Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

John Ralph Strong, 86, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Graveside funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022 at the Duncan Cemetery with Rev. David Galletly, and arrangements have been entrusted to the family care of Carter-Smart Directors.

Family visitation will be Thursday evening April 7, 2022 at the Carter-Smart Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

John was born June 16, 1935 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) Strong. He attended Duncan Public Schools, where he participated in Choir, and graduated in 1954. He joined the U.S. Air Force in June of that year and served until May 1968. After his military service he worked for Halliburton, Texas Instruments, and retired from Duncan Public Schools after working as a janitor at Woodrow Wilson Elementary for many years. He married Brenda Cole in 1979. They had two children, Carrie and Taylor. He was a practical man and was excellent at mechanical repair. In his younger years he was an avid fisherman, spending hours at the lake. He was above all. though a voracious reader and history buff, and was passionate about subjects he studied. He was also a lover of classical music. During his military service and after, he was fortunate to work and travel all over the glob and always had an interesting story to share. These stories about his travels helped instill his love of history and the arts in his children.

He was preceded death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

John is survived by his wife; Brenda of the home, daughter; Carrie and her husband Andy Walters, son; Taylor and his wife Catherine Strong, two grandchildren, Edward and Anne Strong, and three brothers; Bill, Tom and Paul David Strong and numerous nieces and nephews.

https://www.cartersmartfuneralhome.com/obituary/John-Strong

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Homer was born in a Leap Year's day, February 29, 1908. He used March 1 as his "official" birthday, however, so he could celebrate it each year instead of only once every four years.

He was eight when his mother died, and twelve when his father remarried. Neither Homer nor Barney were pleased with their new step-mother, Stella Crouch. They left home around 1925, and went to Portales, New Mexico, to live with their Uncle Rolla Strong. They grew enough beans and maize to feed the horses, and lived on Rolla's $17 a month pension from the Navy. They also spent sometime with their grandfather, Ralph, at his Ranch in nearby Pep.

In 1927, Homer moved back to Duncan, Oklahoma to be closer to his parents. He worked for a cotton gin. In 1929, he went to live with his Uncle Alois Soukup in Prague, Oklahoma. His Uncle died in an explosion while trying to rechannel a creek. Homer and a friend were in the creek setting the dynamite, while Alois on the bank putting in the fuses. Homer lost the hearing in one ear as a result of this explosion. After his Uncles death, he returned to Duncan. This is where he met his wife, Anna Laura at a dance. At the time of the 1930 census, he was a boarder with the Elmer Michels family in Duncan.

1930 census
Stephens Co. OK King Twp., Duncan city ED 69-28
Sheet 3A & 3B
1210 Spruce
69/70 Michels, Elmer A. and family
Strong, Homer R., boarder, MW 21 S OK US US

At the time, Homer was painting signs for Fuzzy Carter, at his sign company. Bill and Charles Strong both caddied for Fuzzy years later, when they were teenagers. Fuzzy had a sing up during WWII that said, in one continuous statement, "Quityourdamnbellyachingandbuymorewarbonds." This sign was on the side of the Palace Theatre. In 1936, Homer went to work for Coca Cola for $15 a week, painting signs. It was during the depression and work was scare. Roonie recounts that one day they simply ran out of food. Their eldest son was just an infant. Roonie said all they had in the house was one heal end of a loaf of bread. She borrowed a spoonful of syrup from their neighbor, and put that on the bread for Charles. She and Homer did without that day. Although there were many other days that food and money were very sparse, that was the only day they did totally without.

Homer was drafted in 1943, and helped train men at Fort Sill. He was discharged as a Sergeant First Class on March 15, 1949, and forever after was known by his nickname "Sarg." He was a Radio Repairman (Instructor) 8648, and eventually was in charge of the radio repair school at Fort Sill. Charles Strong notes that Homer's being drafted was what brought the family out of poverty and put them on the road to economic stability.

Homer went back to Coca Cola after the war, and then to Halliburton. He worked for Halliburton from 1951 to 1972. He was a sign painter and worked in their carpentery shop.

His military records show that he completed 8 years of Grammer School, but did not attend High School. His wife Roonie recounted that Homer was always a bit defensive about his lack of a formal education. He worked hard later in his life to make up for this. He read extensively, and took continuing education courses in subjects such as Spanish. He loved music, and had a wide collection of tapes, ranging from country and western to Spanish Flamenco to opera. Although he had no training in music, he would write out the scores of his favorite songs by listening to them over and over again, recreating them on his keyboard, and then writing them out. He also loved to do the daily crossword puzzle, in pen. After they retired, he and Roonie were able to travel to Europe, where they stayed where they visited their son Bill, who was stationed in Germany.

Homer's obituary in the Duncan, Oklahoma newspaper read as follows:

H.R. "Sarg" Strong, 82, 1806 Birch, died Wednesday, September 19, 1990, in a Duncan hospital. A Rosary will be at 7:30 pm Friday in the Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel. Service will be at 10 am Saturday in Assumption Catholic Church with Father Paul Gillespie officiating. Burial will be in Duncan cemetery.

