T. H. Strickler Bio from 1893

TILGHMAN H. STRICKLER, proprietor of the Solomon City Nursery, is numbered among the prominent citizens of Saline County, who, coming to Kansas without money or friends, have gained here a considerable amount of this world's goods, as well as the respect of all with whom business and social relations have brought them in contact.  Upon his arrival in the State, lie had but $40 with which to start in life, but lie was undaunted by poverty, and had the pluck and persistence to conquer every obstacle in the path of progress.

Born in Shelby County, Ind., May 5, 1840, our subject is the son of John and Susan (Willard) Strickler, who emigrated from Tennessee to Indiana in 1828.  On the home farm he grew to manhood, meanwhile acquiring a limited education, to which lie has since constantly added by reading and observation.  After learning the trade of a millwright, lie embarked in that business, which lie followed until 1864.  During the early part of that year, he joined the Indiana State Militia in the pursuit of Morgan, and somewhat later in the same year he came to Kansas.  It was only with the greatest difficulty that he made his way from Leavenworth and Kansas City to the western part of the State, as he was hauling sutler goods for the firm of Streeter & Strickler, merchants in Junction City.

In 1866, Mr. Strickler located three miles west of Solomon City, where he pre-empted a quarter of section 28, township 13, Saline County. I n 1868, he married Miss Mary E. Blair, who also had a homestead in that locality. She was the daughter of Newton Blair, who resided near Solomon City.  After marriage Mr. Strickler took charge of the homestead, and bought another one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, which he commenced to improve and cultivate.  There were born of this union two children: Flora B., a graduate of the Salina Normal School; and Clarissa E., a graduate of the High School at Chapman, and a teacher in Dickinson County.  Mrs. Mary E. Strickler passed from earth November 22, 1880.

October 16, 1883, occurred the marriage of T. H. Strickler to Miss Emma O. Sexton.  This lady was born in Georgia, but was reared from childhood in Shelby County, Ind.  Her father, F. C. Sexton, is widely known as a temperance reformer and popular lecturer.  She is a lady of culture and splendid education, and prior to her marriage engaged in teaching in Indiana for seven years.  The work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union possesses peculiar interest for her, and in it she has become well and favorably known throughout the State.  For four years she has served as president of the work in Dickinson County, and is the State Superintendent of the Juvenile 'Department.  She was a delegate to the National convention held in Atlanta in 1890, and in addition to her family duties finds considerable time to devote to the advancement of her chosen work.  Mr. and Mrs. Strickler were bereaved by the death of their son, Roscoe, who died in childhood.  Their daughter, Vera Agnes, now (1893) four years old, is a bright and charming child, the delight of her parents.

In his political connections, Mr. Strickler is a Prohibitionist.  As a member of the Free Methodist Church, he labors actively for the advancement of the cause of religion.  His nursery consists of about six acres; fifty acres of the farm are devoted to the raising of wheat, twenty acres to a bearing orchard, one hundred and fifty acres to meadow and pasture, and the remainder to corn.  As a stock-raiser he has met with unusual success and generally keeps on his place a hundred head of cattle.  His beautiful farm he calls the "Home of the Honey Bee," and the name is appropriate, for he keeps about sixty hives of Italian bees, and in connection with bee culture he has a full line of supplies for sale.  In addition to this, he has a complete assortment, of groceries and family supplies, which he furnishes to his neighbors and friends at a very small profit compared with their cost elsewhere.  The family residence is a modern rural abode, built upon the line between Saline and Dickinson Counties, and contains every improvement.  It was erected in 1882, at a cost of $5,100 and occupies a beautiful location upon an eminence overlooking the Smoky Hill Valley.  Truly it may be called an ideal country home, the delightful abode of a happy family.