HONORED VERONA CITIZEN.
M. N. Stroup:
Ex-Confederate and Old Collin County Settler.
Courier
July 25, 1912
M. N. Stroup,
one of Collin county's old settlers who resides at Verona, is a native of
Spartanburg, South Carolina. At the early age of eighteen he enlisted in
company K, eighteenth South Carolina Volunteer Infantry and for four long
years battled heroically for the cause he deemed right and for which he
placed upon the altar of his country his very life itself in defense of its
establishment and perpetuity. He was elected first lieutenant, was often in
command of his company, fought in innumerable battles from Manassas to
Petersburg, surrendering with Lee at Appomattox. He was slightly wounded on
several occasions but would never go to the hospital, preferring to remain
with his men and lead them in the desperate engagements of the bloodiest
civil strife of modern times. After the close of the war in 1866, Mr.
Stroup, Lum St. Clair and Ed St. Clair, all young men, started for Texas
horseback. After going through the states of Georgia and Alabama, they
halted in Mississippi for two years, where Lum St. Clair died. While in
Mississippi, a copy of the old Texas Almanac, with an article on the soil,
resources and possibilities of Texas written by Gov. J. W. Throckmorton of
McKinney, fell into his hands. He read the Throckmorton article and
thereupon revived again his desire to come on to Texas. He was then living
in Desoto, now Tate county, Miss. The party with whom he came from
Mississippi to Texas was composed of T. A. Bailey and family and Ed St.
Clair. They came in wagons. It was a long, tedious journey but they finally
reached Collin county, which was found to be a new and rather sparsely
settled section of the state. The first year after coming to the county, Mr.
Stroup lived on the John Womble farm at Verona, then buying raw land and
improving it. For more than forty years he has resided on his present home
place, which is one of the richest and prettiest farms in that section of
our country. Mr. Stroup is a carpenter in addition to being a farmer and has
built several scores of houses, churches and school houses in East Collin.
He ran a gin for years and still has a grist mill and blacksmith shop.
However he only operates his custom mill and shop for himself and sons or
for the accommodation of some neighbor. In 1867 he was united in marriage to
Miss Laura Isabelle Bailey, daughter of T. A. Bailey, and a most estimable
lady, who for forty-five years has been a loving devoted wife and helpmeet
to share life's battles with him. They are the parents of the following
surviving children: A. C., Leo (M. L.), T. A. (Albert), Claude L., Leonidas
L., Mrs. E. P. Gifford, Misses Sallie and Nettie. The late lamented Prof. S.
S. Stroup was also a son. Mr. Stroup and wife gave all their children good
education.
The family is
one of the most happy and devoted we ever knew, and each member of it is
held in the highest esteem by a wide circle of acquaintances. These children
are an honor alike to their parents and community. We have enjoyed an
intimate acquaintance with this excellent family for twenty years and it is
a pleasure indeed for the writer to attest to their hospitality,
friendliness, sturdy Christian character and refinement. May these two old
people be spared many years more to enjoy each others companionship and
contribute the influence of their exemplary lives to the uplift of the moral
and Christian standard of the community in which they live and which they
have done so much for by way of development.
Surname Index
Recommended
Citation:
"M. N. Stroup: Ex-Confederate,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