Mr. Strong was born March 1, 1908 in Lawton. He was retired from Halliburton Services, and a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1943 to 1948. He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church. On October 23, 1931 (sic), he married Anna L. Payne in Waurika.

Survivors include his wife of the home; five sons, Charles Strong of Edinburg, Texas, Bill Strong of Yukon, John Strong of Duncan, Tom Strong of Phoenix, Arizona and Paul David Strong of Santa Barbara, California; two daughters, Caroline Brasher of Duncan and Theresa Rutledge of Austin; four brothers Barnie Strong of Gainesville, Texas and Bob Strong, Cecil Lewis and Jack Strong, all of Lawton; a sister Viola Weaver of Gainesville; 23 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. (Note: at the time, Homer actually had 22 grandchildren and nine great granchildren). Bearers will be grandsons.

Don Grantham Funeral Homes, Duncan, Oklahoma.

(Medical):AB Blood type

Homer married Anna Laura Payne on 23 Feb 1932 in Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Anna (daughter of Thomas Hamilton Payne, II and Bessie Bird Gentry) was born on 23 Oct 1913 in Arthur, Parks Township, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was christened on 23 Dec 1922 in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 15 Sep 2004 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 18 Sep 2004 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Member of the Chickasaw Nation. Her father, Thomas Hamilton Payne (Original Enrollee #3686) was a Chickasaw by blood.

It is believed she was named after the popular Scottish Folk ballad, Annie Laurie. Her nickname, "Roonie" was also a product of popular culture, based on the Little Annie Rooney comic strip that ran during the depression.

Anna Laura was baptized in 1922, her sponsors being her Aunt and Uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Sparks. According to a brochure from the Church of the Assumption, Duncan, commemorating Religious Heritage Day on Sunday, June 28, 1992, "Both sides of Anna Laura (Roonie) Strong's family history intertwines in their settlement of Duncan before the 1900's. Her Uncle John and Aunt Annie Sparks O'Neil's home, presently the Phil Leonard home, was used regularly for masses before the first church was built in 1909. Roonie attended the first parochial school, "Joan of Arc", which had been built by one of the outstanding parish priests, Fr. J.A. Garvey, and run by Sisters of Divine Providence."

After their father left home, Bessie had trouble making enough money to support her family. When Anna Laura was 15, she and Fay were sent to Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. Anna Laura remembers the long train ride being frightening. Although the distance from Duncan to Purcell was not particulary long, it was a freight train and made numerous long stops. It was very late at night before they finally arrived, and they had long since finished the sack lunch their mother had made them. Lois joined them at the school when she was old enough. Both Anna Laura and Faye graduated from St. Elizabeth's. Lois returned to Duncan to live with Anna Laura, and she graduated from Duncan High School.

Anna Laura's graduation was on the 26 of May in 1931. Her diploma was signed by Rev. Jacques Van Castel, Sister Adelhelma, Sister Theresa and Sister Lena. The nuns were members of the Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Lena had arrived at St. Elizabeth between 1889 and 1890.

Sisters Adelhelma and Lena were from Germany. Sister Lena worked in the kitchen and Roonie had been assigned to help her. She recalls the day Sister Lena accidentally dropped her rosary while cooking and loudly proclaimed, "Mein Lord and Mein Gott! I dropped my Jesus in the Soup." Sister Lena presented this same rosary to Anna Laura as a graduation gift, in memory of the work and faith they had shared. An article about the history of this school is contained under the "research" tab of these notes.

When Roonie's children were all school age, she returned to work. She was the head cook at first the parochial school in Duncan, and later at Duncan Junior High School. She held this position for approximately 20 years.

Roonie and her sisters Fay and Lois remained close friends throughout their adult lifes, often traveling together.

The Duncan Banner, Sept. 16, 2004 Anna Laura 'Roonie' Payne Strong

Anna Laura "Roonie" Payne Strong, 90, of Duncan, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in her home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Assumption Catholic Church with the Rev. Victor John officiating. Burial will be in Duncan City Cemetery, under direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home.

A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel. Roonie was born Oct. 23, 1913, in Alma (sic) to Thomas H. and Bessie Gentry Payne. She married Homer Richard Strong on Oct. 23, 1931 (sic), in Waurika. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1990.

Roonie was a graduate of St. Elizabeth's Academy in Purcell in 1931. She later attended Duncan Business School. She was employed by the Duncan Public School System for 28 years before retiring.

She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir for 60 years and was a member of the Ladies' Altar Society. She was also a member of the Fatima Study Club and was a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother.

Survivors include five sons and spouses: Charles and Pat Strong of Edinburg, Texas, Bill and Betty Strong of Yukon, Tom and Vickie Strong of Laveen, Ariz., and John and Brenda Strong, and Paul David and Jane Strong, all of Duncan; a daughter, Caroline Brasher of Duncan; a sister, Lois Marie Payne Hanna of Oklahoma City; 22 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Theresa Marie Rutledge; a great-granddaughter, Alexandra Kathrine Brasher in 1994; and a sister, Fay Pierce Yeager. Bearers will be her grandsons.Memorial contributions may be made to Chisholm Trail Hospice, P.O. Box 2000, Duncan, OK 73534-2000.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

(Research):BELOW IS A TRANSCRIPTION OF AN ARTICLE ABOUT ST. ELIZABETH'S ACADEMY

A PIONEER PASSES
By Mary Jo Turner
Sunday, August 15, 1948
The Daily Oklahoman
D-Three

Purcell, Aug. 14-Historic St. Elizabeth's convent, which for 60 years played a vital part in cultural development of Indian territory and early growth and education of Oklahoma, is closing its doors September 1 for lack of funds.

