My Genealogy Hound

William H. Strickler, of the firm of Strickler & Stafford, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, clothing, carpets and millinery, is a native of Clark County, Mo., born in 1856, and is the son of B. F. and Elizabeth K. (Smith) Strickler, both natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., and who came to this county in 1854, locating on a farm. In 1863 the father began merchandising in Kahoka, and after remaining there one year, moved to Ashton, and engaged in business at that place. At the end of a year he returned to the farm, where he remained until 1872, when he again resumed the dry goods business, and thus continued until 1880. Six years later he moved to Kahoka, and assisted his son, our subject, in the store. In 1880 the latter married Miss Mary B. Stafford, a native of Clark County, Mo., born in 1861, and to them were born three children: John F., Olevia E. and Wilford E. The same year our subject engaged in the dry goods business with his father-in-law, John Stafford, at Carthage, Ill., to which place he had moved, in 1879, from Athens, Clark County, and in 1881 he moved to Kahoka, and engaged in a thriving business. After the death of Mr. Stafford, his son, Charles A. Stafford, became a partner. John Stafford began life in poor circumstances, and was engaged in business at Athens for twenty-three years previous to his partnership with Strickler. He was quite successful in all his business transactions, and was a man much esteemed. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His brother-in-law, Charles A. Stafford, who became a partner in 1886, is a member of the same church, and a strict Democrat in politics.