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| The old residents of Kansas will learn with profound regret, that Hiram J. Strickler, of this county, is dead. He died at his home near Tecumseh on Thursday evening at 8 o’clock, after a protracted illness devoid of all hope of human and temporal relief. His death has been anticipated daily, by his friends hereabouts, for some time, a certainty that in no degree mitigates the great and sincere sorrow which this announcement evokes. As he was a man of state-wide reputation, and his name is indelibly stamped upon the early history of Kansas, something more than the mere formal announcement is due this sad event. Gen, Hiram J. Strickler was born in Page county, Virginia, in 1831. He was educated at the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington as a surveyor and civil engineer. After completing his course at that institution, famous from Stonewall Jackson’s connection with it and as being the military nursery of most of the famous officers of the confederacy, he came west, and in January or February, 1855, settled in Shawnee county, on a tract of land which he subsequently pre-empted. He was a member of the first territorial council, and served in that body with distinguished ability. He was remarkable more for his constant, quiet and steady attention to the ordinary business of legislation than for any show of oratory or brilliancy in debate. When the office of territorial auditor was created, in 1858, he was appointed to the position, and continued to hold that office notwithstanding the various political changes that occurred, until our admission into the Union. He discharged the duties of the office with ability and fidelity, and in a manner eminently satisfactory to the people of the state. After our admission he never held any political office, nor was he ever an aspirant for any. In 1861 he retired to his farm and devoted himself wholly to agricultural pursuits. He was one of the pioneers in the organization of the state agricultural society, and soon after its formation was chosen its secretary, a position he held uninterruptedly for five or six years, and in which he gave perfect satisfaction. In 1871 he was elected president of the same society, which office he held for one year. Since that time he has participated unofficially in the business of the society, and at all times evinced the deepest interest in its continued success and financial prosperity. Gen. Strickler is better known to old residents from his militia record as commander-in-chief of the administration militia in that lively, grotesque, but bloodless campaign known to fame as the “Wakarusa war.” In 1855 or ‘56 he was appointed adjutant general of the state militia, and as such he was a participant in all the early troubles of the territory. This position he held until January, 1858. It was during this time that he commanded the forces called into the field in 1855 by order of Gov. Shannon. On the occasion of the capture of S. C. Pomeroy, afterwards U. S. Senator, who was carried into Gen. Strickler’s camp, he endangered his own life in order to preserve that of Pomeroy who was threatened with hanging by an infuriated and half drunken mob. In 1861 Gen. Strickler married Miss Hattie Stanton, daughter of Hon. Frederick P. Stanton, former secretary of the territory. He leaves a wife and six children in easy and comfortable circumstances, the fruits of his own labor since settling in the state. Gen. Strickler though a life long democrat was of that fair minded type of man who commanded the respect and regard of any opponent even in that season of bitter controversies growing out of political differences in our early days. His character was unimpeachable, his personal honor beyond question. He was too self-reliant to be effusive, or to form close and warm friendships, but he was a manly man, and treated all with that respect and fairness that compelled a return in kind. In General Strickler the state has lost an invaluable citizen, and its agricultural interests an earnest, enthusiastic and indefatigable friend. (Source: Topeka, Kansas Commonwealth, 2 August 1873. Transcription provided by Bryce Benedict) Gen. Strickler died August 31, 1873 and is buried in Topeka Cemetery - Section 14, Lot 43.
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