1. According to family information, Martha's husband left her and their son, John Daniel, with Martha's sister and brother-in-law, Lillie & Allen G. Hightower
2. Barnett gave his daughter, Martha, 192 acres of land. It is written; "...for consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and bear to my daughter Martha Derrough, wife of J. M. Durrough: and also for the further consideration of one Dollar to me in hand paid...". The record is dated 18 Jul 1868.
3. After Martha passed away, Lillie and Allen adopted the boy.
4. He is shown on the 1880 Census with the Hightowers....
5. Source: Peggy Loar & Col. Huggins
1. Alternate place of birth: Erath County, Texas.
1. Strain H. Armstrong wrote the following: George was raised in Mt. Holly, AR. He and William D. Strain (Alexander Strain's brother) joined the Mt. Holly Presbyterian Church on the same day, Sept. 5, 1869. He moved to Cross Roads, TX sometime in the late 1870's or ear 1880's. He sent William a letter from Cross Roads dated Jan. 13, 1882 in reference to a letter asking the whereabouts of B. S. This was probably Robert Tate Strain, William's cousin from Fairfield, TX. (Robert, also known as cousin Bob, was the son of Dr. William D. Strain, Alexander Strain's daddy's brother). In the letter he also states that "your connection here are all well'. It is known that Williams brother, Samuel D. Strain, Jr. is in Cross Roads at this time. Samel D. had sent a letter to William's wife, Bettie, a month earlier dated Dec 9, 1882. It is said that George moved his drug store from Cross Roads to Frost after the railroad was build thus becoming the first drug store there. Records show that on June 23, 1886, G. P. Utley sold J. A. H. Strain (Alexander H. Strain) 43-3/4 acres of land located in the F. Grimes Survey near the town of Cross Roads. George P. Utley and his wife Hatie are shown on the 1900, Navarrro Co., TX Census with their three children living next to or "down the road" from his Mother, Mary Jane, and his stepfather, Nathan Hollingsworth. The marriage license for George and Hatie was issued Sept. 25, 1887 in Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX and is recorded in Book 5, page 376. I have the original copy.
-Strain H. Armstrong-
1. Elah is listed on the 1880 Census as Ela.
2. Elah and Nathan (Nate) moved to Bosque County, Texas, and later to Lubbock, Texas.
3. Source: Navarro County Hist., Vol II, page 293.
4. Source for marriage: Peggy Loar and Katherine Long.
1. John & Mary's marriage is recorded in Book C, page 366B in the Union County, Arkansas, Courthouse, however, the page was torn out and only the corner of the page with the page number was stuffed back into the book.
-Strain H. Armstong-
1. The following is a letter written by Mary J. McRae, William D. Strains sister, to him, Will, (William D) and his wife Bettie. Mary lived in Mount Holly and Will lived in Rose Bud. The letter, in part, is in response to some letters her son, Willie, had received from them telling of the dath of their baby. We know that they had lost a son, Charlie Clifton Strain, who was born July 29, 1887 and died at a very early age. However, Mary indicates in her letter that they have now lost more than one child. The child that she is referring to is probably William D. Strain, Jr. who was born Dec. 9, 1888. Mary's letter shows us her strong faith in God and at the same time gives us a thumbnail sketch of what was going on in Mount Holly at that time.
Mt. Holly, Aug. 29th, 1890
Dear Will & Bettie,
Willie received your letters a few days since giving us the sad news of your dear baby's death. I sympathize with you so much in your sad affliction. Although God in His goodness has spared me this trial yet I know it must be hard to give up one so dear, but you know that your darlings are safe, they are in better care than your own as tenderly you loved them, they cannot come to you but you can each go to them, your separation will not be long. Life is buta short path that leads to a ever ending eternity. It is a sweet thought to me amid the trials of this life that it will not last long. Her we have no abiding ( ), but through faith in Christ we know when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved we leave a house not made with hands eternal and in the heavens. Bettie you Will read together the (15th) fifteenth chapter of 1st Cornithians, it is full of consolation.
Mrs. Chester died on the 9th of May she never recoved in any way, she did not seem to recognize any one but Dr. C. Mr.Washington McRae died on the 9th of March, and some time the 1st of June Mr. Henry Lewis died. The older members of our community are passing away rapidly.
Addie Parker was married on the 19th of June to Dave Eaglton, a surprize to almost every one, but it was a complete love match and has been on ( ) for sometime. Dave is a professor in the Austin College in Sharman, Texas. He is real nice worldly fellow and it is a forgone conclusion that they have done well and will continue to do so. Mr. Eagleton performed the ceremony and spent two weeks in the neighborhood beforehand. Stayed with us part of the time and was just the best jolliest - old man I ever saw, will be so glad if he will come again. Mrs. Eagleton came to the wedding but she went back the next day. Exile is married too. Mr. Eagleton is highly pleased with the lady he married she is Miss Emma Abernathy.
