Mary J. Stockbridge

Notes:

Mary and her sister Celia Stockbridge were both Schoolteachers. They were homesteaders on adjacent plots of land in Olustee, Greer (now Jackson) County, O.T. They built a cabin across the property line, which they shared. In fact their dining room table was directly over their property line.

After her marriage to Ralph, they moved to the New Mexico Territory. She remained there after his death. At the time of the 1930 census, she was still in Roosevelt County, Precinct 24, ED 27 and listed as: Mrs. R.B. Strong O $800 F W 72 Wd 49 Va Maine TN

When Charles Strong visited Roosevelt County, New Mexico in October, 2000, he met J.T. and Lilly Belle Toombs of Pep, New Mexico. Both of them remembered Mary Strong. In fact, they still had a book they had received as a gift from her. The book was titled "One Hundred and One Famous Poems" an anthology compiled by Roy J. Cook. It had a copyright date of 1929, and was inscribed "From Mrs. R.B. Strong To J.T. Toombs April 24, 1937."

She apparently moved back to Oklahoma shortly after this, as the history of Roosevelt County New Mexico indicates she died in Praire Hill, Oklahoma. This is approximately five miles north of Creta, Oklahoma. Her certificate of death shows she actually died in Olustee, and was buried in Prarie Hill. The informant was Mrs. R.F. Mitchell (her sister Celia). The certificate of death also shows she was born in Virginia. Mary's early reponse to the federal census instead has her place of birth as Tennessee. Charles Strong spoke to Darline Irby, who has records of Jackson County cemeteries. She said that Mary was not buried in Prairie Hill, but rather in Erin Cemetery, located 2 miles north and 2 and 1/2 miles west of Olustee, OK.

Mary married Ralph Brainerd Strong on 3 Mar 1907 in Greer County, Oklahoma. Ralph (son of David Brainerd Strong and Leanora Arline Sherman) was born on 18 May 1857 in Bristol Township, Trumbull County, Ohio; died on 20 Apr 1929 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Application For Marriage License from the Territory of Oklahoma, Greer County for Ralph B. Strong of Geronomo, Comanche County, Territory of Oklahoma, age 51 years and born in Ohio; and Miss Mary J. Stockbridge of Olustee, Greer County, Territory of Oklahoma, age 48, and born in Tennessee. The couple was married by W.A. Nash, Clergyman of Creta in Greer County, Oklahoma Territory on the 3rd day of March A.D. 1907 in the presence of J. M. Stockbridge and Frank Mitchell of Creta. Witnesses who signed the license were H.H. Duncan and D.A. Shaw.

Notes:

The "Early Settlers of Roosevelt County, New Mexico" notes that he was married first to Sarah Fellows.

Ebenezer Stockbridge was a minister for 30 years and was head of Holston College near Knoxville, Tennessee. (Early Settlers of Roosevelt County, New Mexico, pg 98)

Ebenezer married Mary C. Goodin before 1857. Mary was born on 5 May 1828 in Virginia; died on 18 Oct 1889 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]