Founded in February, 1888, one year before Oklahoma was opened to settlement and barely a year after Purcell was established as a junction point on the Santa Fe, it is one of Oklahoma's most famous old schools.

The spacious, roomy, two-storied frame building, set in a grassy plot with a peaceful background of slender poplars, elms and cedars, is still a thing of considerable beauty. For many years it was the only educational landmark in an unsettled area, and the sight of students playing about its grounds, supervised by the black-robed nuns, against the bright southwestern skies, has become familiar to nearly all Oklahomans who have lived here any length of time.

When St. Elizabeth's convent was founded, in 1888, Purcell was a part of the Chickasaw nation of the old Indian territory, and the gateway to the great ranching empire which lay to the west and south. The country then was all pastureland, heavily wooded and a ranch of 10,000 to 20,000 acres was commonplace. Most of the settlers were Chickasaws, but here were also Choctaw families, and a good many white settlers. All were eager to send their children to school and the news that St. Elizabeth's convent had opened in Purcell was welcomed far and wide. Families packed their children and brought them to board and room at the convent, or if there was no space there, boarded them in homes and they attended day school.

Three eager young nuns, all now dead, of the Order of St. Francis, made their way west from Philadelphia and arrived in Purcell on Feb. 14, 1888. They were the late Sister Barbara, Sister Mary Joachim and Sister Patricia. At the time there was under construction a three-room frame building on the same lot where the Benedictine priests had built a one-room church. Sunday services were conducted in the church which on week days was converted into two school rooms by hanging a heavy carpet to form a partition. In one room a Miss Fritch taught the boys, whil in the other room Sister Mary Patricia taught the girls. By November, however, the new three-room frame building was completed and enrolment consisted of 120 pupils. Ages of these pupils ranged from 6 to 18 years. Soon, there were 25 boarders, then 50. The one-room frame building was used for boys.

Money for the grounds, buildings and teachers was paid for by Miss Katherine Drexel of the wealthy Philadelphia Drexel family. She had become interested in educating the Indians through the efforts of Father Vincent Jolly, O.S.B., who taught at the Sacred Heart academy situated in unsettled wilderness in what is now Pottawatomie county. Father Jolly, accompanied by Father William Capital, took turns in coming to Purcell to hold services. Father Jolly told Miss Drexel of the Indian boys and girls who needed educational opportunities, and described the great wilderness, which pioneers were still to conquer. One church was unable to bear the expense. But Miss Drexel could and did for 60 years.

Miss Drexel furnished money for the grounds, buildings and early support, and a new building site was selected in 1891 by the Very Rev. Ignatius Jean, Benedictine priest, while Rev. F. Steven, director of the Indian bureau, gave the plans of the building to Miss Drexel. At her instigation, Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia designated the Sisters of St. Francis of the Philadelphia Foundation, Mother House in Glen Riddle, Pa., to take charge of the mission. Miss Drexel also offered to pay of the sister's support.

In an area known as Love's pasture, named for the late Robert Love, Purcell's founder, who proved to be very helpful to the new school, ground was broken and the building erected which still stands today. On the second floor near the chapel is a bronze plaque dedicated to the founder, the late Father Vincent Jolly.

In the summers of 1889 and 1890, three more sisters, Sister Valentine, Sister Lena, and Sister Ludemiller joined the little bands of nuns and in 1891, Sister Mary Teresa, who is now the only one of the early group left, came to teach.

Sister Teresa, now the Sister Superior of St. Elizabeth's convent, is 80. She is small of stature, being only 4 feet 9 inches in height and is slender and frail. Born in Philadelphia Ja. 29, 1868, she was an only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Caterson, also natives of Philadelphia. In May, 1888, she took her vows at Our Lady of Angels convent at Glen Riddle, Pa., and taught one year in Wilmington, Pa. The death of her mother the next year left her free for her appointment ot the new convent in the Indian territory. On the way to the new town of Purcell, she has two companions, twos sisters who were going to the missions near Pawhuska in the Osage nation. She she came alone from St. Louis and arrived at Purcell on Sept. 4, 1891, just in time to see the ground being broken for the present site.

Government support by which the Indian girls' tuition was paid in part by the government was withdrawn in 1932......(Causing the sisters) to run the institution on practically no income except from Miss Drexel. For some time the sisters kept the girls without government aid from their own slender resources as teachers. Continued maintenance was impossible during these depressing days. This meant that the girls representing the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee and Pottawatomie tribes as well as others in all probability would be deprived of an eduation.

However, through the mediation of George C. Wells, at that time supervisor of Indian education, Oklahoma district, and Chief Dwight, chief of the Choctaw nation, a contract of 10 was received. But things have changed during the "war" years. There is a scarcity of teachers and enrollment is down. All in all, it seemed best to close the doors.