We have a tip top shcool here now and all our children are going except Johnie. We started him and he got sick and concluded to keep him 'till cool weather. He is a feeble little fellow any way but does learn so fast and likes to go. Mr. Hammock is decidedly the best dicciplinarian we hve ever had and he and his wife are the best teachers ( ) I ever knew. Mrs. Hammolck teaches music. Mamie and Lizzie are taking lessons and are going right ahead with their music. They are kept busy day and night. Willie has a cotton patch and his cotton is beginning to open. He will have to gather that it has been so dry that crops are cut short. Corn in this immediate region is as good as it can be, we haven't had rain enough to bring turnips, we have a few vegetables in the garden.
I haven't heard from any of our brothers or sistes in so long time they are poor hands to write and it seems that it is a task for me to write, when the children are here they keep so mush noise at night and I am kept pretty busy all day that I do not write enough to keep in practice. I have just read this letter over and found ever so many mistakes but maybe you can make it out. Will, if you don't mind you will stay away so long as long as you did before. I wish so much that you could come and bring Bettie and the children. If you would move back I think you would have beter health. There has been very little sickness here this summer. Dr. Chester does all the practice here and he gets two or three calls a week. We are poor but healthy. Bettie write to me and get Will to write. Willie will answer your letters soon. He says he loves his uncles better than any body. Write soon.
Love to all, Your loving sister, Mary McRae
P. S. Agnes I am going to write you a long letter in a few days. Please write to me again. I do love your letters. Ada write to me dear don't wait for you old auntie for she doesn't write often.
Lovingly, Mary McRae
NOTE: Mary refers to her children as: Manie is her daughter, Mary age 16, Willie is here son William E. who is 14, and Lizzie her 11 year old daughter. Agnes and Ada referred to in the postscript are two of Robert Tate Strain's daughters that are living with Will and Bettie.
1. Harvey L. Ross was a missionary to Mexico. Source: Master's Thesis by Juanita Green, entitled The History of Union County, Arkansas, page 26.
2. Mother gave me a picture of a nice looking family. The picture had belonged to her Daddy, Alexander H. Strain. She said she didn't know anything about them except that they were her cousins from Arkansas and that they were missionaries. The picture was taken in a studio in Fordyce, Ark. On the back of the frame was, "Mr. and Mrs. Ross and their family". It was not until I received the copy of the above thesis was I able to determine who was in the picture. It is a picture of Harvey L. Ross, his wife Elizabeth McRae, and their five children. Elizabeth's Mother, Mary J. StrainMcRae and Alexander H. Strain were brother and sister.
-Strain H. Armstrong-
Thanks to:Kathy Davis
P. O. Box 94
Mt. Holly, AR 71758
1. Augustus enlished in 1861 in Civil War as Confederate Soldier in Co. "H" 3rd Arkansas Cavalry as a Sergeant, served 15 months, and was discharged as a Private because of a disability.
2. At the age of 23 or 24, he was living with his sister, Adaline Margaret Scott and her family in Ouachita County, Arkansas, where he was employed as a clerk for James S. Elliott, a retail merchant. Mr. Elliott was Adaline's husband.
3. He was a farmer, Democrat, Missionary Baptist, and a Mason.
4. In 1911 when the Confederate Census was obtained, he resided in McKamie, Arkansas.
Sarah "Sallie" Elizabeth STRAIN
1. Source: Bond For Marriage License, Book E, page 175.
Marriage License & Certificate of Marriage, Book E, page 175.2. Sallie was the second wife of Augustus Owen Scott.
3. The 1880 Arkansas Census shows 3 children, Effie P., Era A. and Augustus. These children were from Augustus' first wife, Sarah F. Key, who joined the Frost Presbyterian Church in April 1894.
4. On Sept 15, 1895, Sarah Elizbeth Strain Scott was admitted to the Terrell State School with a diagnosis of a form of insanity, dememtia epileptica. She was admitted from Navarro County and the contact was A. H. "Strange" from Frost, Texas. (Her brother). Lucy Rowena "Sitter" Gallman remembers that Sarah sewed while in the hospital, and her family had a quilt made by her. Sarah died on 24 Nov 1922 after suffering one week from acute dysentary.
5. Sammie Strain Armstrong was Sarah's niece and was only about 6 years old when Sarah died. Sammie said she didn't remember much about her, only that she didn't live in Frost and that her daddy (A. H. Strain) had her body brought back to Frost and buried her in the Strain Plot in the Frost Cemetery.
1. Samuel received $50.00 from his father's estate...receipt dated August 1913, is from Ardmore, Oklahoma.
2. Ruby Jewell "Scottie" Scott Wright states that Samuel Jack Scott never married.