In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. Since the Centennial History is now out of print, the Breeze is reprinting articles from the book as space allows. This week’s selection will be the 223rd installment of the Centennial History.
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OXLEY-STRICKLIN
From Beulah (Oxley) Stricklin
Beulah OXLEY has lived her whole life in Putnam County, WV. She was born on Angel Fork of Browns Creek on 1 October 1904 to Madison Lee “Brud” OXLEY and Mary Lee (Russell). “Brud” was a son of Creed Peter OXLEY and Mary O. (Bell), a sister to Peter Henry Bell, (who came to Putnam Co. in the mid-1880’s from Franklin Co., VA, and bought land on Trace Fork of Mud River). These OXLEYs and BELLs were really just a ridge apart! Some called the hill OXLEY Mountain.
Beulah says that Creed P. OXLEY taught her to count when she was just a little girl. Creed Peter and Mary O. OXLEY lived nearby on Angel Fork, as did his brother Nathaniel Callihill OXLEY. Beulah tells us that her father, “Brud” OXLEY, was a farmer. He lived off his land. Some say that these OXLEYs introduced tobacco to the area. Beulah’s mother died of cancer. She and several others are buried in the OXLEY Cemetery on the hill at the head of Angel Fork.
Beulah OXLEY married on 23 Feb 1952, to John Henry STRICKLIN, son of Samuel STRICKLIN and Lucy (YOUNG). Beulah and John lived almost a year with her father “Brud” OXLEY on Angel Fork. Later, they moved in January 1953 to Joe’s Branch, off U.S. 60 near Hurricane until Nov 1973. At the time they moved to a cottage on U.S. 60 in the Stricklin Community. Beulah was John’s third wife. Beulah had no children. John had five: Esther STRICKLIN married Emmett YOUNG. Grace STRICKLIN married Robert COYNER. Henry STRICKLIN married Edna ROGERS. Paul STRICKLIN married Cora Beatrice THACKER. And Jane STRICKLIN married Dewey THACKER.
But Beulah has had children always around her. Her sister Reba OXLEY, who married Earl ADKINS, had several.
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A digital copy of the Centennial History can be obtained from the Hurricane City Hall for a small donation. For more information, call the City of Hurricane at (304) 562-5896.
