STRICKLER, Henry P. 1827-1912

STRICKLER, MILLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/1/2019 at 15:08:12

Ivester Church Founder Dies In Kansas

H. P. Strickler Died From Bright's Disease

H. P. Strickler died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. Edwin Jones in Larned, Kansas last Sunday. Announcement of his death was received by relatives here Monday. The remains were sent to Grundy Center for interment and they reached here early Wednesday morning. The funeral was held at the Ivester church at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. The services were attended by a large number of old friends.

Mr. Strickler contracted Bright's disease last winter and from that time on until he passed away he was a constant sufferer.

Mr. Strickler is survived by seven children. They are, Dan of Eldora, Dr. Benjamin of St. Louis, O. from Clarion, Jacob from Kansas City, Mrs. Edith Brouse from Ohio, Mrs. J. Edwin Jones of Larned, Kansas, and Will of Washington.

Obituary
There lies before us today the body of one whose face is familiar to many here assembled, and whose voice has been often heard from this pulpit in sermon and song. His spirit has gone to God who gave it, and we are reverently bearing its tenement to the grave, there to await, we trust, the resurrection from among the dead.

Henry Price Strickler was born in Franklin County, Pa., January 29, 1827. Married to Maria Miller Dec. 24, 1850, at Mt. Carrol, Ill. To this union was born ten children, five boys and five girls. Three of the girls and the mother preceded him to the spirit world. The boys, Benjaman, William, Jacob, Daniel and Oliver together with Etta Maria, Mrs. J. Edwin Jones and Edith Lottie (Mrs. L. D. Brousel) still survive.

One year after marriage he became a member of the church of the Brethren at Mt. Carrol, Ill., at which place he was made a deacon in 1859, and a minister in 1860. He also was soon advance to the second degree of the ministry. In 1866 they moved to Grundy County, Iowa. In 1868, with about 19 members, the Grundy County church was organized and he was ordered elder, and for the succeeding 22 years he had the active oversight of this church. The first nine lovefeasts were held in sheds, of which six were at his own home. Hospitality dominated the home and frequently from one to three score people slept and ate with them. His whole hearted devotion to the work was not without results. For ten years there were added an average of about ten each year, and when he moved to Texas in 1889, after 22 years of active service, he left a congregation of 167 members. He preached in school houses all thru this section of Iowa and frequently drove thirty to fifty miles to hold meetings and assist in love-feasts and council meetings.

He lived in Texas four years, returning to Grundy Center, Iowa, in 1893, where he lived most of the time since. After the death of his wife in 1892 he made his home with his daughter Etta until she, with her husband, moved to Kansas in December, 1908. Since then he has been staying mostly with his children. He attended the Annual Meeting at St. Joseph last year, and since shortly after that has been living with his daughter Etta at Larned, Kansas. He was 85 years, 3 months and 28 days old at the time of his death.

His work is done. Other men have entered into his field and continued the work. If a history of this community should be written, many men might be lauded for the splendid success, their beautiful homes, their broad and fertile acres; their bank accounts and even some munificent gifts for noble purposes; but under the name of Henry Price Strickler might be written these words: No marble shaft is needed to perpetuate his memory, he lives in the hearts and lives of many in Central Iowa. After his name has become to newer generations but a memory, these churches, fostered by his loving and energetic care will remain living, growing monuments to the work he accomplished under God.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 May 1912, pg 1