So historic St. Elizabeth is closing its doors. And good little Sister Superior Teresea will teach no more. She will take a long rest. She would like to spend the rest of her life in Purcell but will go where the church decrees.

(Medical):mtDNA Results (based on test of a child of Anna Laura PAYNE, a direct female descendant of Mary Richardson).

Your Haplogroup and mutations relative to the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS) are shown below. A value of CRS indicates no mutations. High resolution (HVR2) results are shown only if you have requested the mtDNAPlus or mtDNA Refine test. If you ordered a Mega mtDNA the Coding Region (CR) will be displayed below.

As you go through your mtDNA results, we strongly encourage you to read the ?u?mtDNA Results Tutorial ?/u? that we have put together in the form of frequently asked questions about mtDNA results.
HVR1 Haplogroup J

HVR1 differences from ?u?CRS
?/u?16069T
16126C
16209C
16265G
16319A

?b?Haplogroup Description?/b? J* Specific mitochondrial haplogroups are typically found in different regions of the world, and this is due to unique population histories. In the process of spreading around the world, many populations-with their special mitochondrial haplogroups-became isolated, and specific haplogroups concentrated in geographic regions. Today, we have identified certain haplogroups that originated in Africa, Europe, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, the Americas, and even particular ethnic groups. Of course, haplogroups that are specific to one region are sometimes found in another, but this is due to recent migration. The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J* -the root lineage of haplogroup J-is found distributed throughout Europe, but at a relatively low frequency. Haplogroup J* is generally considered one of the prominent lineages that was part of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe from the Near East beginning approximately 10,000 years ago.

Notes:

Married:
Marriage Record No. 10 Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma Between H.R. Strong, age 23 of Duncan, Oklahoma and Anna Laura Payne age 18 of Duncan, Oklahoma. Married by J.H. Harper, County Judge in the presence of Geo. Taber of Waurika, Oklahoma and H.B. Longest of Waurika, Oklahoma

Notes:

Walter's middle name, Winfield, does not appear to be a family name. It is assumed that he was named in honor of General Winfield Scott.

In 1907, Walter was living in Comanche County, Oklahoma (Source: Estate Settlement of Mash & Eliza J. Hall). As he and Tessie Soukup were married sometime before 1908, this is presumably where they met.

According to the June 18, 1908 WALTERS (Oklahoma) JOURNAL, "Walter Strong who worked at the barber trade last fall, but who for some time has been in Lawton and Temple has returned to Walters and is at work for E.J. Blair, proprietor of Modern Barber Shop." Walter was mentioned again in the April 1, 1909 issue of THE NEW ERA, "Walter Strong and family left here about two weeks ago to visit relatives in Prague, Oklahoma. They have decided to locate there." Charles Strong located the family in the 1910 Prague, Oklahoma telephone directory, published March 24, 1910. The residential phone number of Walter Strong was 89. It appears that there were 148 phone numbers assigned to both residents and businesses at the time.

At the time of the 1910 Federal Census, he and Tessie were living at 13th and Broadway, Creek Township, Prague City, Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

Tessie died when she was only 29 of what her family called "kidney poisoning." It may have been complication from the birth of her twin sons five months earlier.

After Tessie died, Walter moved to Iowa City, Wichita County, Texas. Iowa City was west of Wichita Falls, and on the Burlington Northern Rail line. He was living in a boarding house, on Block M, owned by Dale and Vivian Pierce from Iowa. Many of the lodgers in the house worked as Oil Field Laborers. Walter's occupation was listed as Barber. Presumably he had more customers, and could make more money, near Wichita Falls than he could have made by remaining in Lawton. He was listed on the 1920 Federal Census, enumerated in January 1920, as Walter Strawn (sic), Lodger, M W, 38, Wd, Texas, Ohio, Missouri Barber Barber Shop. He was listed immediately following a 19 year old Roy D. West, born in Mississippi, who was a bookkeeper at a bank. This does not appear to be his future step-son, as the age and place of birth are different. Also living in the boarding home with him was 24 year old John R. McLEMORE. In an amazing coincidence, meaning absolutely nothing, Walter's great grandson, Tom STRONG, would some sixty years later marry Roy McLemore's half first cousin, twice removed, Melinda McLEMORE.

Homer, Viola and Barney were temporarily cared for by a woman they called "Grandma Dominic." As far as anyone knows, she was not a relative. They can be found in her home, listed as boarders, at the time of the 1920 census.

Walter's youngest son, Jack, was very ill after his mother died, and was taken in by Walter's Aunt, Rosetta Hall.

Walter apparently moved back to Oklahoma shortly after the 1920 census, as he an Stella Crouch were married in Grady county in June 1920. Stella had two sons from previous marriages, Roy WEST and Cecil Afton LEWIS.

