#strop

noun. a device, typically a strip of leather, for sharpening straight razors

verb. sharpen on or with a strop

It wasn't, of course, but later when she wanted me to teach her how to use a straight razor, I got a cheap strop to practice on. When she learned the basics, I told her the new rule was that if she nicked it, I would use this one on her.

After I was able to focus on the proper surname of the wife of Noah Price, I tried to track down her parents. The 1850 Census showed Mary Collins 17, living with Francis Collins (49), James C. Collins (25), & Elizabeth Collins (22). It's an easy assumption that Francis is her mother, with a simple misspelling.

Tracking down from there, I found her in the 1840 Census also as the head of family. As you can see, the 1840 and previous censuses leave a lot to be desired.

In the 1860 Census, the kids have moved out, but instead she moved in with Elizabeth, now going by Olive and married to John Stroop, misspelled here as Strop.

She continues to live with Elizabeth's family in 1870.

The last census record I can track her to is the 1880 Census, where she's living with the now widowed Elizabeth, and Frances listed by the nickname Fannie.

I found Elizabeth's death certificate, which includes her father's name and Frances's maiden name, Gibson.

Taking a step back, I found the online record of marriage between Levi Collins and Frances Gibson. I then tracked down Levi and family in the 1830 Census.

So now I need to track down Gibson's in the 1820 Census. So far, unsuccessfully.

Now I know, Frances Collins was born around 1801 in Pennsylvania. Checking Pennsylvania counties bordering the West Virginia panhandle (Ohio County, VA prior to 1863), I found the Rev. William Gibson in Canonsburg, Washington Co., PA. He was a Presbyterian minister, born in Co. Down, Ireland, with a full biography available online. Sadly, he is not Frances's father. Quick research into the Reverand finds four daughters, none named Frances.

Source details and larger version.