Martha "Evelyn" Moffett was the daughter of William Barclay Moffett and Martha "Mattie" McChesney Moffett. She married David Eldred Strain, Jr. on 10 Nov 1897 at the New Providence Church in Raphine, Virginia. It was down the street from his home and across the street from his grandfather's home.

Martha Evelyn was born on 23 Apr 1876. I have a black and white photo of "baby Martha Evelyn," held by her Mamie/nurse, in about late 1876 or early 1877. It is in a fenced in backyard with the steeple, roof and side of Lexington Presbyterian Church (120 S. Main Street in Lexington), practically next door. They have a compost pile, maybe a bean or laundry drying frame and next door are many wood buildings (see photo).

Her wedding invitation kindly shared by MBWS said:
Mr. & Mrs. M. B. Moffett
request the pleasure of your company of the
marriage of their daughter,
Evelyn
to
Mr. David E. Strain, Jr.,
at
New Providence Church
Wednesday, November the tenth, eighteen hun-
dred and ninety-seven
at 3:30 p.m.
(should have said "W" B Moffett instead)

1897: Moffatt's Creek. Nov. 15 - New Providence church was the scene of a very pretty and fashionable wedding on Wednesday evening last, the contracting parties of the happy union being Miss Evelyn Moffett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. B. Moffett and David E. Strain of Lexington. Chrysanthemums of all colors were freely used in the church against a back ground of potted plants adorning the rostrum, and furnished effective and beautiful decorations. The ushers who came first, two in each aisle, were Jas. A Walker and C R Vaughan of Lexington, and Andrew P Wade and John D Brown of Brownsburg. The bride, handsomely gowned in white organdy, followed with her maid of honor. Miss Addie M Brown. The groom and his best man, Jno. M Strain, entered the opposite aisle. Arriving at the altar they were met by the Rev. G A Wilson who tied the nuptial knot. Miss Anna Ott presided at the organ. Immediately after the ceremony the bridal party were driven to the home the groom's parents, Dr. And Mrs. D E Strain, after which the bride an groom drove to Lexington to their future home. The Staunton Spectator and Vindicator, Vol 74, #46, dated 18 November 1897. Also, the Richmond Dispatch dated 11 Nov 1897, page 8, describes their wedding (see photo).

Visiting her maternal McChesney kin Adam McChesney Brown, while was quite sick: "April 16.—Mrs. D. E. Strain and her daughter, Miss Eva, were on their way to see Mr. Adam M. Brown, who is quite sick, were driving a very driying (sic) a very safe and gentle horse and on a nice piece of road, when the horse by some means stumbled and fell, breaking the shafts of the buggy and for some time could not be gotten up. Finally they received assistance and the horse was gotten upon his feet. The bnggy was a good deal shattered and Mrs. Strain pretty well shaken up." Per the Rockbridge County News (Virginia), Vol 16, #24, dated 19 Apr 1900 (see photo on Adam's site).

On the very hard to read June 1900 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found (occupation is unreadable) __?__ E Strain, 25, born "My" 1875 (sic), married 17 (sic) years to wife Matty, 22, Oct 1877, had 1 child, 1 living; "Daugh of walm?, Alline Irm ?," Jul 1892, 7 (sic), all Virginia born. Most others on this page are hard to read. I suspect this was David, Matty/Mattie and daughter Eveline/Evelyn McC Strain with multiple errors. They lived in Lexington at this time, they aren't listed elsewhere and they were 3 years apart.

On the 1910 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found haberdashery retail merchant and home owner, David E Strain, 37; wife of 12 years, Evelyn M Strain, 33, had 3 kids, 1 living; David E Strain, Jr. 3, all Virginia born. They lived at 16 South Jackson Street.

On the 1920 Lexington, Rockbrdge Co., Virginia census, I found widow boarding house keeper Evelyn M Strain, 43; attending school: son David E, 13 and son William M, 9, all Virginia born. Resided at 11 Jackson Avenue.

On the 1930 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found widowed home owner and confectioner, Evelyn M Strain, 53 and son William M Strain, 19, both Virginia born. They resided at 306 Jackson Avenue. There wee 5 others at this address in different apartments.