Barney remembers going to first grade in Bison, Garfield County, Oklahoma shortly after his father remarried Stella. There is a picture of Viola, Homer, Barney, Cecil and Roy, in the possession of both the Lewis and Strong families, that was taken in Bison. All the boys are in ties except Homer. Cecil obviously borrowed an adult's tie, and Barney remembers his tie being tucked in. Barney also remembers playing baseball in Bison, and scarring his leg badly on a broken snuff jar after one game. Homer recalls also living the city of Waukomis, near Bison.

Stella and Walter later had another son, Robert Henry Strong. They lived on a farm near Wellston.

At the time of the 1930 census, the family was living in the 2nd Ward, King Township, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma.

(Research):

Census Information:

1910 Census
Oklahoma, Lincoln County, Prague
#12-13
Strong, Walter Head M W 29 M1 4 Texas Ohio Mo Eng Laborer
Strong, Terrisha WIfe F W 24 M1 4 Nebrasak Aust Aust Eng Mo
ther of 3 children, 2 of whom were still living
Strong, Homer son M w 2 Ok Tx Neb
Strong, Viola dau F w 9/12 Ok Tx Neb
Strong, Richard (sic) M w 15 S Tx Oh Mo Eng Laborer<---Walter's brother Rolla
Johns, Mary ??? F w 15 Ark Ark Ark Eng servant

1920 Census
Oklahoma, Comanche County, Lawton Township, Ward 5, Precinct 1 310
Park Avenue #113-125
Dominick, Agnes Head F W 51 Dv 1872 Nat. England England England
Dominick, Edna Mae Dau F W 24 Single Texas New York England Clerk Dept Store
Clift, W.H. Boarder M W 48 Wd Ark Tenn Tenn Gen. Man. City
Clift, Charles H Boarder M W 16 S Okl Ark TN
Strong, Homer Boarder M W 11 S Ok Unknown/US Unknown/US
Strong, Viola Mae Boarder F W 9 S Ok Unknown/US Unknown/US
Strong, Brunurd Boarder M W 6 S Ok Uknown/US Unknown/US
Williamson, Maria Boarder F W 29 Illinois Iowa Illinois
Williamson, Lucille Boarder F W 7 Illinois England Illinois
Note: Walter was working in Wichita County, Texas, and boarding there. Youngest son Jack was living with his great-aunt, Rosetta Neill in Harmon County, Oklahoma.

1930 Census
Oklahoma, Stephens County, Duncan, King Twp, 2nd Ward
1509 Cedar
#6-6 Strong, Walter W Head Rents $15 month no radio M W 48 Married age 37 Texas Ohio Texas Barber Barbershop Employed not a veteran
--------- , Stella Wife F W 36 Married age 26 Texas Texas Texas
West, Roy N Step-son M W 19 S Oklahoma TX TX Painter General Building
Lewis, Cecil E Step-son M W 17 S Oklahoma TX TX Waiter Cafe
Strong, Robert H son M W 5 S Oklahoma TX TX
Crouch, Henry J father-in-law M W 73 Widower TX South Carolina TX

(Medical):artherio sclerostic heart disease (5 years)

Walter married Terezie Rose "Tessie" Soukup on 4 Aug 1907 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. Terezie (daughter of Frantisek "Frank" M. Soukup and Anna Beznoska) was born on 4 Jun 1886 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 3 Jun 1916 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma; was buried in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her first name may actually have been Tereza/Theresa.

The information below was acquired by Charles Strong September 1999. This information is from the Lawton, Oklahoma Genealogy Library located in the public library.

Article from Lawton Constitution June 5, 1916

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR Mrs. Strong

Funeral services for Mrs. Watler (sic) Strong, age 29 years, who died Saturday afternoon at the hospital at 4 o'clock, were held yesterday afternoon at the Beal Heights Presbyterian church, Rev. J. W. Moseley, pastor of the church officiating. Interment was made in the Lawton cemetery.

The deceased is survived by a husband and four children, Homer, 8; Viola May 6; Branyard, 2; and Jack, 5 months; a father, Frank Socket (sic) of Junction City; 2 sisters, Mrs. Geo. Errett (sic), of Prague, Okla. And Mrs. Anna Hooker of Tinney, Okla.; four brothers in Milligan, Neb., one at Prague and one at Junction City.

Notes:

Married:
Married by Oliver R. Land, Minister of the first Congregational Church of Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory. Witnesses were Harry Soukup and Mrs. S.G. Royl. She was listed as Tessa on the marriage license.

Rhodene Frederick found the following burial records for Highland Cemetery in Lawton:

Strong, Tessie R., b. 1886, d. Jun 3, 1916, 30y, NE-Frank Sankeans (sic)
Strong, Walter W., b. 1881, d. Apr 4, 1961, 80y, TN-Ralph Strong

Notes:

Thomas's mother died when he was just three months old. His father remarried shortly after he turned six. Sometime after his father's remarriage, Thomas was sent to Decatur, Texas to attend school. His daughter, Anna Laura Payne, believes this school was run by Jesuits. While he was away at school, about six months after his thirteenth birthday, his father died "of a long and lingering illness like consumption." Before he turned 17, Thomas's stepmother died as well. Within the next ten years, both of his younger half-brothers died tragically. In spite of suffering these many significant losses, Thomas was a gregarious and outgoing person with many friends. He loved to hunt and be in the outdoors.

