Probably no one connected with the printing and publishing business in Greenfield during the last score of years has been more widely known than Ben Strickland, for many years a resident of this city, but who is now assistant clerk to the Indiana state printing board and to the state board of election commissioners, whose offices are in the state house at Indianapolis. Mr. Strickland was born at Centerville, Wayne county, Indiana, on October 17, 1859, and is the son of Richard J. and Ann E. (Hamlyn) Strickland. Richard J. Strickland was a well-known newspaper man, publishing the Chronicle at Centerville for a number of years, but in 1873 he moved to Greenfield and established the Jeffersonian. In his father's office at Centerville, and, later, in the office of the Jeffersonian, Ben Strickland devoted himself to the "art preservative," and then, desiring to see the country, he started out as a journeyman printer, traveling west as far as Denver and as far south as New Orleans. In 1883 he returned to Greenfield and about two years later went to New Albany, where he remained for ten years. In 1895 he returned to his old home town of Centerville and published a special souvenir historical edition, called The Old Settler, relating to the pioneers of Wayne county. Later, he moved to Greenfield and opened a job-printing shop in the Randall block. Subsequently he bought the Greenfield Globe (weekly) and after conducting that paper alone for a year, sold a half interest in it to N. R. Spencer, in partnership with whom he later bought the Greenfield Evening Star (daily). A third interest in the business was subsequently sold to E. E. Davis. They published these papers for several years, after which the plant was moved to Cumberland, Marion county. Mr. Strickland remained in Cumberland for some time, but in 1910 was appointed assistant clerk of the state printing board, the duties of this office carrying the same relation to the state board of election commissioners, and in which position he is still serving. Politically, he is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political affairs.

On March 25, 1884, Ben Strickland was united in marriage to Alice Hancock, who was born in Floyd county, this state, member of one of the old families of that county. To this union two children were born, Jennie, the wife of Charles Eakin, who is engaged in the printing business at Louisville, Kentucky, and William B., who is engaged in the insurance business at New Albany, Indiana. The mother of these children died when they were still quite small and, on March 4, 1896, Mr. Strickland was married to Eunice Lineback, of Greenfield. To this union have been born five children, Hester, Grace, Caleb, Morgan and Ellabelle. Mr. Strickland is a member of the Greenfield lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the International Typographical Union. He and his family are very comfortably situated in Irvington, the beautiful eastern suburb of Indianapolis.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 1117-1118.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI November 20, 2001.

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