Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Strayer, William 1852 - 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 23, 2005, 5:32 pm Author: B. F. Bowen WILLIAM STRAYER, M. D. In the memorial annals of Marshall county there are few names entitled to more prominent mention than that of the late Dr. William Strayer, one of the pioneer physicians of this part of the state, who died at his home in Axtell in 1916. Doctor Strayer was a native of Ohio, but had been a resident of Marshall county since 1882 and had thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this county since pioneer days and an active mover in all causes having to do with the advancement of the common welfare in this part of Kansas. He was born at Royalton, in Fairfield county, Ohio, January 8, 1852, son of Abraham W. and Ellen M. (Cross) Strayer, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, and the latter of whom was born in Virginia, a daughter of John Cross and wife, of English ancestry. Abraham W. Strayer died at Royal-ton in 1866, in the fifty-second year of his age. John Cross was born March 2, 1761, and died April 22, 1847. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving as a private in a company of light horsemen under Col. William Washington. Mrs. Strayer, just previous to her death, was one of four real Daughters of the Revolution. Reared at Royalton, William Strayer received his elementary education in the schools of that place, and at the age of seventeen years began teaching school. He later took a course in the Northern Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and then, having determined to engage in the practice of medicine as a life's profession, entered the medical college at Columbus, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution on February 25, 1878. After receiving his diploma he opened an office at Royalton, where he continued in practice until his removal to Kansas in 1882. Upon coming to this state, Doctor Strayer located at Beattie and was there engaged in practice until in February, 1887, when he moved to Axtel, where he continued in active practice until failing health compelled his retirement during the later years of his life and where he spent his last days, his death occurring on February 11, 1916. Doctor Strayer suffered a stroke of paralysis in March, 1910, and was an invalid during the remaining six years of his life. During the long period covered by Doctor Strayer's active practice in Marshall county, there were few figures in the county, and particularly in the eastern part of the county, more familiar than his, his travels in behalf of suffering humanity taking him over a wide stretch of country. For more than a score of years he occupied the same suite of offices at Axtell and there was no one in the town who gave more unselfishly of himself for the betterment of the community than he. Doctor Strayer did not slavishly tie himself down to his practice, but at intervals in his long professional career found relaxation and recreation in travel, he having, at one time and another, visited nearly every state in the Union. He was president of the Missouri Valley Medical Association and ever took an active interest in the same, as well as in the affairs of the Marshall County Medical Association, the Kansas State Medical Association and of the National Medical Association, of all of which organizations he was an active member. Doctor Strayer was a constant student of his profession and ever kept abreast of the wonderful advancement made in medical and surgical science, to the day of his death keeping in touch with the amazing developments being made along these lines. Although physically weak, his mind retained its strength right up to the last and the Doctor maintained an unceasing interest in current affairs. Doctor Strayer was a Republican and for many years was looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in Marshall county, though in the memorable campaign of 1912 his sympathies were with the progressive wing of the party. He was not an aspirant for public office and the only such office he held was that of county health officer, in which capacity he served with much value to the community at large for a period of six years, or three terms of two years' duration each. Doctor Strayer was a Presbyterian from the clays of his boyhood, and for years was an elder in the Presbyterian church at Axtell, retaining that connection until the day of his death. He was a member of the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, and had entered the temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in the affairs of all these organizations took a warm interest. Doctor Strayer's body was taken back to his old home in Ohio for interment, and was laid away in the Watson family lot, that of his wife's family in Forest Rose cemetery at Lancaster. On September 12, 1894, at Montrose, Colorado, Dr. William Strayer was married to Euphemia Watson, of Lancaster, Ohio, a daughter of James G. and Rachel (Young) Watson, both of whom were born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in the neighborhood of Lancaster, members of old families in that county, the Watson farm there having been in the ownership of the family for four generations, and the Young farm for the past century. Mrs. Strayer is also descended from Revolutionary ancestors on both her father and mother's side. She is a graduate of the Lancaster, Ohio, high school and also of Lake Erie Seminary and holds a life certificate from the state of Coloroda, where she taught seven years previous to her marriage. To Doctor and Mrs. Strayer one child was born, a daughter, Faith, born on February 6, 1902, now in the sophomore year in the Axtell high school. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/strayer86bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb