Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-02-17
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ficiating. The floral tributes were
many and beautiful. The body was
born to its last resting place by the
grandchildren. this being one OF the
last. requests of Mr.. strcther. The
son, s. X. Strother of the Tayloryille'
E(nL,) Courier publishes the follow
ing obituary.:
Francis Kemp Strother died at Z
O'Clock Saturday morning at the
home Of his daughter, Mrs. G, s.
Crawford, in the SSth year of his
age. His wife died December 20
1903, and in his enfeebled condition
the shock Of her death was too mucn
for him. He began to sink imme-
diately, and In less than two months
| he Joined her among the saints on the
other shore.
Mr.. Strother was born in Septem-
ber- 1922, on the old family planta-
ton in Franklin county, North Caro-
lima. His life was an eventful one'
covering nearly century OF prog
ress. But It was modestly as well as
worthily lived.
He sprang from Cavalier stock on
both sides of the house. HIS ior-
bears on the Strother side came
from England in the early colonial
days. William strother, MEMBER
Of the household Of King Charles H.
was given a grant of land in Virgin
ia. ON which he settled, and from
there the family spread into North
Carolina, later into Kentucky ana
missouri. His mother was a LeMay'
one of the old colonial families OF
Virginia. He was born at LeMay's
Cross Roads, his mothers home, IN
franklin county, N. c. Cornwallis
emf one of the roads through this
nlantation ON his retreat from the
south to yorktown. The house IN
which Mr.. Strother was born was
built short time after the revoM-
tionary war. 1t, together with the
plantation, is still occupied by a
niece of the deceased.
MT. strother's uncle, Thomas LIE
May, was in the publishing business
at Raleigh, N. c., and leaving the
plantation he Joined his uncle. under
whom he thoroughly mastered all
the details Of the printing and pub
fishing business. Later he embarked
IN business for himself at Oxford,
N G.. as the editor and owner Of
the Oxford Leisure Hour, From Ok
ford he returned to Raleigh ana es-
tablished what afterwards became
under his ownership and management
The largest printing and publishing
plant in the state. When the war
between the states broke out ne was
conducting a flourishing business
and SO necessary we're his services to
the state government that he was
kept at Raleigh during the war, only
going into the field at the last when
every able bodied man capable Of
bearing arms was called out.
Besides doing all the state work
he did all the printing for the army
in North Carolina. With the close
of the war came the GROWING disas-
ter Of four years of hardship and
suffering, When Sherman's army
reached Raleigh 1t was allowed to
take peaceable possession, although
the city had been fortified by John
SON. who intended to make a stand
there. Realizing the hopelessness
of further resistance, Johnston was
persuaded by the city officials "a
leave Raleigh, and they met Sherman
and surrendered the city to him, re-
oeiyinE his promise that life and
properly would be protected.
No sooner, however, had the
troops taken possession of the city
than a detail of men was ordered to
destroy Mr.. Strother's office. With
axe, sledge hammer and torch the
work of destruction was completely
done. In an hour or two the result
of years Of toll and effort was laid in
ashes by the exercise of a most
wanton, cruel and inexcusable auth
ority.
A notable tribute was not long
after this outrageous affair paid to
Mr.. strother's ability in his chosen
line of business. After the war had
closed the south was thrown into
military districts, and government
printing office was established at
Charlestown. s. c., under General
Candy. Mr.. strother was asked to
manage this plant and having no
other means OF support be consented
! He remained at Charleston until
1885, when, the separation from his
family became too great a trial for