Nelson Ray Strong

Notes:

WALTER R STRONG 02 Feb 1921 04 Nov 1988 79078 (Sanford, Hutchinson, TX) (none specified) 446-16-9110 Oklahoma

Walter married Opal Olene Thompson. Opal was born after 1921; died on 19 Apr 1987 in Potter County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Vonda Strong writes that she was the daughter of Nelson and Francis Thompson. She believes that the maiden name of Francis was Whipkey.

Notes:

Apparently, Claude moved to Colorado, leaving his wife and children in Oklahoma, sometime in the 1930's, and lived there until his 1942 death. His exact whereabouts during this time period were unknown. His son Ralph, of Clinton, Oklahoma stated to Charles Strong (of Edinburg, Texas) that he saw Claude for a moment, he thinks in Anadarko, Oklahoma while he was driving an ambulance for the Civilian Conservation Corps.

This appears as if it could be Claude's listing at the time of the 1930 census, despite the slight discrepency in the way his name was listed. He was shown as a veteran of World War I, which Charles Strong of Edinburg, Texas does not remember. This may or may not be the correct person, and/or the correct veteran information.

Colorado, Mesa County, Grand Junction, District 15

STRONG, C. Luther E. Lodger M W 36 S Texas Texas Missouri Manager Movie Theatre Veteran WW

His wife and children were not located in the 1930 census index, but presumably were still in Oklahoma.

CLAUDE E. STRONG, GREYSTONE RANCHER DIES IN HOSPITAL

Claude E. Strong, Greystone rancher, died at the Solandt hospital in Hayden, March 18, following a serious illness of about two months.
He was admitted to the hospital January 23. A ruptured stomach, combined with other ailments was given as the cause of death.
Mr. Strong had been a resident of Greystone for the past two years.
He was born October 30, 1891, in Collin county, Texas. He was raised in Oklahoma and lived there until he came to Moffat County to make his home with two of his brothers.
He was married November 20, 1915, in Bureau (sic) County, Oklahoma, but had been separated from his wife for some time.
He is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Powell, of Carter, Okla., and Ruby Smith, of Albuquerque, N. M.; two sons, Walter of Willa, Okla., and Ralph of Clinton, Okla.; two grandsons and one grand daughter; six brothers, Augustus and Rolla J. of Greystone, B. R. of Chickasha, Okla., W. W. of Lawton, Okla., E. E., who resides in California, and E. R. who lives in the state of Washington.
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church here, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 with the Rev. Roy Walker in charge of the service.
Interment was in Fairview Cemetery under direction of I. J. Robacker.

From Craig (Moffat County) Colorado Empire Courier, Vol. 52. #1 Page 1, March 25, 1942

NOTES by Charles Richard Strong, a Grand Nephew of Claude. This information obtained in July 2000 in Craig, Colorado.

Through a library search in Craig, it was discovered that uncle Claude was buried in the old Fairview section of the town cemetery. Records show he was placed in section F (Fairview) lot 53. It was the South half of that lot. There is no head stone or marker of any kind.

The local Funeral home helped me find this section. The North half contains the remains of Emma and John Easley. Claude is east of a Morris Family plot and next to the West Road.

Peggy Patty Baker of Yukon, Oklahoma (Grand Daughter of Augustus Homer Strong) was in Craig and the ranch when she was a young lady. She said the "busted gut" was probably peritonitis. The ranch is at least 60 miles over rough mountain roads to Craig.

Claude spent from January 23 to March 18th (54 days) in the Hospital. This long stay may have caused Rolla to sell part of his ranch to pay for hospital and burial of Claude. In July 1942, he sold about 70.65 acres of land out of the original 635.65 acres. Note that in April 1948, Rolla Changed the title to ranch to himself and Gus as joint tenancy and survivorship. Rolla and Gus sold the ranch of 560 acres to a R. F. Brown on May 10, 1956.

(Research):Census Listings:

1920 Census
Oklahoma, Grady County, Chickasha
Enumerated 26 Jan 1920
SD 64 ED 167-168 Sheet 8B
219 North 10th Street
415-469
Strong, C.E. Head M W 28 Tx Tx Tx Section Hand Railway
Strong, Della Wife F W 21 M Missouri TN Missouri
Strong, Ralph Son M W 2 8/12 Ok Tx Missouri
Strong, Ruby Dau F W 7/12 Ok Tx Missouri

1011 Penn. Avenue
416-470
Strong, A.H. Head M W 41 M Tx Tx Tx Boiler Maker Railroad S
hop
Strong, Mary Wife F w 32 M Mississippi Alabama Mississippi
Strong, Agnes Dau F w 12 S Ok Tx Miss

Claude married Della May Murley on 20 Nov 1915 in Oklahoma. Della was born about 1898 in Taney County, Missouri; died on 18 Feb 1973 in Mangum, Greer County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Della remarried after divorcing Claude.

