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Walter Winfield Strong

Walter Winfield Strong

Male 1881 - 1961  (79 years)

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  • Name Walter Winfield Strong  [1, 2
    Birth 10 May 1881  Farmersville, Collin County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 4 Apr 1961  Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Burial 6 Apr 1961  Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location 
    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)
    Person ID I144  Strong Family Tree
    Last Modified 17 Aug 2014 

    Father Ralph Brainerd Strong,   b. 18 May 1857, Bristol Township, Trumbull County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Apr 1929, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years) 
    Mother Mary Ella Hall,   b. Abt 1858, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Sep 1905, Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 47 years) 
    Marriage 4 May 1878  Hunt County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5
    • 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,
    Family ID F144  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Terezie Rose "Tessie" Soukup,   b. 4 Jun 1886, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jun 1916, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 29 years) 
    Marriage 4 Aug 1907  Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 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
    Children 
     1. Homer Richard Strong,   b. 29 Feb 1908, Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Sep 1990, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)
     2. Viola Mae Strong,   b. 27 Feb 1910, Prague, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Aug 2009, Henrietta, Clay County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 99 years)
     3. Barney Frank Strong,   b. 5 Jan 1914, Prague, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jan 2011, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 96 years)
     4. Jack Neil Strong,   b. 25 Dec 1915, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Dec 2003, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)
     5. Jake Strong,   b. 25 Dec 1915, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Dec 1915, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
    Family ID F20  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 28 Apr 2012 

    Family 2 Stella Crouch,   b. 8 Jun 1893, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Dec 1959 (Age 66 years) 
    Marriage 4 Jun 1920  Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 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.
    Children 
     1. Robert Henry "Bob" Strong,   b. 9 May 1924, Wellston, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Feb 2009, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)
    Documents
    Crouch, Stella 1920 marriage to Walter Winfield Strong
    Crouch, Stella 1920 marriage to Walter Winfield Strong
    Both Stella and Walter had been previously married, and brought young children into their union
    Family ID F143  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Dec 2006 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 10 May 1881 - Farmersville, Collin County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 4 Aug 1907 - Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 4 Jun 1920 - Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 4 Apr 1961 - Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 6 Apr 1961 - Highland Cemetery, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    _Strong, Walter
    _Strong, Walter
    Husband of Tessie Soukup and Stella Crouch
    B. 1881 Texas D. 1961 Texas
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1909 with wife and son
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1909 with wife and son
    Walter Winfield Strong and Tessie Rose Soukup pose with their first born son, Homer
    Strong, Ralph Brainerd Family ca.1913
    Strong, Ralph Brainerd Family ca.1913
    Ralph Brainerd Strong Family circa 1913, Oklahoma

    Standing, Back row (L to R): UNKNOWN--Either Burt OR Claude Strong, Annie Eva (CHOATE) Strong, Lee S. Strong, Earnest Strong,Tessie Rose (SOUKUP) Strong, Walter Winfield Strong, Mary Gertrude (GAY) Strong, Augustus Homer Strong

    Seated, Front row (L to R): Homer Richard Strong (grandson), Ralph Brainerd Strong, Viola May Strong (granddaughter), Mary (STOCKBRIDGE) Strong (Second wife), Agnes Ivy Strong (granddaughter)

    Not pictured: Rolla or Earl

    PLEASE HELP US POSTIVELY IDENTIFY whether the young man standing on the left at the back is Burt or Claude!
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1916, with his children
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1916, with his children
    This photo of Walter and his children appears to have been taken after his wife, Tessie Soukup, died of kidney failure. The family was living in Southern Oklahoma at the time. From left to right, Viola, baby Jack, Homer, Walter and Barney Strong.
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1936, with his first four grandchildren
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1936, with his first four grandchildren
    Charles Strong (l), Donald Weaver, and Bill Strong (r), with Walter Winfield Strong, who is holding his newest grandson, John Ralph Strong.
    Strong Brother Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941
    Strong Brother Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941
    Four of the nine sons born to Ralph Strong and Mary Ella Hall, (l to r) Rolla Jefferson, Burt Rodney, Walter Winfield and Augustus Homer 'Gus'. This was taken at the Strong Family Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941.
    Strong Brother Reunion, Medicine Park, Oklahoma, around 1941
    This photo was one of a series of photos taken in the early 1940's at Medicine Park, Oklahoma, on the edge of the Wichita Wildlife Refuge, with Mt. Scott as a backdrop. This park began its life in 1908, the year following the return of the bison to Wildlife Refuge. It was the first planned resort town in Oklahoma, the red round cannonball sized stone is an unique naturally formation occurring in the Wichita Mountains. Pictured are (Left to Right) Back Row: UNKNOWN (Possibly Roy West), Leroy Weaver, Bob Strong, Barney Strong Middle Row: Burt Strong, Cecil Lewis holding Tommy Lewis, Gus Strong, Walter Strong, Rolla Strong Front Row: Jerrell Holt, Charles Lewis (Note: Identifications are not positive in all cases, but were based on the opinions of Jerrell Holt, Barney Strong and Benny Strong, who made some assumptions based on ages and family makeup).

    POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
    Strong Brother Reunion, Medicine Park, Oklahoma, around 1941
    Strong Brother Reunion, Medicine Park, Oklahoma, around 1941
    This was one in a series of photos taken at the Strong Family Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941. From L to R: Lucy (Brannan) Strong, Burt Strong, Robert Strong, Walter Strong, Rolla Strong, Gus Strong and an unknown girl.

    PLEASE HELP US INDENTIFY THE GIRL IN THIS PICTURE.
    Strong Brothers in hats, Medicine Park Reunion, Oklahoma, around 1941
    Strong Brothers in hats, Medicine Park Reunion, Oklahoma, around 1941
    This was one in a series of photos taken at the Strong Family Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941. From L to R: Rolla, Burt, Walter and Gus. They were sons of Ralph Brainerd Strong.
    Strong Brothers with hats in hand, Medicine Park Reunion, Oklahoma, around 1941
    Strong Brothers with hats in hand, Medicine Park Reunion, Oklahoma, around 1941
    This was one in a series of photos taken at the Strong Family Reunion in Medicine Park, Oklahoma around 1941. From l to r: Rolla, Burt, Walter, and Gus. They were sons of Ralph Brainerd Strong.
    Strong, Burt & Lucy with Stella & Walter early to mid 1940's
    Strong, Burt & Lucy with Stella & Walter early to mid 1940's
    L to R: Burt and Lucy (Brannan) Strong, Stella (Crouch) and Walter Strong
    Strong Brothers, Mid 1940's
    Strong Brothers, Mid 1940's
    (L to R): Gus, Walter, Burt and Rolla Strong, sons of Ralph Brainerd Strong.
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1950's
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1950's
    Walter in the 1950's
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1955
    Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1955
    Husband of (1) Tessie Soukup & (2) Stella Crouch
    B. 1881 Texas D. 1961 Oklahoma
    Walter was a retired barber, the father of four sons, one daughter and two step-sons
    Strong, Walter Winfield October, 1960
    Strong, Walter Winfield October, 1960
    Walter Strong, with a cigaratte in hand. Despite their vices, the Strong men typically had a long life span. Walter was 79 years old when this photo was taken, and died six months later, just a month shy of his 80th birthday. His father died at 72, his grandfather at 75, and his great grandfather at 87. The Elder John Strong, his earliest American forebearer, lived to the ripe old age of 89 (b. 1610 d. 1699).

    Documents
    Strong, Walter Winfield
    Strong, Walter Winfield
    Death Certificate from the State of Texas

  • Sources 
    1. [S418] Texas Department of Health, Death Certificate.

    2. [S389] State of Oklahoma, Department of Health, Certificate of Death.

    3. [S172] Lawton (Oklahoma) Cemetery, Strong Family Plot.

    4. [S384] 1900 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1900 United States Federal Census, the Twelfth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, relationship to the head of household, color or race, sex, month and year of birth, age at last birthday, marital status, number of years married, the total number of children born of the mother, the number of those children living, birthplace, birthplace of father and mother, if the individual was foreign born, the year of immigration and the number of years in the United States, the citizenship status of foreign-born individuals over age twenty-one, occupation, and more. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1900 Federal Census.).

    5. [S139] Hunt County, Texas, Marriages 1847-1911, page449 (Reliability: 3).