85th STROUP/STROUPE REUNION MINUTES

On Sunday, August 3, 2014 in the Family Life Center of Alexis Baptist Church, the descendants of Jacob Straub / Stroup held their 85^th reunion.

As is tradition, the reunion day began at 10:00am with Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill leading a walking tour of the abandoned Stroup Family Cemeteries, located near the church.  As an added attraction, this year Mike and the group were stopped and interrogated at one of the cemeteries (on private property) by a Gaston County Sherriff’s Deputy, inquiring as to their intentions.  Luckily no family members were on the “most wanted list”, so once the Sheriff was assured that the group was not up to “no good” and peaceful in demeanor, he allowed them to go about their way.  All enjoyed the walking tour.

At 1:00pm President James G. “Jim” Stroupe of Winston-Salem, called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the event.  Approximately 125 family members attended, tying our attendee record set in 2011.  The first priority was to take group pictures:  first, a picture of the attendees who carry the Stroup/e surname by birth and a second one of the entire family and guests. 

Sid Stroupe, Secretary, read the names of those who passed away during the previous year.  Jim gave the invocation and we proceeded to enjoy our traditional covered dish lunch.

During this time, Jim acknowledged several of our family members for their efforts:  our talented family photographers, Rita Quesada-Rodgers and Todd Cloninger and our dependable setup team, comprised of Alan and Maria Hipp, Mike and Ruth Hipp and Daphna Stroupe Shelton.  THANK YOU!

At around 2:00 Jim called the business meeting to order.

1. The 2013 minutes and financial reports were read and approved by unanimous vote
2. The family agreed by unanimous vote to donate $100 to the Alexis Baptist Church.
3. Treasury.  Alan and Maria Hipp passed the collection plate through the crowd.

                  Beginning Cash on Hand              $699.17

                  Contributions 8/3/14                      814.50

                  Less:  Reunion Expenses                160.44  (Door Prizes, $130.00; Set-up Supplies, $30.44)

                  Less:  Donation to Alexis Baptist     100.00

                  Cash on Hand for 2015 Reunion   $1,253.23

4. History Committee Report.

   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, and Linda Moss Ballard of Cherryville.

   Sid Stroupe offered a couple of notable treasures discovered over the past year.  Mike found, on-line, a US Bureau of Investigation (predecessor agency to the FBI) report, dated 1917, looking into alleged seditious activities by German descendants residing in the Cherryville area.  This was at the start of US involvement in World War I.  The “Stroups of Cherryville”, a sizable family at the time, were not accused of participating in said alleged seditious events and discussions; however Attorney Matthew A. Stroup and Mr. Stephen Stroup were interviewed by the federal agent on a couple of occasions.  According to the report both men downplayed the talk of pro-German activities around town and the investigation was closed within a few months. 

   Secondly, Mike Stroupe talked a bit about several personal letters he happened upon, dated around 1880, from Elizabeth Alice Stroup Hamrick of Cherryville, visiting her brother Dr. Miles Stroup in Red River County of Texas.  Dr. Miles Stroup, a Civil War Vet, had moved to the area after the Civil War and setup his practice there.  “Soody”, as she was nicknamed, describes her life in the “wilds of Texas”, including her fear of measles and smallpox (both deadly diseases in 1880), flea infestations, generally poor living conditions for the settlers in Red River area and generally her ‘unhappiness’ away from her family.   She soon returned to Cherryville around 1881.

     In early 2014, Ben Stroupe of Morganton, a paper descendant of Jacob Stroup’s son Michael [1779-1855], took a Paternal DNA test and it confirmed his genetic match to the Straub family of Germany.  To date three of our Stroupe males have been tested and all three tests confirm our link to Martin Straub [1616-1676] of the Kingdom of Wuerttemberg (now southern Germany).

     As a reminder there are many sources available to learn about our Stroup/e family history, including a family tree on Ancestry.com:  Jacob Stroup/Straub Descendants.  So far Mike, assisted by Sid, has identified and documented several thousand ancestors of Jacob Straub/Stroup.  If anyone would like access to view the information, its an easy process.  Let us know.

5.  Milestones since our last Reunion:
1. Deceased August 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014: 

                                      i.   Mary Frances Bumgarner Stroupe, age 99, of Alexis.  12 July 2013.  Wife of the late David G. Stroupe and mother of Jackie Stroupe and Judy All of Alexis.

                                    ii.   Blois Katherine Evans Stroup, age 85 of Dallas NC.  Wife of the late Reuben Jerrell Stroup, descendant of Daniel Stroup.  August 19, 2013.