Notes:

For many years, it was assumed by his descendants that Ralph's middle name was pronounced Bernard. However, on Ralph's death certificate, filed by son Walter, his middle name was listed as "Brenard." Walter also named one of his sons after his father. Although the exact spelling he intended is not clear, his son's name was pronounced "Branyard." It appears, therefore, that Ralph shared his middle name with his father "Brainerd," a name that was apparently common in New England, but rare in rural Texas and Oklahoma.

1860 OHIO Census, Trumbull County Bristol Township Enumerated on 24 August 1860 With his parents, David Brainerd and Leonora (Sherman) Strong as a 2 year old

There was another Ralph Strong, age 4, on the 1860 Ohio census, the son of Samuel Strong of nearby Lake County, However, his death certificate shows that he was the son of Samuel STRONG and Sarah SCHRAM, and was born in July 1, 1856.

1870 NEBRASKA Census, Johnson County Todd Creek Township
Living with his Uncle, Hezekiah Strong, and listed as R.B. Strong, age 12, born in Ohio, Farm Laborer

Ralph and Mary Ella Hall were married in 1878 in Hunt County, Texas. They were living west of Hunt in 1880, in Collin County, Texas. Mary's parents, Mash and Eliza Hall lived in Collin County as well. By 1900, they had relocated to Hopkins County, Texas.

There was one other Strong family in Collin County in 1880, however, it does not appear that they were related to Ralph as they were from Tennessee.

In April, 1894, Henry A. Strong of Trumbull County, Ohio served as the administrator of the estate of his step-mother, Leanora A. (Sherman) STRONG. He filed a petition to sell lands. In his petition, he filed an affidavit for service by publication on Ralph Strong. The index page to the Estate shows he tried to send the statutorily required "notice to non residents" to Ralph in both Baird, Callihan (sic) County, Texas and in Blue, Indian Territory, apparently with no response. Blue is due North of Hunt County, where Ralph and Ella were married. Baird is in southwest of Collin County, near Abilene, in Callahan County. Ralph and his family apparently next move to the northeast of Collin County, as by 1896 the family was in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas. At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, they were still in Hopkins County.

The 1900 census also indicated that Mary was the mother of nine children, eight of whom were living. According to Viola Strong Weaver's Bible, presented to her by her parents in August, 1950, the ninth child was apparently a son named Harry. He appears to have died young, as neither his birth or death date is recorded in the Bible.

Ralph next moved his family North, to the Oklahoma Terrotory, where Mary Ella died in 1905.

Ralph moved even further westward, where he is listed on the 1910 Roosevelt County, New Mexico Territory Census, Precinct No 12, Dora, with his second wife, Mary Stockbridge, and youngest son Ernest.

This census is notable as it shows Ralph's father as being born in New York instead of Ohio. Charles Strong read the Roosevelt County, New Mexico census for the year of 1920, but was not able to locate the family. Nor was he able to locate the family on the soundex for New Mexico.

Homer Strong reported that in additona to farming his grandfather, Ralph, had worked both as a jockey and a plainclothes policeman. Ralph's great-granddaughter, Peggy Patty, reports that Ralph actually was a bounty hunter, as was his oldest son Augustus (her grandfather). Plainclothes policeman was simply the more polite term the family used to describe this work, of which they were not proud.

On April 15, 1929, about 10 days before his death, Ralph and Mary entered into a warranty deed with Mrs. C. E. MITCHELL. They apparently sold her approximately 160 acres of land for $2,400. Mrs. MITCHELL also became responsible for the mortgage of $500. This land was situated in the Southwest Quarter of Section 24, Township 5 South, Range 34, East of the New Mexico Meriden in the County of Roosevelt, State of New Mexico. They sold it to her "reserving...the use of three (3) acres...the dwelling house, out-buildings, garden and orchards for a home as long as (either or both) of them shall live." On January 16, 1924, they had mortgaged this same 160 acres of land to Beulah H. Gibson for $500. Mary's sister, Celia Stockbridge, was married to a Frank MITCHELL.

In late April, 1929, the following article was published in the DUNCAN BANNER

SONS BRING FATHER HERE FOR TREATMENT

"R.B. Strong, father of Burt and W.W. Strong of Duncan, is being brought here from Partalas (sic), N.M. in a Beeson Grantham ambulance. Burt Strong left with the ambulance Tuesday to get his father, who had been in ill health for some time. They are expected here Thursday morning. Mr. Strong has been at Partalas for several months."

Ralph was moved into the home of his son Burt after being brought to Duncan. However, Burt and his father soon had a tremendous fight, and he moved Ralph to Walter's home. Barney remembers his parents living on the 700 block of Stephens about this time, although the obituary below lists this as the 700 block of 8th street. It is not known which of these addresses is correct. Barney also recalls that Burt and Ralph reconciled immediately before Ralph died.

