Ralph Bernard STRONG (1857 Ohio – 1929 Oklahoma) is my great-great grandfather. And for some twenty years now, I have been trying to find out more about his family of origin, with little success. In an effort help break through this frustrating brick wall, I participated in the Strong DNA Study. The results, of my test, along with results for more than 20 other participants, are posted at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/dnaresults.htm My DNA (kit #5858) was a high resolution match to the DNA of two documented descendants of “Elder” John STRONG of England and Massachusetts. This means we almost certainly share a common ancestor. My wall was finally beginning to crumble. I immediately ordered the reprint of Benjamin Dwights’ STRONG FAMILY HISTORY, to see if I could tie the information I had gathered to date into those volumes. If you would like to participate in the DNA study yourself, contact study administrator David B. Strong, at the following email: dbstrong@sos.net. You can also contact David at PO Box 406, Burlington, WA 98233. Maybe this will help with your brick walls! As a registered Surname Project at Family Tree DNA, our project receives discounted Project Pricing and a set of tools for the Group Administrator. The Surname Project Pricing is: 12 marker Y-DNA test US$99 + postage 25 Marker Upgrade US$90 25 marker Y-DNA test US$169 + postage One of the particularly frustrating aspects of my own search for Ralph’s family is that when my father abstracted every Strong family indexed for the 1860 Ohio census, hoping to find one with a three year old son named Ralph, he instead found two likely candidates. To make matters worse, we could not find EITHER of these Ralph’s in the 1870 census. But on the 1880, there are once again two Ralph STRONG’s, born in Ohio, of the same age. One of them is my great-great grandfather, Ralph Bernard STRONG, who was married and living in Collin County, Texas with his wife and young son. The other was a 22 year old delivery wagon driver, living in Cleveland, Ohio, with the family of John and Nettie WEBB. But which Ralph belonged to which family? Below are extracts from the 1860 Ohio Census, detailing the makeup of the two STRONG families with young sons named Ralph: 1860 OHIO CENSUS Lake County, Willoughby Township Roll 996, page 312 Strong, Samuel age 30 Ohio Occupation: Carriage Maker Strong, Sarah age 38 Ohio Strong, Ralph age 4 Ohio Strong, Harry age 2 Ohio Strong, Mary age 1 Ohio 1860 OHIO CENSUS, Trumball County Bristol Township #1418-1379 Strong, David age 40 M Farmer born in NY Strong, Leonora age 28 F born in Ohio Strong, John age 18 M Printers Apprentice born Ohio Strong, George age 16 M born Ohio Attended School Strong, Henry age 14 M born Ohio Attended School Strong, Francis age 7 M born Ohio Attended School Strong, Ella age 4 F born Ohio Strong, Ralph age 2 M born Ohio Strong, Mary age 12 F born Ohio Attended School In examining the 1870 Lake County census, I was unable to locate the family of Samuel and Sarah STRONG. In fact, I could not find them anywhere in either the 1870 Ohio or Texas census index. Maybe the family was in transit, living somewhere between Ohio and Texas. David and Lenora STRONG, along with most of their children, were still living in Trumball County in 1870. However, their son Ralph, who should have been about 12 years old, was NOT listed in their household. It could be he was simply missed by the enumerator, or that he died. Or it might be that he “ran away to Texas.” I was hoping the Strong books might help me narrow down the possibilities. I thought if I could find a link to “Elder” John STRONG for one of the families, and not the other, it might clear things up a bit due to the pattern of markers characteristic of the assumed "Elder John" or "New England" STRONG Haplotype. However, it appears both families are likely descendants of Elder John STRONG and his first wife Margery DEANE, through their son John STRONG, Jr. In volume I, page 174, of Dwight’s book, the family of Judge John Harris STRONG of Chatham, Ct. and Cleveland, Oh. is listed. He had seven sons and 3 daughters. I think he is a likely candidate as an ancestor of both Samuel STRONG of Willoughby Township, Lake County, OH., and of my Ralph, due to the time period, the location (one son, James Madison STRONG, lived near Samuel in Willoughby Township), and the similarity in given names used in the families. Both Judge John Harris STRONG, and my Ralph STRONG of Texas, named sons Walter, Rodney and Harris/Harry. Unfortunately, in studying Dwight’s history, I was unable to find a direct link from Judge STRONG to the Samuel STRONG living in Lake County, Ohio in 1860. But the circumstantial evidence is strong enough it makes me believe there is indeed a link. I was able to determine that the David B. STRONG, shown on the above extract of the 1860 Trumball County Census, was also listed in Dwight’s book as the son of Ansel STRONG and Hannah Shailer STOCKING. (Volume I, page 194). Incidentally, both Judge John Harris STRONG and David B STRONG follow a similar line of descent: 1) Elder John Strong & Margery Deane 2) John Strong, Jr & Elizabeth Warriner 3) Josiah Strong & Joanna Gillett 4) Josiah Strong, Jr & Hannah Fuller Siblings: 5) Dea. Josiah Strong 5) Benjamin Strong & Mary Harris & Susan Trowbridge 6) Judge John Harris Strong 6) Ansel Strong & Elizabeth Cary & Hannah Shailer Stocking 7) ? Unknown father of Samuel ? 7) DAVID B. STRONG OF TRUMBALL 8) SAMUEL STRONG OF LAKE CO. 8) Ralph Strong of Trumball Co., 9) Ralph Strong of Lake Co., born bet. 1856-1858 born bet. 1856-1858 Based on their ages and location of birth, either of these Ralph’s could be my great-great grandfather, but I don’t have enough information about either of them to know yet for sure. This is what I do know, however: A marriage license for R.B. STRONG and Ella HALL, was issued on 4 October 1877, and they were married on 4 May 1878, in Hunt County, Texas. I could not locate any other Strong families in Hunt County in either 1870 or 1880. 1880 Census: Collin County, Texas (the only other Strong family was from Tennessee) 1900 Census: Hopkins County, Texas 1910 Census: Roosevelt County, New Mexico Territory Mary Ella HALL died 27 Sept 1905 in Comanche Co., Indian Territory (Oklahoma) Issue of Ralph and Mary: 1) Augustus Homer; 2) Walter Winfield; 3) Lee S.; 4) Burt Rodney; 5) Claude; 6) Raleigh (Rolla) J.; 7) Earl Everett; 8) Earnest; and 9) Harry (died young). His obituary reads: RALPH B. STRONG TAKEN BY DEATH Ralph B. Strong, 71 years of age, passed away here at 3:15 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the home of Walter W. Strong, 705 S. 8th Street. Cancer was the cause of his death. Funeral services were held at the Beeson Grantham Chapel at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon with Rev. T.P. Haskins of the Baptist Church officiating. Burial was at the Lawton Cemetery. The deceased was a pioneer resident of New Mexico. He had homesteaded there 22 years ago and lived at Portales. He was brought to the home of his son here in Grantham Ambulance about three weeks ago, when his illness became more serious. Surviving are the wife, seven sons, seventeen grandchildren, and three brothers. The sons are Walter W. and Burt of Duncan; Claude and Earl of Cement; R.J. (Rolla) and A.H. (Gus) of Tintino, New Mexico, and Earnest of Toledo, Oregon. I would be grateful to anyone who can help me finally solve this mystery, and help me claim the CORRECT Ralph as my ancestor.