This is the grave of Dr William Mayberry Stickler and his wife Virginia Lipscomb Strickler.
Dr. William Strickler was born in Virginia in September of 1838. He was said to be a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery. The profile for him states that he grew up on a farm. Later he attended school in Pennsylvania to obtain a degree and later transferred to a doctorate in medicine in Virginia. In 1861 he served as a confederate in the army and practiced as an Assistant Surgeon. He was said to have served in 35 battles.
He married Virginia Lipscomb while caring for the wounded during the Battle of Manassas in 1865. They would move to Colorado in 1869 and settle in Old Colorado City. Later he would practice medicine in Manitou Springs in 1874. He was the Mayor of Colorado Springs in (unreadable but I believe it says) 1888 to 1894. He also served on city council after his Mayoral term.
His article in the Colorado Springs Gazette headlines with “Dr. Strickler passes away; Former Mayor of Springs dies in Denver” which was published in October of 1908. “Death claimed an honored former citizen and public official of Colorado Springs and El Paso County and one of the first settlers in the Pikes Peak Region.”
He was believed to have suffered a second stroke of apoplexy (unconsciousness resulting from a brain hemorrhage). His brother was with him and his wife was widowed. A stroke that he previously suffered 12 years before had left him paralyzed.
The Masonic Order conducted services for their former Worshipful Master and he was laid to rest on the hill in Evergreen Cemetery. He died on October 26th, 1908 in Denver, Colorado. He was 70 years old.
Virginia would die at the age of 86 on March 20th, 1915 in Denver. Her funeral was held at the home of J.M Strickler in Denver and her remains were in the Chapel at Martin’s Chapel in Colorado Springs for interment. She left several nieces and nephews behind. She was buried next to her husband on that hill in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. After her death a gift from the Doctor was given to the Denver City Library for $2,500 in his name. It was said that the Doctor spent every day in the Library for his work before his passing.
An article dated December 19th, 1915 reads “Dr. Strickler was from Virginia, and came to Colorado in the early days, he was the first owner of the Iron Springs in Manitou, and sold them for a large sum. This money he invested judiciously in real estate, and when he died he was worth a sum of money.” This article was published by the Rocky Mountain News.
Rest easy pioneers. We remember you today.
Not Forgotten Colorado 
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