Strickler Family
In about April 1973, I was amazed to turn the page of a Ms. Magazine and discover an article on quilts, including one called “Mary Strickler’s Quilt,” which had been made by someone in Pennsylvania who emigrated to Lanark, Illinois! I’d never seen any reference to Lanark in any national publication before.
The early 1970s was a time when quilts were just beginning to be considered art forms, and the making of quilts by groups of women to be recognized as a way women socialized and felt part of the group in pioneer America. High prices were just beginning to be received for well made antique quilts. The article described Mary Strickler’s quilt as a “mariner’s compass” design, in excellent condition, and unlike some older quilts, it was signed, Mary R. Strickler, and dated 1834. It had been made in Bucks County, Pennsylvania but Mary Strickler had later emigrated with her husband to Lanark.
The article went on to say that Mary Strickler’s quilt was owned by two women just across San Francisco Bay from me, in San Rafael, California who had named their quilt shop “Mary Strickler’s Quilt.” It may have been the first quilt they bought. (Unfortunately I no longer have the article; I kept it for 30 years and only recently threw out my old Ms. Magazines when I’d totally run out of room. If anyone has the original article, please let me know.)
I went right over to Mary Strickler’s Quilt the next day. The shop was located at 936 B Street in San Rafael. The two women who owned it were Linda Reuther and Julie Silber. They had other quilts on display as well as quilting supplies. They also had postcards of Mary Strickler’s quilt, which I still have. I visited the shop several other times over maybe a 5-year period, and by the late 1970s (I think) this quilt was part of a large quilt show at the Oakland Museum in Oakland, California. I don’t know when the shop closed. The women are both still alive but doing other things.
I was back at the Oakland Museum last Sunday (January 9, 2005) and found a book which might have been from that show, “Quilts in America” by Patsy Orlofsky. It provides a photo of part of the quilt, states that it was made in 1834 by Mary Royer Strickler, who lived 1814-1890. I found her name (and many others) in the FamilyHart Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy Family Pages and Database.
Mary Royer’s parents were Christian Royer and Catherine Stover; both of them lived and died in Pennsylvania and I can’t determine if they ever lived in Carroll County. Her husband was Jacob Hollinger Strickler. I show his descendents below. Both Jacob Strickler and Mary Royer Strickler are buried in the Lanark Cemetery; they are on the Lanark Cemetery list website. She had only one sibling, a sister named Elizabeth Royer who was married to a Jacob Price. They were born and died in Pennsylvania, and as far as I can tell never lived in Carroll County, but he was related to other Prices who were related to the Arnolds and Stitzels who lived near Lanark.
I have checked with several contacts in Lanark, who have all stated that there are no Stricklers still living there. It seems a shame; the quilt has a wonderful legacy.
1. JACOB HOLLINGER5 STRICKLER (SAMUEL, JOSEPH, HENRY, HENRY) was born 25 Dec 1819 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania1, and died 26 Jun 1907 in Lanark, Illinois1. He married MARY ROYER 18 Jan 1844 in Greencastle, Pennsylvania1, daughter of CHRISTIAN ROYER and CATHERINE STOVER. She was born 19 Mar 1814 in Franklin County, PA, and died 12 Apr 1890 in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Both are buried at Lanark Cemetery, Lanark, Illinois. Their place of residence in 1900 was Franklin Street, Lanark, Illinois; living with his son Henry (Andrew H.) Strickler.
Children of JACOB STRICKLER and MARY ROYER are:
i. SAMUEL FREDERICK b. 09 May 1846, PA; m. MARY E. SNEATH5, 28 Dec 1871. The 1860 US Census for Carroll County, Freedom Township, shows the place of birth as Pennsylvania; it is not on the Family Hart website.
ii. ANNA CATHARINE STRICKLER, b. 10 Mar 1848, Franklin County, PA; m. LEWIS H. SLIFER, 16 Nov 1869. The 1860 US Census for Carroll County, Freedom Township shows the place of her birth as Illinois, not Pennsylvania.
2. iii. ANDREW HENRY STRICKLER, b. 08 May 1850, Illinois.
iv. MARGARET ELIZABETH STRICKLER5, b. 08 Oct 1855, Franklin County, Pennsylvania5; m. JOHN C. HARRISON5, 24 Dec 1890, Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania5. The 1860 US Census for Carroll County, Freedom Township shows her place of birth as Illinois, not Pennsylvania.
2. ANDREW HENRY STRICKLER (JACOB HOLLINGER, SAMUEL, JOSEPH, HENRY, HENRY) was born 08 May 1850 in Illinois5. He married MARY CATHERINE ESHELMAN5. She was born Aug 1849 in PA.
On the 1880 US Federal Census for Cherry Grove, Carroll County, Illinois, Andrew Henry Strickler shows his name as Henry A. Strickler; everything else matches.
Children of ANDREW STRICKLER and MARY ESHELMAN are:
i. ALVIN STRICKLER, b. Dec 1874, Illinois.
ii. MINNIE STRICKLER, b. Abt. 1877.
Sources
Family Hart Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy
1900 Federal Census Carroll County Rock Creek Township.
1880 U S Federal Census Carroll County, Cherry Grove Township.