1934: "An informal Lee-Jackson Day dinner was held last Friday after the formal function had been discontinued for the past 4 years and was a pleasant occasion honoring the memory of the Confederacy. It was sponsored by the Sons of the Confederates, Camp Frank Paxton and by Mary Custis Lee Chapter U.D.C.. Sixty-six persons were seated... Hon, Greenlee D. Letcher presided as toastmaster and gave an interesting sketch of General Stonewall Jackson... According to annual custom, a check was presented by the Sons of Veterans to Jackson Hospital. Mr. Andrew P Wade (a friend of Martha's husband), commandant of the camp made the presentation and it was accepted by MRS. DAVID E. STRAIN, president Mary Custis Lee chapter U.D.C... ...Crosses of honor were awarded by Mary Lee Custis Chapter, U.D.C. to Matthew White Paxton, Jr. and Wallace W. Reid. These crosses are bestowed for military service in the U.S. Army to those of direct Confederate lineage. The awards wre made by MRS. DAVID E. STRAIN, president, and assisted by Mrs. James S. Moffat (sic), custodian of the crosses, as follows: MATTHEW WHITE PAXTON, Jr. The son of MATTHEW WHITE PAXTON, Lexington, Virginia., and Mary Louisa Hopkins... Plus, Wallace W. Reid The son of Charles Lafitte Reid and Harriet F. McClung... He is a grandson of William H. Reid, who entered the Confederate service on July 29, 1881, as a member of Company E, 52nd Virginia Regiment... It was in a long article titled LEE-JACKSON DAY DINNER HELD AT DUTCH INN, in the Rockbridge County News, dated 25 Jan 1934 (Note: I suspect "Mrs. James S Moffat" may have been her sister in law, Myrtis (Mrs. Jas) Moffett).

On the 1940 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found widow Evelyn S Strain, 63, had 2 years of college. Resided at 304 S. Jackson Avenue. (If you look real closer at her surname, there is no E at the end. Look at each letter and see the N has an odd curl. Plus the "S" does not match the S in her surname. Ancestry indexes "Evelyn S Straine."

She was very interested in her family genealogy. She collected lots of data on them, all in this area. In 1934, when few remaining Civil War Veterans survived, 33 of their daughters met. They called themselves The Rockbridge Grays chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy. They met at Evelyn's home and elected the 1st chapter president, Lucy Ackerly (Remarkable Rockbridge: The Story of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Charles A. Bodie, Rockbridge Co. Historical Society, 2013, p 290). Her father served in the Rockbridge Grays Regiment and lost his only remaining sibling in battle. I have an undated photo of her placing a wreath, inside the gate on Stonewall Jackson's fenced in grave. She was preparing data to get in to D.A.R., through her many family patriots.

Her first two children died early, one at about age 3 and the second one was stillborn. Then she had 2 healthy sons. Both sons would eventually leave the area. She enjoyed her then only grandchild, Belinda, who shared some sweet details about her, with me.

Martha's husband David, died at age 44, leaving her with 2 young boys to raise. She had their home on Jackson Street converted into apartments and built a tiny home on the side for her family. The 7 May 1923 issue of Virginia Military Institutes paper, The Cadet, p 6, under Student quarters lists 11 Jackson Avenue, Mrs. D.E. Strain meals only. Some years following her passing, some of her land in the back was purchased by a neighbors, Royster & Katie Lyle, who purchased the small house also. I was able to tour the home. I'd previously been inside two of the first floor apartments (mother and daughter) in the front and in the back.

She added to her mother's handwritten cookbook dated 1 Jan 1879, her own collection of recipes. Drop or Jelly Cake from Aunt Maggie, Ginger Crackers, Cocoa-nut Cake, Napolitan Cake, Dark Fig Cake, Yellow Pickles from Mrs. C.B. McClung (probably Mary Jane Moffett McClung), Spanish Pickle from "Ma. Strain" (see photo of recipe on Lula Strain McCorkle's site 22904939), Cocoa-nut Pudding from Mattie Strain, Cream Candy from Sister Lula, Blackberry Wine, Devil Cake, Brownies, Water-mellon Sweet meat and Sweet Tomato Pickle from Sister (in law) Lula (Lulu Dunlap Strain McCorkle, Indian Chutney, Oyster Omelette, Snow Cream, Ginger Pear, etc. Also in her book are: beautiful colorful magazine pages from Del Monte and Crisco or company literature from Baker's Canned Coconut, Hershey's, Knox Gelatine (sparkling and acidulated), Postum Cereal, and a Plum cake (I've made-very good). Various recipes and health remedies are loose or glued on pages. 1000 words to be given in the state spelling contest in Feb 1925, her son DES's full name handwritten on the top. At age 19, I suspect these were used to brush up his spelling for college admission or similar.

