Melvin Francis Strong and Eva Dollie Beckley were married November 14,
     1901, and settled on a homestead in Moore Township near Cline, Beaver
     County, Oklahoma. They had three children: Clement M., born July 4, 1904;
     Richard Nelson, born October 26, 1906 and Georgia Elen, born April 26, 1909.
       Dollie died January 7, 1913. Richarnd Georgia went to Gerlane where they
     lived with their aunt and uncle, Ollie and Richard Beckley. They grew up
     on the farm. Clement made his home with his father in Hutchinson, Kansas.
     The Beckleys adopted the two children, but they retained the name Strong
     in consideration for the father and brother.
       Richard attended country schools in the Gerlane Community - attended high
     school in Hutchinson, but dislike the 'city,' so returned home where he
     farmed for several years.
       Richard was an avid sportsman and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing.
     He was interested and active in radio as a young man. He worked for Barbara
     Oil Company, and Champlain Oil Company, living near Deerhead. On June 2, 1955,
     he began work for Kansas Power and Light Company where he continued to work
     for 16 years, retiring November 1, 1971. After retirement, Richard worked as
     dispatcher for the city police department, and drove the school bus for
     District 254.
       He was a member of the Medicine Valley Masonic Lodge #260 at Lake City,
     a past master there, and a member of the Wichita Consistory - Scottish Rite.
       My parents were George William (Billy) and Martha Jane (Jarrett, Williams)
     Cloutman. I was born in Kling, Kansas - southwest of Sun City. My parents
     moved to Medicine Lodge when I was three months old. I attended grade school
     and high school in Medicine Lodge. I have two sisters: Vesta Smith Wilson
     and Mildred Cagle Mallory, and a brother George Cloutman.
       Richard Strong and I were married June 8, 1927, at the home of my parents,
     by Rev. L.A. Jacaway, pastor of the Gerlane Church of God.
       After my parents' death, Richard and I bought their home and remodeled it,
     making our home in Medicine Lodge.
       On November 26, 1935, we were blessed with the birth of our son, Richard
     Melvin, who grew to manhood around Medicine Lodge. March 24, 1943, our son
     Bill Donald, was born at Hardtner, Kansas Hospital but lived only three days.
     On December 24, 1944, Bobby Eugene was born in Wichita, Kansas, but died at
     birth. These deaths were a result of the RH blood factor, Medical Science,
     through research, has now improved the chance of survival for these cases.
       We have enjoyed Richard Melvin gratefully, and he and his dad were pals.
     They hunted and fished together, a hobby which they shared.
       Later in life we were blessed with three grandchildren: Linda, Cinda and
     Lauri Strong. I joined Easter Star in 1975 and continue that membeship.
       Georgia married Chester Wiley, February 3, 1926, but died May 3, 1926,
     from a ruptured appendix. Clement was a postal employee 26 years in Hutchinson.
     He passed away October 2, 1961.
       My husband, Richard Nelson, was deceased January 15, 1974. I continue to
     live in our home in Medicine Lodge, where our son now resides and has Strong's
     Appliance Business.
     
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 447 
     Submitted by: Dona Cloutman Strong