STRONG-SEARS
The following bio was taken from page 383 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.
Transcribed by Claudia Schuster
Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator
John Strong (1806-1854) and Mary Ann Whatley (1809-1898) came by covered wagon from Georgia around 1850. They settled in Rusk County about 1853. They purchased 1300 acres of land from John C. and Benjamin Thompson and founded what would eventually become the Church Hill Community (See Herbert Leopard account). Their seven children –Betty Strong, Sherwood, John Thornton, Charity Antoinette, William Edward, George Seaborn, Sr., and Samuel Whatley—were born in Georgia. John Thornton Strong (1840-1896) met Mary Jane Ballenger (1840-1907) and married in 1859 in Rusk County. They lived in the Church Hill Community, and there their ten children were born: George Sherwood, John Thomas, Jeff Davis, William C., Mary Laura, Dora Ann, D.R. Russell, Elizabeth Mahala, Katie Strong and an infant who died.
John Thomas Strong (1865-1959), my grandfather, met Hattie Rowena Rainbolt (1870-1959) and married January 23, 1886 in Rusk County. Here they lived, farmed and raised their five children: Mabel Marion, Eddie Euell, Nannie Mary, Willis Rae (my father), and Linnie Laura. They lived in the Church Hill Community for a short time, but due to my grandmother’s health they had to move to the Concord Community, Rusk County.
Willie Rae Strong (1903-1958) married Nellie Gray Sears ( 1905- ). Her parents were Owen Lafayette Sears and Lola Eppie Gross. Willie Rae Strong and Nellie Gray were married October 1, 1923 in Mt. Enterprise, Rusk County.
James Anderson Sears (1852-1912) and Nancy Fredonia Chapman (1844-1922) came from Georgia to Panola County where they married in 1872. Here in Brooks Community their five children were born: Owen Lafayette, Esther Beatrice, Nettie Cordella, Baby, William Marion. Owen Lafayette Sears (1873-1962), my grandfather, met and married Lola Eppie Gross (1895- 1968) June 8, 1902 in Concord, Rusk County. Here they lived and farmed and here their four children were born: Dora Deane, Nellie Gray, Doc Graham, and Joe Alton.
Nellie Gray Sears (1905- ), my mother, married Willie Rae Strong October 1, 1922. I am the one child who was born to them in Mt. Enterprise, Rusk County, October 3, 1923. I married Lawrence Lee Guinn, Jr. (1922-1979) on September 5, 1942. We had one child, Jo Sharon Guinn, August 7, 1943, in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Jo Sharon Guinn married Tolbert Hugh Ragain August 22, 1964, Houston, Texas. They have one child, Karen Raenell Ragain, born December 10, 1969 in Houston. I married Conrado Cazares, August 17, 1957 in Richmond, Ft. Bend County, Texas. We will celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary August 17, 1982.
Submitted by Margaret Strong Cazares