Emma Octavia (Sexton) Strickler Obituaries
January 1935

Obituary (Lawrence)

Mrs. Emma O. Strickler

Emma Octavia Sexton was born July 4, 1856 in Atlanta, Ga. and passed on January 21, 1935 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. W. Hargiss in Lawrence, where funeral services were held, and the burial was at Solomon, Kan.

She was educated in Indiana, where she taught until her marriage in 1883 to Tilghman H. Strickler of Solomon, Kan.  To them were born a son who died in infancy, and a daughter, who is now Mrs. Hargiss.  There is also an adopted son, Ellsworth Strickler, of Lawrence.

From 1885 to 1900 Mrs. Strickler was an active worker for the W.C.T.U., lecturing and organizing over the state, but after her husband's death in 1901, she managed the business he left, namely, a store, cheese factory and farm.

In 1908 she moved to Emporia and soon thereafter became interested in Christian Science, the study of which eventually grew to be the most important consideration of her life.  For 18 years she was a Christian Science practitioner.  Several years of this time were spent in Fredonia, Kan., and six years ago she moved to Lawrence.

Her outstanding characteristic was her intense loyalty, not only to family and friends, but to her highest ideals of right.

Her desire was not for rest but for freedom from material restrictions, in order that she might know limitless activity.  The prophet Isaiah pictured her hope in these words:  "They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

A Pioneer Dies (Lawrence)

--Devoted Life to Kansas and W. C. T.U.; Former Solomon Resident--

Lawrence, Kans., Jan. 21 - A life of devotion to Kansas and to the high ideals of the Women's Christian Temperance Union ended today for Mrs. Emma O. Strickler, 78, who died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hargiss here.

Mrs. Strickler was born July 41856, in Atlanta, Ga., and came to Kansas in 1883 at the time of her marriage to Tilghman H. Strickler, a pioneer in Saline county

Mrs. Strickler devoted her time to preaching her beliefs of temperance through Kansas.  She stumped the state and helped form many of first W. C. T. U. organizations in Kansas.  It was largely through her efforts that so many of the early groups of temperance workers were formed in the state.

Her vigorous work in the field continued until the death of her husband thirty-four years ago, when she found it necessary to take over the proprietorship of his grocery business.  She continued its operation for a few years, but the work was too strenuous and she was forced to sell.

From that time on, she became less active in W.C. T. U. work.  She came here to live with her daughter, Mrs. Hargiss, six years ago.  Mr. Hargiss is the track coach of the University of Kansas

Besides her daughter, she leaves a son, Ellsworth Strickler, also of Lawrence.  Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday at the Hargiss residence.  Burial will be Solomon, Kansas.

Mrs. Emma O. Strickler (Emporia)

Mrs. Emma O . Strickler, mother, of Mrs. H. W. Hargiss, who died last Monday at the Hargiss home Lawrence, was a former Emporian, and had many friends where.  Mrs. Strickler whose maiden name was Emma Octavia Sexton was born July 4, 1856, in Atlanta, Ga.  She was educated in Indiana and taught school there until her marriage in 1883 to Tilghman H. Strickler, of Solomon.  To them were born a son who died in infancy and a daughter who is now Mrs. Hargiss.  There also is an adopted son, Ellsworth Strickler, of Lawrence.  From 1885 to 1900 Mrs. Strickler was an active worker for the W.C.T.U., lecturing and organizing over the state, but after Mr. Strickler’s death in 1901 she managed the business he left - a store, cheese factory and farm.  In 1908 she moved to Emporia and soon thereafter became interested in Christian Science.  For 18 years she was a Christian Science practitioner.  Several years of this time was spent in Fredonia, and six years ago she moved to Lawrence.

Funeral services were held in Lawrence, and burial was at Solomon.

Solomon obituary

Mrs. Strickler was a former resident of the Solomon community.  More than a half century ago, T. H. Strickler had dreams of establishing a town several miles south of Solomon, old timer's recall, but this dream never materialized.  His town's growth stopped after establishment of a grocery store, and a cream station, although at one time "Strickler" was a post office.  The Strickler farm was the one now occupied by Harry King.  The grocery store was located near the farmhouse.

Mrs. Strickler was quite active in W.C.T.U. work while she lived here.  At one time she was county Superintendent in Dickinson County of that organization.  She also helped to form the local W.C T U. organization.

