Bobby Everett McFiren

Bobby married Carleen Francis Boosz about 1961, and was divorced in Sep 1973 in Fresno County, California. Carleen was born on 26 Feb 1946; died on 30 Mar 2010 in Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona; was buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Porterville, Tulare County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
It appears that she and Bobby divorced in 1972, and that she was later remarried several times.

California Divorce Index:

Carleen F Boosz
Spouse Name: Bobby E Mcfiren
Location: Fresno
Date: Sep 1973

California Marriage Index:

Carleen F Boosz
Age: 29
Est. Birth: abt 1946
Spouse Name: Robert L Wilfong
Spouse Age: 39
Date: 27 Feb 1975
Location: Fresno

California Marriage Index:

Carleen F Boosz
Age: 38
Est. Birth: abt 1946
Spouse Name: Douglas F Albrecht
Spouse Age: 53
Date: 20 May 1984
Location: San Mateo

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Bobby married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Otto married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per the 1900 Texas Census, his middle initial was J, and he was born in Texas. However, according to his descendants, his middle name was Everett. They also list his place of birth as Indian Territory. At the time of the 1910 Federal Census, twelve year-old Earl was living in Comanche County, Oklahoma, and enumerated with Levi and Sarah Hoskins as a foster child. His father, Ralph, was living in New Mexico at the time, with his new wife and his younger brother Ernest. One of Earl's daughters told Charles Strong that Earl disliked his new stepmother, whom he called "the old lady" and ran away from New Mexico. The relationship, if any, between the Strong family and Levi Hoskins is unknown.

At the time of the 1930 Census, Earl and his wife, along with their five children, were living in Chandler, Grady County, Oklahoma. Living with them, as well, was his niece, Agnes Strong, and her four month old daughter, Peggy Lynn.

California Death Index:

STRONG EARL EVERETT 03/03/1897 HALL M OKLAHOMA TULARE 10/14/1982

His death certificate listed him as the son of Ralph Strong and Ellie Hall. It was shown, in error, that they were from Illinois. It was also stated that for the prior 50 years he had been self-employed in the Agriculture business. His address was shown as 2125 South Prospect, Porterville, California. The informant was Velma Powell, his daughter, and she was shown as having the same address.

(Research):Census Information:

1930 Census
Oklahoma, Grady County, Chandler
Strong, Earl D. Head R 10 M W ww M 23 Ok Oh Tx Laborer Dair
y
Strong, Willie J Wife H F w 29 M 19 Tx Ms Ill. None Strong, Joel F Son M w 10 S Ok Ok Tx
Strong, Lee E Son M W 8 S Ok Ok Tx
Strong, Zelma Daug F W 7 S Ok Ok Tx
Strong, Roland Son M W 4 S Ok Ok Tx
Strong, Velma Dau F W 1 3/12 Ok Ok TX
Strong, Agnes I Niece F w 22 D 21 Ok Tx Ms Waitress Hotel
Strong, Peggy L Grandniece F W 4/12 S Ok Ok Ok

(Medical):Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Earl married Willie Jane Jones in Texas. Willie was born on 7 Apr 1901 in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas; died on 25 Jan 1982 in Porterville, Tulare County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

STRONG WILLIE JANE 04/07/1901 HALL JONES F TEXAS TULARE 01/25/1982 555-16-0780

She was legally blind.

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,