We have three records giving our subject a birthyear of 1879, although the months do not agree.  We also have the fact that our subject was not in the 1880 census with his mother.  Thanks to these discrepancies, we can never be entirely certain which date is correct — or, for that matter, that Lawson is Elizabeth's biological son.  Elizabeth may have adopted him, after the 1880 census.  However, an adoption seems highly unlikely as an unmarried woman is not a prefered candidate for adopting an orphaned child.  It is far more likely that, as an unwed mother, she was hiding Lawson's existence from the census taker.

— born in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL:
5.  Jonnie Vida STROUPE, b. 29 Apr 1913; d. 11 Oct 2004, Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC

— born in Cherryville, Gaston Co., NC:
6.  Ruby Fern STROUPE, b. 11 Aug 1915; d. 25 Oct 1997, Mt. Holly, Gaston Co., NC

— born in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL:
7.  Lawson Sidney STROUPE, Jr., b. 1 Feb 1919; d. 9 Dec 1999, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC

— born in Cherryville, Gaston Co., NC:
8.  Wade Hector STROUPE, b. 2 Dec 1922; d. 14 Oct 1997, Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC

1.  Marriage Record:

2.  1910 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #31 of 58):  Bridge Road, Cherryville Twp., Gaston Co., NC, Roll T624_1112, p. 16A, SN 16A, SD 9, ED 52, enumerated 25 Apr 1910, official enumeration date 15 Apr 1910 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1910:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	17	18	19	20	23	24	25	26	28	29
280	282	Stroup Lawson S	Head	M	W	31	M1	6			NC	NC	NC	Eng	Farmer	own Farm	OA	Y	N		R	F	57
		______ Mary E	Wife	F	W	26	M1	6	3	2	NC	NC	NC	Eng	None			Y	Y
		______ Susan E	Dau	F	W	5	S				NC	NC	NC		None					N
		______ Jessie V	Dau	F	W	1 4/12	S				NC	NC	NC		None

3.  1920 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #39 of 43):  Valentine Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL, Roll T625_215, p. 46B, SH 20B, SD 4, ED 10, enumerated 21 Jan 1920, official enumeration date 1 Jan 1920 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1920:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

9

10

11

12

16

17

18

19

21

23

25

26

27

28

*

X

489

502

Stroup Lawson S

Head

R

M

W

40

M

N

N

NC

NC

NC

Y

Laborer

Farm

W

______ Mary E

Wife

F

W

35

M

Y

Y

NC

NC

NC

Y

None

______ Soonie

Dau

F

W

15

S

Y

Y

Y

NC

NC

NC

Y

None

______ Ava

Dau

F

W

9

S

Y

Y

Y

NC

NC

NC

None

______ Jonny V

Dau

F

W

7

S

Y

Y

Y

FL

NC

NC

None

______ Rubie F

Dau

F

W

4

S

N

N

NC

NC

NC

None

______ Lawson S Jr

Son

M

W

11/12

S

N

N

FL

NC

NC

None

*Valentine Ave

4.  1930 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #5 of 31):  George Avenue, Cherryville Town, Cherryville Twp., Gaston Co., NC, Roll 1691, p. 16A, SN 3A, ED 36-2, SD 7, enumerated 4 Apr 1930, official enumeration date 1 Apr 1930 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1930:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

24

25

26

28

*

48

50

Stroupe Mary Essie

Head

O

2500

R

N

F

W

45

Wd

19

N

Y

NC

NC

NC

Y

None

_______ Soonie

Dau

F

W

25

S

N

Y

NC

NC

NC

Y

None

_______ Ava

Dau

F

W

19

S

N

Y

NC

NC

NC

Y

Book-Keeper

Hwd Store

W

_______ Vida

Dau

F

W

16

S

Y

Y

FL

NC

NC

Y

None

_______ Ruby

Dau

F

W

14

S

Y

Y

FL

NC

NC

Y

None

_______ Lawson S Jr

Son

M

W

11

S

Y

Y

FL

NC

NC

Y

None

_______ Hector

Son

M

W

7

S

Y

N

NC

NC

NC

None

*George Avenue

5.  State of Florida.  1998.  Florida Death Index, 1877-1998.  Florida Health Dept., Office of Vital Records. (online at Ancestry.com):

Name:	Stroup, Lawson Sidney
Place:	Broward [County]
Sex:	M
Col.:	W
Vol:	210
Number:	3224
Year:	1924

6.  Obituary of L.S. STROUP (online at Ancestry.com):

On March the 30th, 1924 God in his infinite wisdom saw fit to call Mr. L. S. Stroup from mortality to mmortality (sic) at the age of 44 years 3 months and 3 days.  He leaves to mourn their loss his wife, six children, two sisters, one brother and many relatives and friends...

7.  World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.  Microfilm Series M1509 (4277 rolls), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC (card images and index online at Ancestry.com):

Roll | Serial No. | Order No:	1765643 | 2793 | 3339
Name:	Lawson Sidney Stroup
Permanent Home Address:	Cherryville Gaton NC
Age in Years | Date of Birth:	39 | December 27 1879
Race:	White
U.S. Citizen:	Native Born
Present Occupation:	Farmer
Employer's Name:	Own Farm
Place of Employment:	Cherryville Gaton NC
Nearest Relative: Name:	Mrs. Essie Stroup
Nearest Relative: Address:	Cherryville Gaston NC
Signature:	Lawson X Sidney Stroup       mark
Height (tall, medium, short):	Medium
Build (slender, medium, stout):	Medium
Color of Eyes | Color of Hair:	Blue | Black
Physically Disabled:	no
Date of Registration:	Sep 12 1918
Draft Board:	-

8.  Sid Stroupe.  2007/2008.  Abner A. STROUP Family of Cherryville, NC (Public Member Tree online at Ancestry.com).

9.  Email from descendant.  Shared family bible page for this family.