She was laid to rest in Prairie Mound cemetery here Tuesday afternoon.  Her husband was buried here thirty-four years ago.

WCTU Leader is Dead (Kansas City Star)

--Much of Mrs. Emma O. Strickler’s Life Devoted to Temperance Work--

LAWRENCE, KAS., Jan. 21.- A life of devotion to Kansas and to the high ideals of the Women's Christian Temperance Union ended today for Mrs. Emma O. Strickler, 78, who died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hargiss here

Mrs. Strickler was born July 4, 1856, in Atlanta, Ga., and came to Kansas in 1883 at the time of her marriage to Tilghman H. Strickler, a pioneer in Saline County

Mrs. Strickler devoted her time to preaching her beliefs of temperance through Kansas.  She stumped the state and helped form many of the first W. C. T. U. organizations in Kansas.  It was largely through her efforts that so many of the early groups of temperance workers were formed in the state.

Her vigorous work in the field continued until the death of her husband thirty-four years ago, when she found it necessary to take over the proprietorship of his grocery business.  She continued its operation for a few years, but the work was too strenuous and she was forced to sell.

From that time on, she became less active in W. C. T. U. work.  She came here to live with her daughter, Mrs. Hargiss, six years ago.  Mr. Hargiss is the track coach of the University of Kansas.

Besides her daughter, she leaves a son, Ellsworth Strickler, also of Lawrence.  Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday at the Hargiss residence. Burial will be at Solomon, Kas.

Former Resident Dead (Fredonia)

--Mrs. Emma O. Strickler Was Christian Science Practitioner Here--

Emma Octavia Sexton was born July 4, 1856 in Atlanta, Ga. and passed on January 21, 1935 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. W. Hargiss in Lawrence, where funeral services were held, and the burial was at Solomon, Kan.

She was educated in Indiana, where she taught until her marriage in 1883 to Tilghman H. Strickler of Solomon, Kan.  To them were born a son who died in infancy, and a daughter, who is now Mrs. Hargiss.  There is also an adopted son, Ellsworth Strickler, of Lawrence.

From 1885 to 1900 Mrs. Strickler was an active worker for the W.C.T.U., lecturing and organizing over the state, but after her husband's death in 1901, she managed the business he left - a store, cheese factory and farm.

During the year of 1908 she moved to Emporia and soon thereafter became interested in Christian Science, the study of which became in a few years, the most important consideration of her life.  For eighteen years she was a Christian Science practitioner and several years of this time were spent in Fredonia, Kansas. Six years ago she moved to Lawrence, Kans.

Mrs. Strickler's outstanding characteristic was her great loyalty, not only to family and friends, but to her highest ideals of right.  Her desire was not for rest but for freedom from material restrictions, in order that she might know limitless activity.  The prophet Isaiah pictured her hope in these words:  "They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Franklin Clark Sexton Dead

Franklin Clark Sexton died Thursday afternoon at 2’oclock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Emma Strickler, 132 East Twelfth Avenue. For the past twenty years Mr. Sexton had lived with his daughter and with relatives in Shelbyville, Ind.  He returned to Emporia five weeks ago and was taken sick with stomach trouble upon his arrival.  He had been unable to take nourishment during the greater part of this time.  The funeral was held Friday at the home.  The Christian Science Church service was used.  Interment was made in Maplewood Cemetery.  The pall-bearers were E.N. Evans, William Humphrey, Roscoe McCallough and Mr. Crawford, all of who were close friends.

Mr. Sexton was born in Georgia in 1832, and he lived in that state until the beginning of the Civil War.  He was a Union sympathizer, but was forced into the Confederate army.  He escaped, and with a number of other refugees, came north under the protection of the Federal army.  He then located in Shelbyville, Ind., with his wife and family.  In Shelbyville, he followed his trade of carpenter and contractor.

Aside from his daily work, Mr. Sexton was a student.  His education was self-acquired, and his remarkable intellect was a source of wonder and admiration of all who knew him.  For twenty years he spent a great deal of his time on the lecture platform, his special theme being prohibition.  He was a member of the prohibition party and was a strong contender for its issues.

He was especially well informed on the biography or great Americans, and was a lover of the best in literature. He also was a close student of the Bible, and a mathematical genius.  Much time in late years, he found entertainment in evolving principles of his own in the solution of problems in higher mathematics.