Capt. John Higgins Strain

1812 - 1888  (75 years)

James Strain, Sr.

Abt 1755 - 1789  (34 years)

Birth	Abt 1755
Died	1789	Augusta Co., Virginia
Buried	Augusta Co., Virginia
Family	Agnes "Nancy" McClintock
Children	+ 1. John Strain           b. 22 Feb 1776   2. Robert Strain + 3. James Strain, Jr.           b. Abt 1780, Augusta Co., Virginia + 4. Allen Strain           b. 28 Jun 1786, Augusta Co., Virginia + 5. Mary "Polly" Strain + 6. Jane "Jinney" Strain + 7. Agnes "Nancy" Strain           b. Abt 1783 + 8. Margaret "Peggy" Strain

Jennet Bogle

- 1821

Died	3 Aug 1821
Family	Michael Higgins           b. Abt 1763
Married	12 Jul 1792
Children	+ 1. Jane Higgins           b. 4 Aug 1793, Tennessee   2. John Higgins           b. 17 May 1797 + 3. Polly Higgins           b. 18 Feb 1800   4. Joseph Higgins           b. 29 Nov 1802

Allen Strain

1786 - 1858  (71 years)

Birth	28 Jun 1786	Augusta Co., Virginia
Died	3 Mar 1858	Blount Co., Tennessee
Buried	Baker's Creek Cemetery, Blount Co., Tennessee
Father	James Strain, Sr.           b. Abt 1755
Mother	Agnes "Nancy" McClintock
Family	Jane Higgins           b. 4 Aug 1793, Tennessee
Married	28 Nov 1811
Children	+ 1. Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee + 2. James Strain           b. 2 Oct 1815, Blount Co., Tennessee + 3. Martha Cornelia Strain           b. 8 Sep 1818 + 4. Mary Strain           b. 10 Dec 1821 + 5. Robert Bogle Strain           b. 14 Jan 1825   6. William Trotter Strain           b. 28 Nov 1827   7. Joseph Allen Strain           b. 12 Aug 1830   8. Nancy Jane Strain           b. 21 Mar 1835

Jane Higgins

1793 - 1865  (71 years)

Birth	4 Aug 1793	Tennessee
Died	29 May 1865	Washington, D.C.
Buried	30 May 1865	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	Michael Higgins           b. Abt 1763
Mother	Jennet Bogle
Married	12 Jul 1792
Family	Allen Strain           b. 28 Jun 1786, Augusta Co., Virginia
Married	28 Nov 1811
Children	+ 1. Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee + 2. James Strain           b. 2 Oct 1815, Blount Co., Tennessee + 3. Martha Cornelia Strain           b. 8 Sep 1818 + 4. Mary Strain           b. 10 Dec 1821 + 5. Robert Bogle Strain           b. 14 Jan 1825   6. William Trotter Strain           b. 28 Nov 1827   7. Joseph Allen Strain           b. 12 Aug 1830   8. Nancy Jane Strain           b. 21 Mar 1835

Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston

1834 - 1892  (58 years)

Birth	21 Aug 1834	Washington, D.C.
Died	23 Nov 1892
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	John Hopkins Houston           b. 1 Jun 1796, Gap, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania
Mother	Gertrude Parker Truxton           b. 26 Mar 1804, Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., New Jersey
Married	18 Oct 1825
Family	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Married	17 Jan 1856
Children	+ 1. Cornelia Houston "Nellie" Strain           b. Mar 1856, Washington, D.C.   2. John Houston Strain           b. 24 Sep 1858   3. Sarah A. "Sally" Strain           b. Abt 1859, Maryland   4. Allen Strain           b. 30 May 1860 + 5. Thomas Truxton Strain           b. 1 May 1869, Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland + 6. Gertrude Strain           b. 1870   7. James Munroe Strain           b. 3 Aug 1873, Maryland   8. Sarah H. Strain           b. Abt 1876   9. Mary Truxton Strain           b. 24 Nov 1875, Maryland

Cornelia Houston "Nellie" Strain

1856 - 1936  (79 years)

Birth	Mar 1856	Washington, D.C.
Died	1936	Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Buried	Sandy Spring Friends Meeting Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856
Family	Dr. Charles Farquhar           b. Apr 1841, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Married	11 May 1892

Dr. Charles Farquhar

1841 - 1916  (74 years)

Birth	Apr 1841	Montgomery Co., Maryland
Died	1 Feb 1916	Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Buried	Sandy Spring Friends Meeting Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Father	Dr. Charles Farquhar, Sr.           b. 31 Jul 1800, Frederick Co., Maryland
Mother	Sarah Brooke           b. 14 Sep 1805
Family	Cornelia Houston "Nellie" Strain           b. Mar 1856, Washington, D.C.
Married	11 May 1892

John Houston Strain

1858 - 1859  (0 years)

Birth	24 Sep 1858
Died	10 Sep 1859
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