Ken Harvey wrote "Tom was musical and learned to play the piano by ear. He seemed, throughout his life, to have had little sense of responsibility or of time. As a boy he would often disappear and be found, for example, asleep in a field. His father often had to saddle up his horse and go and get him when he was missing from home as a child."

Harvey continued "In the First World War Tommy served in the 90th Division US Army alongside his double cousin Carl. Tommy used to collect enemy arms after a military action, Carl reported, even though he was not allowed to keep them. He could be seen staggering across the battlefield weighed down, dropping a weapon from the pile he clutched when he saw another gun he preferred better. He was a marksman who shot left-handed. He had been excused from further army rifle practice in basic training, and allowed to fire holding the gun as he wished, when it was discovered how accurate his aim was."

Daughter Anna Laura reported that her father did not go oversees until after the Armistice, he was part of the later occupaying forces. She remembers waving to him from the train station as he departed for the service. After he returned from overseas, Thomas resumed his farming and ranching operations in Stephens county.

Charles Strong reports that Tom lost his land in the late 1920's, after the bottom fell out of the cattle market. He had borrowed money against his ranch from a bank in Wichita, Kansas to raise a herd of cattle. A couple of years later, when they had fully matured, he shipped them by freight train to Chicago to be sold. The market crashed, and the sale of his cattle didn't raise enough even to pay the freight charges that were due on his shipment. To avoid foreclosure, Tom arranged to sell his land holdings to Leonard Ketchum. Ketchum paid him a few thousand dollars in cash, and also assumed to notes that were due on the land, a fair and gracious offer that helped keep Tom on his feet.

Tom used this stake to homestead for a while in Wyoming, thinking this would give him a fresh start. He thought it a great adventure. Bessie was horrified. Charles Strong recalls that Bessie's initial impression of the Wyoming homesteads was favorable. She admired both the large screened in porches, and long clothes lines. Her admiration turned to stark terror, however, when she learned that the screened in porches were actually set up so the children had somewhere to play away from the rattlesnakes. She also came to realize that long lines between the homes and barns weren't for clothers. They were set up so that you wouldn't get lost and freeze to death going between your barn and your home in the case of a sudden blizzard. At Bessie's urging, they soon moved back to Oklahoma.

These setbacks eventually became too much for Tom. One day he simply disappeared, leaving Bessie and his children behind. Unbeknownst to them, he moved to California. This is how he was listed at the time of the 1930 Federal Census:

California, Los Angeles, Signal Hill, ED 1509
Taylor, Joseph A Hd M W 40 M @ 25 Calif Ill Ind Assistant Operator Gasoline Plow
Taylor, Mary A Wife F W 45 M @ 30 NY NY Ireland
Crossen, Albert Lodger M W 22 S Cal Cal Iowa Rotary Helper
Stamper, Edgar A Lodger M W 34 S Oklahoma Tenn Iowa Rotary Helper Garlington, Robert Lodger M W 35 D Alabama Georgia Alabama Rotary Helper Price, Sterling Lodger M W 49 M California Missouri Missouri Pumper Harris, Abbot B Lodger M W 31 D Pennsylvania Ireland Nebraska Promoter O&G
PAYNE, THOMAS Lodger M W 37 M @ age 20 Ok Missouri Ok Rotary Helper

The occupations of the lodgers in both the Taylor lodging home, and in the homes of their immediate neighbors, made it clear he was part of the booming oil and gas industry in California. In 1900, the state of California produced 4 million barrels. By 1910, this had jumped to 77 million barrels. In the 1920's three new major fields were discovered in rapid succession - Huntington Beach (1920), Santa Fe Springs (1921), and the biggest of them all, the Signal Hill, where Thomas lived. By April 1922, only 10 months after completion of the discovery well, Signal Hill was covered with 108 wells, producing 14,000 barrels daily. By the fall of 1923, 259,000 barrels of crude was being produced every day from nearly 300 wells. Signal Hill was the biggest field the already productive Southern California region had ever seen....this made California the nation's number-one producing state, and in 1923, California was the source of one-quarter of the world's entire output of oil!

(http://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/signal_hill/signal_hill2.html)

Tom appeared to be in the Long Beach area for well over a decade. In August, 1943, he filed a document with the Long Beach, California Selective Service board. It was a request for permission to depart the United States to visit the country of Alaska, which was not yet a state. He was in the employ of Guy F. Atkinson Co of San Francisco, a heavy construction company. As the nature of his business was listed as "confidential," it is likely he was involved in a civil engineering project in Alaska related to the war effort.

Back home in Oklahoma, in September 1950, his family had him declared legally dead so they could probate his estate and apply for benefits based on his enrollement in the Chickasaw tribe. Daughter Lois Marie Payne was named executor. Because they had not heard from him in over twenty years, they had no idea if he was still living.

Tom remained in the Pacific Northwest after the second World War, working as a civil servant at various Air Force Bases in and around Alaska. When he became terminally ill, the Red Cross reconnected Tom and his family in Oklahoma, via letters, prior to his death.