                                   iii.   Lorraine Stroupe Borden, age 70 of Eufaula, Alabama (formerly of Cherryville);         1 October 2013.  Descendant of Daniel Stroup and son Abner Albert Stroup.

                                   iv.   Don Eugene Stroup of Fairview, Buncombe County, NC, age 79.  Formerly of Kings Mountain where he was owner and operator of a building supply company for many years.  October 9, 2013

                                     v.   Elizabeth Denham Stroupe, age 100 of Winston-Salem; 4 November 2013.  Wife of the late Dr. Henry Smith Stroupe, family historian and at one time head of the History Department at Wake Forest University.  Dr. and Mrs. Stroupe were long-time attendees of this reunion.

                                   vi.   R. Dean Stroupe, age 78 of Lincolnton, NC; 11 December 2013.  Brother of reunion attendee Dennis A. Stroupe.   Descendant of Daniel Stroup and son Albert Abner Stroup of Cherryville.

                                  vii.   Peggy Rector Stroupe of Hendersonville, age 86.  Wife of the late Robert Earl Stroupe, son of Connor Bartlette Stroupe, descending Philip and Moses Stroup.  27 December 2013.

                                viii.   Nicole Hill Stroupe, age 41, of Morganton, wife of Jeff Stroupe, a descendant of Philip, then Peter Stroup of Alexis.  4 January 2014.

                                   ix.   Pauline Woods Stroupe of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  13 January 2014, Wife of the late Hughes Warren Stroupe, descendant of Adam Stroup -> through the Buncombe County [NC] Stroup Family.

                                     x.   Eddie “Jean” Harris Stroupe, age 84, of Dallas; February 16, 2014.  Wife of Lamar Wesley Stroupe, a descendant of Philip Stroup and son Wesley W. Stroup.

                                   xi.   Joyce Mae Stroupe Foster, age 87 of McAdenville.  March 12, 2014.  She was a former wife of the late Winford Ladelle Stroupe, descendant of Philip and Jonas Stroup of Alexis.

                                  xii.   William Oates “Bill” Stroup of Fort Mill, South Carolina, age 92.  March 14, 2014.  He descended from Michel (Michael) Stroup, through his grandson Archibald Cathey Stroup who moved his family from Alexis to the Clover area of South Carolina about the time of the US Civil War.

                                xiii.   Ronald Edward Stroupe, age 82 of Gastonia.  4 June 2014.  A descendant of Philip, then Peter Stroup of Alexis

                                 xiv.   Gary Steve Stroupe, age 65 of Cherryville; 22 June 2014, a descendent of Daniel Stroup, through his son Matthew Wallace Stroup.

                                  xv.   Reaford “Zeke” Stroupe, age 73 of Ripley, Alabama.  19 July 2014.  Descendant of Daniel, Jacob Cephus and Peter Stroupe of Alabama.

2. Births:

None to report August 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014

3. Marriages: 

Joseph & Caroline Pope, granddaughter of Ivey Lee and Rachel Brown Stroupe and daughter of Michael & Susan Stroupe Laughter.  19 August 2013.

6. Election of Officers for term 2014-2015.  The current officers were nominated and confirmed by unanimous vote “yes”:
1. President.  Jim Stroupe of Winston-Salem.
2. Vice President.  Nancy Quesada of Austin, Texas.
3. Secretary.  Sid Stroupe of Durham
4. Treasurer.  Maria Hipp of Alexis.
5. Family Historian.  Mike Stroupe of Rock Hill, South Carolina.

7. Recognition, Door Prizes and Other.
1. Oldest Male and Female Attending:  Robert E. “Bob” Stroupe of Colfax NC and Anne Abernathy Orren, of Cornelius NC.  Bob and Anne are maternal first cousins, grandchildren of Quincy Young Stroup [1860-1920].
2. Youngest Boy & Girl Attending:  Caleb Edward House, born July 21, 2012.  Bailey Diane House, born October 21, 2013.   Proud parents are Zach House and Kelly Stroupe of Dallas NC.
3. Traveled Farthest:  Samuel Stroupe Quesada of Dallas, Texas.
4. Drawing Winners!  Carolyn Fogle Mullins of Panama City Beach Florida, Cheryl Hurt Radley of Davidson, Karla Clark of Taylorsville and John Lutz.

With the business meeting closed, the Reunion was adjourned.   The next Stroup/e Family Reunion meeting will be held, as is custom, on the first Sunday in August, the 2^rd, 2015.

Hope to see you then ----- 

Sid Stroupe III, Secretary