Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 474 - 476
WILLIAM I. STRICKLAND. Among the leading and representative agriculturists of Ohio Township, stalwart and sturdy tillers of the soil, there is none who stands a more prominent figure than the gentleman of whom this notice is written. His residence, which stands upon his fine farm on section 16, is a handsome and substantial one, and is known far and wide for the open hospitality and geniality of its inmates.
Mr. Strickland made his appearance upon the stage of life April 28, 1839, in Tazewell County, Ill., at the home of his parents, Thomas and Susan (Bondurant) Strickland, who were both natives of Tennessee. His father was of Scotch descent, while the ancestors of his mother were among the emigrants from La Belle France, who settled in the Southern States at an early day. The parents of our subject were among the pioneers who led the way toward the settling and development of Tazewell County, and endured many of the hardships and trials that were necessary to the opening up of that now splendid county of the Prairie State. His father remained a resident of that locality until his death, which occurred in 1880, and there his mother still makes her home. William was one of a family of seven children born to his parents, of whom the following five are still living: James M., of Woodford County, Ill.; Robert G., of Tazewell County, the same State; William I., the subject of this sketch; Thomas J., of McLean County, Ill., and Mary J., the wife of James Trewalla, of Ballard County, Ky. Pleasant B. and Margaret A. are deceased. The husband of Margaret A. is Thomas Cooper, now Internal Revenue Collector, with headquarters at Springfield, Ill.
The subject of this memoir was reared to man's estate in his native county, and has a wide experience of pioneer life, having grown up among the scenes of the first settlement of that portion of the Prairie State. He received his education in such schools as the times and locality afforded, and obtained the training upon his father's farm that has been so valuable to him in making the splendid success in life that he has. He remained at home until he was about twenty-four years of age, at which time he was married, the ceremony taking place Jan. 3, 1863. On that day he led to the marriage altar his chosen bride, Miss Mary Drury, who was born in Peoria County, Ill., March 26, 1846. She is a daughter of William and Susan (Truitt) Drury, natives of West Virginia and Ohio respectively.
William Drury, the father of Mrs. Strickland, removed from Portsmouth, Va., in 1834, with a colony of forty colonists, and settled in Tazewell County, near where the town of Washington is now situated. At that time Peoria was but a hamlet and the country about it almost uninhabited. Mr. Drury was a stone and brick mason, and assisted in the erection of many of the large buildings of Washington, El Paso and Peoria, and worked at his trade for a number of years. In 1876 or 1877 he removed to McLean County; Ill., where he was engaged in farming in the neighborhood of Lexington, and afterward on the farm of J. H. Kenp, east of that town. In March, 1885, he purchased property in the eastern part of the city, where he lived a quiet and retired life, until he was called to that home in Heaven not made by hands, passing away in December, 1885, in his seventy-fourth year. He was, until the last few years of his life, possessed of a very rugged constitution, and with the exception of occasional attacks of neuralgia of the heart, with which he had been troubled for twenty years and from which he died, was in excellent health. He was the father of seventeen children, twelve of whom, seven boys and five girls, all grown, survive him, as does also his estimable wife. He was a member of the Methodist Church for more than forty years, and a sincere and exemplary Christian gentleman.
The subject of our sketch remained a resident of Illinois until 1885, in which year he came to Sedgwick County, and settled on the farm where he is now living, which he had purchased several years previous. Besides this excellent property of 160 acres he is also the owner of a quarter-section of land in Kingman County, this State, which is also of great pecuniary worth. What he has accumulated of this world's goods is the result of the industry, perseverance and economy of both himself and his wife, they being the only architects of their present comfortable fortune. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active interest in all that relates to religious work. Our subject is at present officiating as Recording Steward of that society, and is also serving as Clerk of the School Board in the district in which he is living. While a resident of Woodford County, Ill., he filled with considerable credit the difficult office of Assessor of Panola Township, but has little desire for political office. In the discharge of his elective franchise he supports the candidates of the Democratic party, and advocates the principles as laid down by Thomas Jefferson. The entire family receive the highest meed of praise from their neighbors for their industry, integrity, and pleasant, genial manners.
To Mr. and Mrs. Strickland there have been born a family of nine children, as follows: Thomas F.; Mary V., wife of G. M. Horner; Julia A., Mrs. H. G. Cooney; Cora F., the wife of T. B. Burger; Charles I., Ella M., Bert W., Ethel B., deceased, and Clarence. The five eldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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