The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-09
RICH IN IA YEARS.
Ex-KansaS Official PrOSpered
as Publisher in Tulsa.
Stryker Died Day Following
Death of His Competitor.

Tulsa, Okla.-The day before Will
liam Stryker died he was informed
that his Oldest Tulsa competitor in
the printing business, c. F. Norman,
had died. He then remarked:
I'VE have been fighting for con-
tracts for job printing longer than any
two men in Tulsa. Now he is dead,
and I've twenty years yet to live"
Monday morning FEBRUARY PAD at
Z o'clock, just a few minutes after he
had arisen from his bed Mr. Stryker
was striker with an acute attack of
heart trouble and died without regain
ing consciousness.
Thus marks the passing of Tulsas
oldest job printing owners and pub
! fishers.
Coming to Tulsa fourteen years ago
from Wellington, Kan, Mr.. Stryker
! purchased the Indian Republican, the
only weekly published regularly in
Tulsa at that time. DR.. S. DeZen
| Hawley, now city physician was then
one of the owners OF the paper. I'm
mediately Mr.. Stryker changed the
name to the Tulsa Democrat and pub
liShed it as a weekly for a little more
! than two years.
Seeing the city start on its remark
a BILE era of prosperity, which has never
subsidized, Mr.. Stryker decided to put
an afternoon daily in circulation. He
! started with no wire report, save the
/
for a pony service from the Asso-
! ciated Press which he continued to
get until in 1911, when the field was
| large enough to take the full report.
Into Job Printing Business.
Thru the summer of 1911, Mr..
| Stryker had the hardest fight in his
newspaper career. 1t was during the
spring of this year that the Tulsa Post
| entered the afternoon field and flour
ished for a period of four months.
Then itS>owner died and when it came
time to dispose of the property Mr.
| Stryker purchased the press and other
equipment needed to enlarge his plant
| It was then that he started the Sunday
| edition to the Democrat.
Continuing at the head of the paper
until the fall of 1916, Mr.. Stryker sold
his interests to Charles Page. Since
that time he had devoted all his time
to furthering his other interests,
which consisted of job printing
shop, the Quality Engraving company
; and real estate.
Left 100000 Estate.
Coming to Tulsa with fortune that
three figures could easily cover, Mr..
Stryker left an estate valued around
100000.
Before coming to Tulsa Mr. Stryker
had been engaged in the publication
business in Wellington, Kan. He
entered the field there after retiring
as head of the Kansas schools. He was
elected to the office of superintendent
of Kansas schools in the early eighties,
during the administration of Leedy.
He served two years. being elected on
the populist ticket.
Wife, Kansas Politician Too.
Mr.. STRIKERS first wife from whom
he was divorced was one of the prin-
cipal founders of the populist party.
She is still living in her home in New
York state.
Taking a strong stand for the popu
lists, Mr.. Stryker became quite a fig
ure in politics in Kansas. Then came
the separation from his wife and the
marriage to his present wife.
During his regime editor of the
Democrat. Mr.. Stryker took a promi-
nent part in politics, being affiliated
with the Democrat party. He never
was candidate for office, but he did
seek the appointment as postmaster,
but met with no success. He was
member of no secret organization.
Born in Strykerville, n. Y, March
"a, 1857. Mr.. Stryker was reared as
a Quaker. He was identified with
that church until he took up Christian
Science in late years. He came to
Fort Scott when II years old and
taught in the public schools for sever
al terms. 1t was while engaged in
this profession that he met his first
wife.
Having a strong personality and a
quick tendency to take advantage of
opportunity, Mr.. Stryker was pro-