Sarah A. "Sally" Strain

Abt 1859 -

Birth	Abt 1859	Maryland
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

Allen Strain

1860 - 1865  (5 years)

Birth	30 May 1860
Died	5 Nov 1865
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

Thomas Truxton Strain

1869 - 1923  (53 years)

Birth	1 May 1869	Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Died	25 Mar 1923	Pomona, Los Angeles, California
Buried	Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856
Family	Rosena Dekum           b. 2 Apr 1870, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Married	16 Jun 1897
Children	1. Stephanie Strain           b. 16 May 1898, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon   2. Private

Rosena Dekum

1870 - 1956  (85 years)

Birth	2 Apr 1870	Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Died	5 Mar 1956	Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Buried	Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
Family	Thomas Truxton Strain           b. 1 May 1869, Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland
Married	16 Jun 1897
Children	1. Stephanie Strain           b. 16 May 1898, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon   2. Private

Gertrude Strain

1870 - 1940  (70 years)

Birth	1870
Died	26 Sep 1940
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856
Family	James Carr Garrison           b. 1868
Married	2 Jul 1904	Manhattan, New York City, New York

James Carr Garrison

1868 - 1929  (61 years)

Birth	1868
Died	9 Feb 1929
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Family	Gertrude Strain           b. 1870
Married	2 Jul 1904	Manhattan, New York City, New York

James Munroe Strain

1873 -

Birth	3 Aug 1873	Maryland
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

Sarah H. Strain

Abt 1876 -

Birth	Abt 1876
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

Mary Truxton Strain

1875 - 1927  (51 years)

Birth	24 Nov 1875	Maryland
Died	1927
Buried	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Father	Capt. John Higgins Strain           b. 10 Nov 1812, Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee
Mother	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.
Married	17 Jan 1856