On the Standard Certificate of Death, State of Oregon, Thomas H. Payne is shown as having died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon on December 12, 1957. His usual residence is shown as Palmer, Alaska, and his usual occupation is shown as Laborer. It appears that his marital status was subject to some question. It looks as if the "divorced" box was originally checked, and then scribbled over. The "married" box is checked, and the name of his spouse is shown as Mrs. Bessie Payne. The date of birth is given as March 20, 1893, and his birthplace is shown as Marlow, Oklahoma. Mother and Father are shown as "unknown." It is noted that he was a Veteran of World War I, and that the information on the death certificate was taken from his VA records. The certificate was signed by W.A Haug, MD, Asst. Pathologist. The funeral director was A.J. Rose and Son of Portland, and the cemetery or crematorium being Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. A telegraph regarding his death was sent the next day to Anna Laura Strong in Duncan.

His gravesite information is below:

PAYNE, THOMAS H PVT US ARMY WORLD WAR I
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/20/1893
DATE OF DEATH: 12/12/1957
BURIED AT: SECTION H SITE 2888 WILLAMETTE NATIONAL CEMETERY

http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/willamette.htm

11800 SE MT. SCOTT BOULEVARD PORTLAND, OR 97266 (503) 273-5250

Anna Laura Strong also received a letter from Mrs. Earle W. Barry, Star Route, Palmer, Alaska some eight months after her father died. She had apparently written Mrs. Barry regarding some trouble they were having in regards to an insurance settlement. Mrs. Barry informed her that she had "never heard him mention a divorce at any time and I believe I would have heard tell about it some time when he was under the influence of liquor. He was in California before he came to Alaska. The boys met him in Amchitka Island that was an Army base, the last was Ladd Field...near Fairbank, before that he was (at) Eidson Base. I am sending some papers that were laying around. Hope they will help you. Tom was a good man. His worst enemy was liquor."

Among Tom's personal effects that were returned to his family were his wallet and four photographs: two of the photos were of co-workers, Lee H. Talley of Iowa and Richard Neal of Missouri; one photo of Tom himself in outdoor gear; and a studio portrait of "Marie and Midge." Richard Neal inscribed his photo, taken at Amchitka Base Headquarters, "To a very good Pal from a Boiler house cook." Marie inscribed her portrait, dated 1944, as well, saying that although it was "not a good picture" of either her or Midge, she thought Tom might wish to cut it down to fit his wallet. He chose to keep it intact.

His brown Norwegian Cowhide wallet contained several money order receipts, a blank check from the First National Bank of Fairbanks, receipts for funds he received as a VA patient in Oregon (claim #1431661), his 1956-1957 Alaska Resident Hunting License, an National Rifle Association of America Membership card, a Veterans of Foreign Wars Ballard Post 3063 card, a membership card from the Ladd AFB Civilian Club of Fairbanks, his U.S. Civil Service Commission retirement card dated May 6, 1957 (#CSA-466-659), his union card from the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 899, a receipt for a .22 caliber rifle, and a business card from the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, based in Philadelphia. On the back of this card was written "Benjamin Constant, Amazona Brasil, S.A.".

A few pieces of correspondence were returned as well. Among these were his 1943 permit to leave the US for Alaska; a 1948 letter from the IRS--mailed to Tom in Seattle--regarding a $32 refund on the 1946 taxes; a "Notification of Personnel Action from Ladd AFB," dated July 8, 1955, showing Tom's change in title from Stationary Boiler Fireman to Heating Equipment Fireman. His grade, WB-54-02-09, and his salary ($2.94 per hour) remained unchanged. Also saved were his separation from duty papers dated 20 May 1957. It showed that he was retiring due to disability, and that his permanent home address would be in care of Earl W. Barry of Palmer, Alaska. A prescription for various drugs to treat his bronchogenic carcinoma was included as well, signed by E. Dank, Capt. USAF, of Todd AFB. He also saved his acceptance as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ironically, his VFW Life Member card (No. 4427), also in his effects, was dated 1-1-1958, two weeks after his death.

These effects, as meager as they seem, were treasured by his daughters, and remained in 2005 in the position of his granddaughter, Lynn (Payne) Moroney of Oklahoma.

He was 1/32 Indian by blood through his mother. He appears as No. 3686 upon the "lists prepared by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the Act of Congress approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stat., 641), of persons entiled to enrollment as citizens by blood of the Chickasaw Nation and approved by the Secretary of the Interior December 12, 1902". Because of this, he was first alloted land when he was only eleven years old in Tishomingo, Indian Territory on July 9, 1904, Section 29, Town IN, Range 5W, 160 acres in total with a value of $1,040. (Cert # 8801, Cert 11253).

Thomas married Bessie Bird Gentry on 27 Dec 1912 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Bessie (daughter of James Edwin Gentry and Elzada Trawick) was born on 14 Dec 1894 in Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; died on 3 May 1958 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When Bessie's husband vanished in the late 1920's, she was left as the sole supporter of their five children. She worked as a housekeeper and seamstress for various families in Duncan, including the Ederington's, who owned the local service station, and for the parish priest. She also had to rely on her and Tom's family for financial assistance. One person who was especially helpful was Tom's first cousin, Annie O'Neill Sparks. Annie was able to help Bessie enroll her older children in nearby Catholic Boarding Academies. These academies had been set up to service the needs of impoverished Native American children. But because Tom was enrolled in the Chickasaw Nation, and Annie was well known in her parish, she was able to help make this happen. Patty Gay, the youngest child, remained with her mother. She was a sickly child, with a congenetial heart defect that led to her early death.

