About 10 miles south of Lincolnton and within 20 miles of US 321 in North Carolina.

84TH STROUP/STROUPE REUNION MINUTES

84th ANNUAL STROUP(E) REUNION of Descendents of Johann Jacob Straub (Stroup) Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina August 4, 2013 The Stroup(e) Reunion was held on Sunday, August 4 in the Family Life Center of Alexis Baptist Church, Alexis, Gaston County, North Carolina. This was the 84th family gathering since 1925, with a 4-year interruption due to World War II. Approximately 110 family members attended this year. At 10:00am Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill and Linda Moss Ballard of Cherryville led a tour of the abandoned Stroup Family Cemeteries, located around the Alexis. About 20 people braved the heat (and the chiggers and yellow-jackets!) to walk among the old graves. James G. “Jim” Stroupe of Winston-Salem, President, called the meeting to order at 1:00pm and welcomed everyone to the event. Jim provided opening remarks, asked that each person “meet and greet” each other and that each officially registers in our Reunion Book. The lunch tables were supplied with the Minutes from last year’s reunion, a handout on the Jacob Stroup Monument, celebrating its 50th year, as well as the abbreviated “Straub/Stroup Family History.” The first order of business was to take group pictures: one picture of the 36 attendees who carry the Stroup(e) surname by birth and another picture of the entire family. Jim gave the invocation, which was followed by the traditional, bountiful, ”covered dish” meal. Following lunch, Jim commenced the Business Session, starting around 2:00pm: • The minutes and financial report from the 2012 Reunion were read and approved. • 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 – all of Alexis. Every year their efforts are key to our hosting such a large, successful event. • The family agreed to donate $100 (includes rental) to the Alexis Baptist Church. • Collection. Alan and Maria Hipp passed the collection plate through the crowd. Our treasury is used exclusively for the Reunion-associated expenses. Beginning Cash on Hand $671.95 Contributions 2013 511.00 Less: 2013 Reunion Expenses* 483.78 Cash on Hand for 2014 $699.17 HISTORY COMMITTEE. Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill spoke on behalf of the 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, and Linda Moss Ballard of Cherryville. Of special interest this year is the discovery of a family lawsuit, “Stroup Vs. Stroup”, filed in Gaston County around 1870. Mike stated that the official court record is over 300 pages long and provides a fantastic glimpse into the Stroup family ancestors living in/around Alexis during that time. Copies of the court documents are available on CD. This is the 50th anniversary of raising the Jacob Stroup Monument in Alexis. As a reminder there are many avenues available to view and research our family: - Updated biography of our shared immigrant Jacob Stroup. - “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. - “Stroup Family Cemeteries of Gaston County”. This booklet documents the Stroup family ancestors who are buried (circa 19th 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. - A distant cousin, Diana Gale Matthiesen, has created a tremendous website, chocked full of very old Straub and Stroup(e) family history. - “Family Tree DNA” Project: At least two males in our local family have participated in the Straub/Stroup DNA project. Another male, descending from Michael Stroup (son of Jacob) will participate later this year. - The history committee will create a “lineage / family tree” document (free of charge) for any descendent. Just contact a Mike or Sid by email or phone. MILESTONES SINCE OUR LAST REUNION: Deceased: - Mary Bumgarner Stroupe, age 99 of Alexis; 12 July 2013. She was the wife of the late David Augustus Stroupe. - Fred Albert Stroupe of Morganton; 1 December 2012. Fred was a life-long Stroup historian, specifically tracing the descendants of his great-great (GG) grandfather Matthew Wallace Stroup. - Marian Frances Stroupe Wilson of Vila, NC; 11 January 2013. GG-granddaughter of Daniel Stroup. - Don Richard Stroupe of Cherryville; 18 February 2013. GGG-grandson of Daniel. - Ruth Beam Stroup of Cherryville, 26 August 2012. Wife of the late Kenneth E Stroup a descendent of both Daniel and John Stroup. - Retired US Army Colonel Ray B. Stroup, age 96 of Lafayette, Louisiana; 11 May 2013, a descendent of Philip. Also a “Texas Stroup”. - Ambrose “Abe” Rhyne Stroupe of Gastonia; 16 April 2013. GG-grandson of Philip. - Margaret P. Stroupe Fraley of Cherryville; 27 April 2013. GG-granddaughter of Daniel Stroup - Jonathan Keith Stroupe of Gastonia, 16 March 2013, a descendent of Daniel. - Edgar Eugene Thomas, age 85 of Los Angeles, California; 2 January 2013. Gene descended from the Cherryville branch of the family. - Charles Franklin Stroupe of Conover, 28 September 2011. - Joseph Daniel “JD” Sellers of Cherryville, 3 February 2006, Descended from Daniel. - John Logan Harrelson of Charlotte. 29 December 2012. John was the great-grandson of Nancy Tlitha Cuemimoody Stroup Harrelson of Cherryville. Births: Caleb Matthew Laughter, 13 June 2012, grandson of Susan Stroupe Laughter and great-grandson of Rachel Brown Stroupe. Caleb, seventh generation, descends from Philip Stroup, son of Jacob. Marriages: Dustin and Heather Holbrook, grandson of Mrs. Margaret Stroupe of Morganton and son of Tom and Diane Stroupe Holbrook. 27 April 2013. ELECTION OF OFFICERS for term 2013-2014 - President. Jim Stroupe of Winston-Salem was nominated by Martha Daniel of Charlotte; seconded by Nancy Stroupe Morrison. Unanimously re-elected. - Vice President. Nancy Quesada of Austin Texas was nominated; Linda Moss Ballard seconded. Nancy unanimously elected Vice-President. - Secretary. Sid Stroupe was re-nominated by Bob Stroupe; seconded by Jon Stroupe of Aiken, South Carolina. Group unanimous vote “yes”. - Treasurer. Maria Hipp of Alexis nominated by Sid Stroupe; Rita Quesada Rodgers of Charlotte seconded. Group unanimous vote “yes”. - Family Historian. Mike B. Stroupe was re-nominated and elected. RECOGNITION, DOOR PRIZES AND OTHER. - Robert “Bob” Edwin Stroupe of Colfax celebrated his 90th birthday and the reunion committee presented him with a personalized Stroup Family History Book. Bob was born in Guilford County and is son of the late Grady Vance Stroupe who was born in Alexis. Bob was asked to speak to the group and he cheerfully agreed, talking of “times gone by” for he and the Stroups of Alexis. Bob’s three children and many grandchildren joined him at the Reunion this year! - Carolyn Stroupe Stambaugh of West Palm Beach has been recognized by the University of Florida as celebrating the 60th anniversary of her coronation as the First Homecoming Queen at the University. Carolyn has been invited to crown this year’s King and Queen in early November 2013. Congratulations Carolyn! - Oldest Female Attending: Rachel Brown Stroupe of Alexis, Age 91 years. Mrs. Stroupe is the widow of the late Ivy Lee Stroupe of Alexis. - Cindy Stroup, our cousin residing in Arlington Virginia, created and mailed all of the invitations to this year's reunion. Great job Cindy and thank you! - Oldest Male Attending: Homer A. Orren of Cornelius, Age 94 years. Homer is the spouse of Ann Abernathy a descendant of Jacob’s son Philip Stroup. Coincidentally, Ann and her second cousin Bob Stroupe of Colfax, celebrating his 90th birthday, share the same lineage and they enjoyed visiting with each other during the Reunion! - Youngest Boy: Caleb Matthew Laughter of Hickory, age 1 year. Caleb, seventh generation descendant of Jacob Stroup, descends from son Philip. - Youngest Girl: Kinley Grace Stroupe of Morganton, age 2 years. Kinley is also a seventh generation descendant of Jacob, through three of his sons - Adam, Philip and Michael. - Traveled Farthest: Several family members attended from out-of-state: Nancy Quesada of Austin, Texas Jane Stroupe Hornsby of Panama City, Florida Carolyn Fogle Mullins of Panama City Beach, Florida Carolyn Stroupe Stambaugh of West Palm Beach, Florida Jim and Mary Ellen Manning of Edgewater, Maryland Jason and Michele Speed of Kalispell, Montana Joe Recinos of Guatemala Ed Stroupe and family of Cotopaxi, Colorado Jared and Ashley Hein of Coulterville, California Mary Ann Stroupe and Jon Stroupe, Aiken, South Carolina - $20.00 Door Prizes: Joe Recinos of Guatemala; Charles Phillips of Alexis; Jane Stroupe Hornsby of Panama City, Florida. - $50.00 Grand Prize: Kenny & Donna Mauney of Iron Station. 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 2014. Hope to see you then, Sid Stroupe III, Secretary / Treasurer