See her sister in law Myrtis B. Moffett Findagrave #23829160 to see transcription of parts of a Apr 1933 letter to Evelyn.

MRS. D. E. STRAIN, Mrs. Martha Evelyn Moffett Strain, widow of David Eldred Strain, died Friday morning, August 1, at Jackson Memorial hospital after a short illness. Sunday afternoon following a short prayer service at the home for the family, funeral service was held at the grave in the Lexington cemetery at 5 o'clock, conducted by Dr. P. Frank Price of China, an old friend, in the absence of her pastor, Dr. J.J. Murray. Mrs. Strain, a daughter of William B. Moffett and Martha C. [sic] McChesney Moffett, was born near New Providence church, Rockbridge county, April 23, 1876. She was the last surviving member, living in Rockbridge county, of the old and prominent Moffett family and on her mother's side a direct descendant of the famous McChesney family, who helped to make so much of the history of Rockbridge county. She married David Eldred Strain November 10, 1897 and is survived by two sons, David Eldred Strain, Washington, D.C.; William Moffett Strain, Pittsburgh, Pa., and a granddaughter, Belinda Brown Strain, of Arlington. Mrs. Strain was a member of the Presbyterian church and active in church work until her illness in 1939. She was public-spirited, a lover of history, and an ardent worker for the U.D.C. (United Daughters of the Confederacy) having served two terms as president of the Mary Custis Lee chapter, 1927-1929 and 1933 to 1935. It was during her lst term as president she organized the Rockbridge Grays chapter, Children of the Confederacy, and for which she worked untiringly until her illness. She was known and beloved by the children, who called her their "mother," and even after her serious illness two years ago attended some of their meetings. Evelyn and her brother James, were the only remaining siblings out of 10, in 1905. Her father was the only remaining child of 6 kids aft 1861. His mother was one of 3 kids out of 9 that survived after 1899. The Rockbridge County News, Thursday, 7 Aug 1941.

Evelyn Moffatt (sic) Strain was born 23 April 1876 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia and died on 1 Aug 1941 at 10:15 a.m., at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Lexington, Virginia. It was her 4th day there. She resided on Jackson Avenue. She was the daughter of W B Moffatt (sic) and Martha C McChesney, both Rockbridge Co. born and the widow of David E Strain. The cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage, hemiplegia - right side (complete paralysis), for her last 8 days. Plus she suffered from hypertension. Her husband's kin, Dr. Joseph E Seebert was her physician. Miss Lucy Ackerly was the informant. On 3 August, she was buried at "Lexington Presbyterian Cemetery" which was renamed Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. Virginia Certificate of Death #20482.

I have a framed photo of Martha Evelyn, with her mom Martha E. McChesney Moffett (d 20 Dec 1900) and a baby in a white dress. This has to be her 1st baby, Evelyn McChesney Strain, who died 20 Mar 1901. The baby looks to be holding up her head or at least a year old, so I'm estimating it was taken in between Jun 1899 to 20 Dec 1900. On the back is written "Eveline."

I have a tintype of a young girl about 1 1/2 years old, that I suspect is Martha, but since it's not marked, who knows? I also have a large red embossed velvet photo album of cabinet cards (see photo on her grandmother, Margaret Gilleland Moffett's FaG memorial) that likely belonged to her parents before she inherited it but it is just a guess. Pix of her siblings, parents and other unknowns are inside.

See a 1990's photo of her living room formal tiled fireplace in the room with the turret, after the home remodeling into apartments. The tile is much prettier than it appears in the drab photo. at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=37882354&PIpi=84264158

Her shared granite gravestone says(October 1990 pix):
STRAIN
DAVID ELDRED
MARCH 8TH 1873
NOV. 10TH 1897
FEB. 28TH 1918
EVELYN MOFFETT
APR. 23, 1876
AUG. 1, 1941

I DO NOT APPROVE of "BRENDAHOOPER50 (originally shared this on 16 Aug 2017)" stealing one of my personal posted photos on Ancestry. No permission was given for this purpose and will not be.

Bio researched and written by LSP