Stella Crouch

Notes:

At the time of the 1910 Oklahoma Census, a Stella WEST was listed as a boarder in the home of Samuel Massey(?) in Baucum Twp, Jackson County, Oklahoma. She was listed as Female, White, age 18, Married, born in Texas, with both parents born in Texas. The column about her ability to read and write was left blank, so it is probable that someone other than she gave her information to the enumerator. Although she is listed as married, she is living apart from her husband. He son Roy West was born about 17 months after this listing, so presumably she and her husband were reunited, at least briefly.

Her son by a subsequent marriage, Cecil Afton Lewis, was born some two years after Roy. Both were born in Jackson County.

At the time of the 1920 Federal census, Stella and Will Lewis were renting a home at 129 Chickasha Avenue in Chickasha. Their census listing read as follows:

Lewis, Will E. Hd R M W 37 M -- Yes Yes Tex. Unknown La. Cook Restaurant
Lewis, Stella Wife F W 25 M -- Yes Yes Texas Texas Texas Waitress Restaurant
---------, Roy Son M W 8 1/2 Yes --- --- Oklahoma Texas Texas
---------, Cecil Son M W 6 1/2 -- -- -- Oklahoma Texas Texas

She was living with her third husband, Walter Winfield Strong, as the time of the 1930 census.

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

Census records show she was born in January 1895, however, cemetery records from Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lawton instead show her as born on 8 Jun 1893 and died 29 Dec 1959, at at 66. (Courtesy of Sue Anna Lewis O'Hara).

Stella married Edd West before 1911. Edd was born before 1880 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Bob Strong said that his mother, Stella, divorced her first husband in Montague County, Texas. Charles and Pat could not find a record of either her marriage or divorce at the Montague courthouse. Bob also thought that her first husband was "more than twice her age" and that he may have been married before, and possibly after, his brief marriage to Stella.

1. Roy Newell West was born on 11 Sep 1911 in Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma; died in May 1964 in Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma.

Stella married William Ernest "Willie" Lewis before 1912. William was born on 6 Sep 1882 in Austin, Travis County, Texas; died after 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Robert Strong thought his mother, Stella, married her second husband in Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma. Charles and Pat Strong went through marriage licenses in Altus, and did not find a marriage certificate. They looked in bride's records under both Crouch and West. They also looked for Groom's under Lewis. These records were very poorly indexed, and they may have simply missed it, or they might have been married elsewhere.

1. Cecil Afton Lewis was born on 23 Jul 1913 in Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma; died in Oct 1991 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma; was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma.

Stella married Walter Winfield Strong on 4 Jun 1920 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma. Walter (son of Ralph Brainerd Strong and Mary Ella Hall) was born on 10 May 1881 in Farmersville, Collin County, Texas; died on 4 Apr 1961 in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas; was buried on 6 Apr 1961 in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Walter Strong, age 39, resident of Chickasha and Miss Stella Lewis, aged 26, resident of Chickasha. Subscribed and sworn on 4 June 1920.Married by John D. Salter, Minister of the M.E. Church South of Chickasha. Witnesses Mrs. John D. Salter and Harry Salter of Chickasha.

1. Robert Henry "Bob" Strong was born on 9 May 1924 in Wellston, Lincoln County, Oklahoma; died on 18 Feb 2009 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma.

Notes:

(Research):
Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Ellis County, JP 1, ED 13
#260-263
Crouch, Henry J Head W M May 1858 42 M/15 Yrs Texas South Carolina Texas
Crouch, Jenni Wife Jan 1868 32 M/15 Yrs 5/5 Texas Mississippi Texas
Crouch, Annie B Dtr W F Feb 1886 14 S Texas Texas Texas
Crouch, Belle Dtr W F May 1888 S Texas Texas Texas
Crouch, Emma M Dtr W F Jan 1892 7 S Texas Texas Texas
Crouch, Stella Dtr W F Jan 1895 4 S Texas Texas Texas
Crouch, Henry J* Son W M Mar 1897 3 S Texas Texas Texas

*Lisa Polk of Fort Worth notes that the younger Henry J. Crouch married Effie ARNOLD, the daughter of her Thomas ARNOLD, and appear to have been cousins.

1910 Census
not located

1920 Census
not located

At the time of the 1930 census, Henry Crouch Sr. was living with his daughter and son-in-law in the 2nd Ward, King Township, Duncan, Stephens 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

Henry married Geneva "Jennie" Arnold. Geneva (daughter of Frank Arnold and Elizabeth Yates) was born in Jan 1868 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Due to the proximity of James, Thomas and Geneva "Jennie" Arnold, first in Ellis County, Texas and later in Oklahoma, it is assumed that they were all members of the same immediate family, and children of Frank Arnold. Their ages and locations of birth match on later census match those of Frank Arnold's children of the same name on the 1880 census. Their relationship as siblings has not been verified, however, and should be used as a starting point for future research.



(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Census Place:District 16, Cherokee, Texas
Source:FHL Film 1255295 National Archives Film T9-1295
Page 41
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Frank ARNOLD Self M W W 45 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: NC Mo: MS
James ARNOLD Son M S W 22 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: MS Mo: MS
Robert ARNOLD Son M S W 19 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: MS Mo: MS
Susan ARNOLD Dau F S W 16 TX Occ:Keeping House Fa: MS Mo: ---
Thomas ARNOLD Son M S W 14 TX Occ:At Home Fa: MS Mo: ---
Geneva ARNOLD Dau F S W 12 TX Occ: At Home Fa: MS Mo: ---
Mary ARNOLD Dau F S W 10 TX Fa: MS Mo: ---

Notes:

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Census Place:District 16, Cherokee, Texas
Source:FHL Film 1255295 National Archives Film T9-1295
Page 41
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Frank ARNOLD Self M W W 45 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: NC Mo: MS
James ARNOLD Son M S W 22 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: MS Mo: MS
Robert ARNOLD Son M S W 19 MS Occ:Farmer Fa: MS Mo: MS
Susan ARNOLD Dau F S W 16 TX Occ:Keeping House Fa: MS Mo: --- (Married a SANDERS?)
Thomas ARNOLD Son M S W 14 TX Occ:At Home Fa: MS Mo: ---
Geneva ARNOLD Dau F S W 12 TX Occ: At Home Fa: MS Mo: ---
Mary ARNOLD Dau F S W 10 TX Fa: MS Mo: ---

Frank married Elizabeth Yates. Elizabeth was born before 1838; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]