• Name	John Higgins Strain
  Prefix	Capt.
  Birth	10 Nov 1812	Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1870	Brighton, Montgomery Co., Maryland   [2]
  aged 55, farmer; real estate worth 5,000; estate valued at 30,000
  	1870 U.S. Federal Census, Montgomery Co. (Brighton P.O.), Maryland
  Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Age BirthDate Gender Race Occupation BirthPlace 5 109 John H Strain 55 1815 Male White Farmer Tennessee 6 109 Cornelia N Strain 35 1835 Female White Keeping House Wash. D.C. 7 109 Cornelia H Strain 3 1867 Female White At Home Wash. D.C 8 109 Thomas Strain 1 1869 Male White At Home Wash. D.C 9 109 James Strain 53 1817 Male White At Home Tennessee 10 109 Eliza Strain 17 1853 Female White At Home Tennessee 11 109 Rachel Johnson 45 1825 Female Black Domestic Servant Maryland 12 109 George Johnson 14 1856 Male Black Domestic Servant Maryland 13 109 Philip Johnson 6 1864 Male Black Maryland 14 109 Albert Johnson 30 1840 Male Black Farm Laborer Maryland 15 109 Cassy Johnson 25 1845 Female Black Domestic Servant Maryland  NARA Pub:  M593  Roll:  591  Page:  231B  ED:  District 1  Enumerated:  25 June 1870   Transcript ID is  dbid=7163&iid=4269479_00022
  Residence	1879	Mechanicsville District, Montgomery Co., Maryland   [3]
  		Mechanicsville Precinct, Montgomery Co., Maryland (1879) This is the northern half of the precinct.
  Census	1880	Mechanicsville District, Montgomery Co., Maryland   [4]
  aged 67, farmer; father was born in VA, mother in Tennessee
  	1880 U.S. Federal Census, Montgomery Co., Maryland
  Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Relation Gender Race BirthDate Age Status BirthPlace BirthPlace of Father BirthPlace of Mother Occupation Street 12 49 John H. Strain Self (Head) Male White Abt 1813 67 Married Tennessee Virginia Tennessee Farmer 13 49 Cornelia M. Strain Wife Female White Abt 1835 45 Married Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania New Jersey Keeping House 14 49 Cornelia H. Strain Daughter Female White Abt 1867 13 Single Washington, D.C. Tennessee District of Columbia 15 49 Thomas Truxson Strain Son Male White Abt 1869 11 Single Washington, D.C. Tennessee District of Columbia 16 49 Gertrude Strain Daughter Female White Abt 1871 9 Single Maryland Tennessee District of Columbia 17 49 James Strain Son Male White Abt 1874 6 Single Maryland Tennessee District of Columbia 18 49 Sarah H. Strain Daughter Female White Abt 1876 4 Single Maryland Tennessee District of Columbia 19 49 Mary Strain Daughter Female White Abt 1878 2 Single Maryland Tennessee District of Columbia 20 49 Emanuel Dorsey Self (Head) Male Black Abt 1820 60 Married Maryland Maryland Maryland 21 49 Lousia Dorsey Wife Female Black Abt 1830 50 Married Maryland Maryland Maryland  NARA Pub:  T9  Roll:  512  Page:  426a  ED:  118  Enumerated:  10 June 1880   Transcript ID is  dbid=6742&iid=4241617-00857
  Military Service	A member of the failed Santa Fe Expedition. According to family notes, "He was in Texas in 1841, participated in the ill-fated Santa Fe Expedition as Captain of E Company of the Texas troops. He was captured by the Mexicans, and imprisoned there for more than a year. He was later an Indian agent in the Indian territory; went to Washington where he married Cornelia Houston, and died in Montgomery Co, MD." He is mentioned a few times in Thomas Falconer, Letters and notes on the Texan Santa Fe Expedition, 1841-1842 (Falconer was on the expedition) and George Kendall, Narrative of the Texan Santa Fé Expedition.  [5]
  Obituary	Obit., Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), 8 Aug. 1888: Death of an Old Timer Rockville, Md., Aug. 7 - Captain John H. Strain died last night, aged 70 years. He participated in the Santa Fe expedition, serving as captain. Subsequently he was with General Sam Houston, to whom he was related, in Mexico and Texas. His wife, who is a sister of Mrs. Buchanan Houston, President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and a niece of Commodore Truxton, with six children, survives him. [This seems to have been widely copied; the same obit. appeared in the Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL), 8 Aug. 1888. It’s also not clear whether that was related to Sam Houston.]
  Death	5 Aug 1888	Montgomery Co., Maryland   [1]
  Burial	Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.   [6]
  	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59585110/john-higgins-strain
  Origins
  Patriarch & Matriarch	James Strain, Sr.           b. Abt 1755             d. 1789, Augusta Co., Virginia  (Age 34 years)  (Grandfather)  Jennet Bogle             d. 3 Aug 1821  (Grandmother)
  Notes	He is the "John" after whom John Lansdale Sr. was named. His two oldest children, Sally and Cornelia, were apparently born in D.C., according to the 1880 census, which is where they lived during the War; after that the children were born in Maryland. There is a window dedicated to he and his wife in St. John's Church, Olney. I assume that they were dedicated by his neice Eliza Wimberly and her husband Thomas F. Lansdale (b. 1844). [7]
  Person ID	I3864
  Last Modified	4 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Allen Strain           b. 28 Jun 1786, Augusta Co., Virginia           d. 3 Mar 1858, Blount Co., Tennessee (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Jane Higgins           b. 4 Aug 1793, Tennessee           d. 29 May 1865, Washington, D.C. (Age 71 years)
  Marriage	28 Nov 1811
  Family Charts	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Cornelia Nancrede "Nellie" Houston           b. 21 Aug 1834, Washington, D.C.           d. 23 Nov 1892 (Age 58 years)
  Marriage	17 Jan 1856  [1]
  Children	4 sons and 5 daughters
  	> 1. Cornelia Houston "Nellie" Strain           b. Mar 1856, Washington, D.C.           d. 1936, Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland (Age 79 years) └─ Dr. Charles Farquhar  (Age 74 years)  m. 11 May 1892   2. John Houston Strain           b. 24 Sep 1858             d. 10 Sep 1859 (Age 0 years)   3. Sarah A. "Sally" Strain           b. Abt 1859, Maryland   4. Allen Strain           b. 30 May 1860             d. 5 Nov 1865 (Age 5 years) + 5. Thomas Truxton Strain           b. 1 May 1869, Olney, Montgomery Co., Maryland           d. 25 Mar 1923, Pomona, Los Angeles, California (Age 53 years) └─ Rosena Dekum  (Age 85 years)  m. 16 Jun 1897 > 6. Gertrude Strain           b. 1870             d. 26 Sep 1940 (Age 70 years) └─ James Carr Garrison  (Age 61 years)  m. 2 Jul 1904   7. James Munroe Strain           b. 3 Aug 1873, Maryland   8. Sarah H. Strain           b. Abt 1876   9. Mary Truxton Strain           b. 24 Nov 1875, Maryland           d. 1927 (Age 51 years)
  Family Charts	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 10 Nov 1812 - Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee  Census - 1870 - Brighton, Montgomery Co., Maryland  Residence - 1879 - Mechanicsville District, Montgomery Co., Maryland  Census - 1880 - Mechanicsville District, Montgomery Co., Maryland  Death - 5 Aug 1888 - Montgomery Co., Maryland  Burial - - Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend

  
  

• Headstones	5 Headstones
  	Strain graves at Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown
  	John Higgins Strain (d. 1888)
  	John Higgins and Cornelia N. Houston Strain This is a memorial window in St. John's in Olney.
  	St. John's and the Strain window This is the inside of St. John's at Olney; the Strain window is just visible on the left side.
  	John H. Strain, d. 1888

  
  

• Reference

  Pitard, D. "Capt. John Higgins Strain". Genealogy at Pitard.net. https://ancestors.pitard.net/getperson.php?personID=I3864&tree=1sttree (accessed May 16, 2025).