Chip Stroup, Lincoln County [NC] Man of the Year

November 2013 Article is Courtesy of the Lincoln Times-News, Lincolnton North Carolina Chip Stroup of First Federal Savings Bank in Lincolnton was named Lincoln County’s [NC] Man of the Year at the recent Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet at the Laboratory Mill in Lincolnton. For the past 40 years, Stroup has been a leader of First Federal Savings Bank, serving the community through an array of volunteer efforts and financial support over the years. In the Rotary Club’s speech, they explain that what distinguishes Stroup is his quiet and simple service to companies and individuals in need. “Without hesitation, Chip will find a way to make things better, maintaining his mission to contribute to the welfare of those in the community,” the presenter said. Stroup has served the community in numerous ways, including serving as a director for the YMCA, Lincoln County Community Foundation, North Carolina Bankers Association, Lincoln County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority, Community Investment Corporation of North Carolina, Centralina Development Corporation, United Way for Lincoln County and the local chapter of the American Red Cross. He has also assisted children in Lincolnton’s Public Housing to attend Camp Challenge, provided financial support for the Young Scholars Institute, provided funds for the Gaston College Foundation to construct a Science and Technology Center on the Lincoln Campus and has volunteered with the Rotary Club to assist in raising money for low-interest loans for Lincoln County students to attend college. “Man of the Year is not about who has the longest list of organization or committee memberships — it is about the breadth of impact that a man has had on his community,” the presenter said. “There are countless children, schools, businesses, restaurants, art programs, community gatherings and employees’ family members who have been the recipient of Chip Stroup’s generous contributions. Chip’s contributions come in many forms — time, advice, financial support, physical labor, concern for those less fortunate, care for those in need — in a word, service…and very simply put, that is what Chip Stroup has been doing for years.”
NOTE

Chip Stroup is the son of the late Mr. C.D. Stroup, a long-time and devoted genealogist, focussed on preserving the history of the Jacob Straub/Stroup family of Lincoln/Gaston Counties in North Carolina. Chip retains the significant number of original hand-written documents and photos that his father produced and accumulated throughout his life. All of them are stored and viewable via the "Jacob Stroup/Straub Descendants" tree on Ancestry.com.