Lynn Moroney told Charles that although Bessie received help from some of her kin, at times was resentful of being the object of their charity. Lynn also related a story that her mother Fay had told her, concerning a different type of charity. Bessie and her children lived for a while in a duplex in Duncan. This duplex had adjoining closets which actually allowed you access to your neighbors living quarters. Bessie's neighbor explained it would be of great service to her if Bessie could "keep her beans from burning" while she was at work each day. She would have a large pot of beans or stew simmering on the stove all day long, and each day Bessie would take one of her children through the closet with her "to stir the beans." She would give the child a small sample of the hot food every time they helped her to stir them, and admonish them to keep this a secret from the other children. The neighbor was fully aware of this, and both she and Bessie kept up the pretense that it was Bessie helping her, and that it wasn't the other way around. The girls compared stories years later, and were each surprised they weren't the only one whose meager lunch was supplemented by hot beans or stew.

After her daughters were grown, Bessie lived with each of them for a time. Charles recalls when she lived with his family in Duncan. He recalls that she was shy to the point of being reculsive, and fearful of many things, most especially of inclement weather. Whenever a storm even threatened, Charles was dispatched to take her to the storm celler, and to remain with her until it was all clear. His younger brother Bill soon discovered Bessie's almost obsessive attention to detail, and took delight in secretly tormenting her. He would turn the telephone in the wrong direction, or slightly tilt pictures and doilies in their home. Bessie would immediately fix things back to way they should be. When she would walk through the room again a few hours later, she would be upset to find everything slightly out of order again, and worriedly set about put things back in order.

Charles Strong reports that as a youngster, he on occasion thought he heard a Payne relation let slip a reference to how "Uncle Tommy" was doing, and immediately change the subject when they realized he was in the room. He suspects that Tom may have been in touch with one of more of his relations back home. If this was so, however, no one shared this information with Bessie or her daughters.

Bessie had an ulcer on her leg that never healed, and after several unsuccessful skin grafts she eventually had to have it amputated, and was give a wooden prosthetic. Her grandchildren were both scared and fascinated by the leg, and hid it from Bessie occasionally to tease her. Charles heard that the leg infection started when she was a young girl, helping her parents in the fields. She would scratch mosquito bites until her legs were raw and ragged. One of the sores became infected with ragweed, and never properly healed. Charles is not sure as to the veracity of this story, and suspects that a genetic skin condition may have contributed to this. He and several of his children and grandchildren also suffer from severe skin allergies which may be related.

FUNERAL IS HELD FOR MRS. BESSIE PAYNE

A native of Alma, Mrs. Bessie Payne, 63, died in a local hospital early Saturday after a two week illness, following a stroke. She had lived in Oklahoma City the past 15 years. Funeral was in the Church of the Assumption Monday morning with Rev. Ferdinand Strasser officiating. Rosary was in Grantham Funeral Home Chapel Sunday afternoon. Burial was in Duncan Cemetery. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Homer Strong, 1806 Birch, and Mrs. Fay Pierce and Mrs. Jim Hanna, both of Oklahoma City; a son, Thomas of Newport Beach, California; two sisters, Mrs. Richard Meeks, 704 No. 2nd, and Mrs. T.M. Goodwin, Belle, California. Five brothers, Al Gentry, 305 South 7th; Delbert Gentry, 516 Pine; Elmer Gentry, west of Duncan; Jess Gentry, Duncan and Lloyd Gentry, Oklahoma City and 13 grandchildren. Bearers were Lucien Haas, I. G. Imming, L.W. Jennings, Eldon Pickrell, Louis Scott and Robert Walter.

(Research):Census Information:

1930 census Stephens Co. OK
King Twp. Duncan city, ED 69-4 Sheet 19A 17 ? No. 7th - Hot
el 396/435C

Payne, Bessie B., FW 35 M 18 OK TX TX
Patty G., dau. FW 2 2/12 S OK OK OK

Notes:

Married:
Vol. 3, Stephens County Marriage Book: , Lic. # 101
Thomas H. Payne, 19 to Bessie Gentry, 18 married 12-27-1912

Because of his outgoing nature, it must have come as a surprise to some when Tom Payne and Bessie Gentry were married a few weeks after her 18th birthday. Bessie was timid and shy by nature, and much happier in town than in the outdoors. They had five children in fairly short order, and times were tough in Oklahoma during the dust bowl. Charles Strong, Bessie's oldest grandson, also remembers that Bessie had very high standards, which her husband found hard to live up to. She was a thorough and dedicated housekeeper, and was almost obsessive about things being neat and tidy at all times. Charles recalled a story one of Bessie's brothers related to him about dropping by one afternoon for a visit. Bessie had just mopped, and refused to let him in, not wanting her immaculate floors stepped on.