Ralph's obituary was published in the Duncan (Oklahoma) Eagle Weekly on Thursday, April 25, 1929:

RALPH B. STRONG TAKEN BY DEATH

"Ralph B. Strong, 71 years of age, passed away here at 3:15 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the home of Walter W. Strong, 705 S. 8th Street. Cancer was the cause of his death. Funeral services were held at the Beeson Grantham Chapel at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon with Rev. T.P. Haskins of the Baptist Church officiating. Burial was at the Lawton Cemetery.

The deceased was a pioneer resident of New Mexico. He had homesteaded there 22 years ago and lived at Portales. He was brought to the home of his son here in Grantham Ambulance about three weeks ago, when his illness became more serious.

Surviving are the wife, seven sons, seventeen grandchildren, and three brothers. [Note: The surviving brothers would have been Frank, Fred and EITHER Charles or George.] The sons are Walter W. and Burt of Duncan, Claude and Earl of Cement, R.J. and A.H. of Tintino (sic), New Mexico, and Earnest of Toledo, Oregon."

On the death certificate, Walter W. Strong was the informant. He indicated that the parents of Ralph Brenard Strong were not known.

Rhodene Frederick found the following records relating to Ralphs burial at the Highland Cemetery in Lawton (Section 3276):

Strong, Ralph B., b. 1857, d. Apr 20, 1929, 72y, Ohio

His first wife, Mary Ella Hall, two of his sons (Leon and Walter), a daughter-in-law (Tessie Soukup) and grandson (Jake Strong) were buried in the same section.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Collin County
Strong, Ralf B,W, M, 23, Head, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Farmer
Strong, Mary E, W, F, 22, Wife, MO, TN,TN, Keeping House, No RW
Strong, Augustus,1,Son,TX,OH,MO

1900 Census
Texas, Hopkins County
Strong, Ralph,43,May 1857, OH, OH, OH, Farmer Married 23 Years, RW
Strong, Mary E,43, Apr 1861, MR, VA, TN,Married 23 Years, No RW
Strong, Leon S, 16, Apr 1864, TX, OH, MR, Laborer, No RW
Strong, Berthodne, 9 Oct 1880, TX, OH, MR, Laborer, No RW
Strong, Claudie E, 7 Oct 1892, TX, OH, MR, No RW
Strong, Raughley J, 6 Oct 1894, TX, OH, MR, No RW
Strong, Earl J, 3 Mar 1897, TX, OH, MR Strong, Earnest, 1 Apr 1899, TX, OH, MR

1910 Census
New Mexico Territory, Roosevelt County, Precinct No 12
Strong, Ralph B, Head, M, W, 53, M2, 3 Years,Ohio,New York, Ohio,English,Farmer, RW, O/F/F
Strong, Mary J, Wife, F,W,50, M1, 3 Years,Virginia,Maine, Tennessee, English,RW
Strong, Ernest R., Son,M,W,10,Texas,Ohio,Missouri,English, Farm Laborer,Reads

1920 Census
Not located

(Medical):Y DNA
R1B1

A direct male descendant volunteered to have his DNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #Y2NVJ

Determined to be a high resolution match to other documented descendants of Elder John Strong, an early Puritan settler in New England.

Ralph married Mary Ella Hall on 4 May 1878 in Hunt County, Texas. Mary (daughter of Mashack Hall and Eliza Jane Neil) was born about 1858 in Missouri; died on 27 Sep 1905 in Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory; was buried in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Registry of Funerals, Walters Oklahoma, Page 1. Mary Ella Strong, age 49 died September 27, 1905 of Consumption. Reported by Walter Strong. Noted burial in Lawton Oklahoma.

Rhodene Frederick found the following burial record for Highland Cemetery in Lawton (Section 3276):

Strong, Mary E., b. 1858, d. 1905, 47y

Notes:

Married:
Ralph and Mary Ella (Hall) Strong were the parents of nine sons. They were married in 1878 in Hunt County, Texas. According to a transcription of Hunt County Marriages, R.B. Strong married Ella "Wall." Charles Strong examined the actual marriage certificate, and noted that the last name of the bride was clearly HALL. The compiler of "Hunt County, Texas, Marriages 1847-1911" either misread the original, or made an error while transcribing the record. The license was issued on 4 October 1877, the marriage was on 4 May 1878, and the license was filed on 21 May 1878. Ralph and Mary Ella can be found in neighboring Collin County at the time of the 1880 Federal census.

There were several other Strong bride and grooms listed in the transcription of Hunt County Marriages. R.B. Strong's marriage was the earliest however. It does not appear that any of the other Strong's were related to Ralph. Nor did there appear to be any other Strong families living in Hunt County at the time of the 1880 census,