The son of Ephraim B. and Serena K. (Caldwell) Strickland.

He married 5 May 1857, St. Louis Co., MO, to Mary Ann Conway, the daughter of Samuel and Mourning (Baxter) Conway.

In 1860, they were living just outside the town of Washington, Franklin Co., MO near Matthew's parents:

1860 census, Franklin Co., MO, St. Johns Twp., South Point PO, p. 361
Matthew B. Strickland, 24, MO
Mary, 22
Virgil C., 2
Meribaugh, 21, VA

In 1870, they were living in the same place. This is definitely them despite the errors in names:

1870 Franklin Co., MO, Washington, South Point PO., p 389
B. Strickland, 36, farmer, $9,700, $7,000, MO
Martha, 30, MO
Virtual, 13, MO
Louisa, 12, MO
Emily, 10, MO
Virginia, 8, MO
Robert, 6, MO
Bozzey, 30, MO, $4,000, $5,000 [his brother]

In Mar 1877, they moved west across Missouri to St. Clair county:

1880 St. Clair Co., MO, Monegan, p. 306A
M. B. Strickland, 44, MO, farmer, GA KY
Mary, 44, MO MO KY
Virgel, 22, MO
Mary, 16, MO
Jennie, 9, MO
Ada, 7, MO
James, 6, MO

Matthew was elected to the Missouri state legislature in 1882 from St. Clair Co., MO. See biography below.

STRICKLAND, M. B.
source: 1883 History of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1140
--- HON. M. B. STRICKLAND. Among the prominent men of St. Clair County is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Franklin County, Missouri, August 8, 1835. His father, E. B. Strickland, was a native of Georgia, and his mother, formerly Sarah K. Caldwell, was a Kentuckian by birth. E. B. Strickland was one of the early settlers and leading men of Franklin County. M. B. grew to manhood at his birth place on a farm, receiving a good common school education. He was married in St. Louis County, May 5, 1857, to Miss Mary Conway, a daughter of Samuel Conway. She is a native of St. Louis County. After this event Mr. S. resided in Franklin County until 1877, and in March of that year came to St. Clair County and purchased the farm where he now resides. He has 480 acres, improved, and makes a business of raising and feeding cattle, fattening annually about two car loads of steers. He takes a prominent part in the political issues of the day, and was nominated and elected to represent his county in the legislature at the general election of 1882. This position he filled with honorable distinction. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland have a family of five children: Virgil C., Mary, Virginia S., Ada L. and James L. Himself, wife and oldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church.

1900 St. Clair Co., MO census, Monegaw Twp., p. 116
M. B. Strickland, b. Aug 1835,
Mary C., b. Dec 1834, 10 chdn; 5 living
Virgil C., b. Mar 1858, MO
Mary, b. Feb 1864

Mary died in 1908 and was buried in Appleton cemetery. Matthew moved to Bates Co., MO to live with his daughter Jenny:

1920 Bates Co., MO, Rockville, p. 210
Scot M. Stout, 50, KY KY KY, store clerk
Jenny S., 47, MO MO MO
Louise M., 24, MO KY MO
Brown M. Kinchloe, 27, MO MO MO
Brown Jr., 1 yr 11 mos, MO MO MO
Chilton S. Stout, 17, MO KY MO
Matthew Strickland, 84, MO GA KY

He died in 1923 and was taken back to St. Clair County to be buried with Mary.

Obituary from The Appleton City Journal, Appleton City, St. Clair, MO, Thursday, Apr. 27, 1922:

M. B. Strickland at Rest

Mathew Barney Strickland was born in Franklin county, Mo., August 8, 1835, and departed this life April 17, 1922. He was married to Mary Conway, May 5, 1857, who departed this life September 18, 1908. To this union eleven children were born and those surviving him are: Virgil C. Strickland, Springfield, Mo.; Jennie S. Stout, Rockville, Mo.; Ada L. Knowles, Mexia, Texas; James L. Strickland, Rockville, Mo. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church for 68 years.
The subject of this sketch had resided in Appleton City about seven years previous to his coming to Rockville, in which place he had lived the last six years of his life, and during that time had greatly endeared himself to the people of the town by his upright life, and daily walk and conversation, and where on the morning of April 17th, he was suddenly called from earth to enter the land celestial and to join with the "Spirits of just men made perfect." It was not our pleasure to have known Mr. Strickland in the prime of life as he was ripe in years when he came among us, but it was easy to realize what his younger years had been, by the character we knew him to possess, and which had been built only by long years of sacrifices and by goodly deeds and actions. He will live in the lives of his stalwart sons and daughters, who are among the best citizens of our community, and who are following in his footsteps. He will live in the lesson that he taught us of "the open hand," and that here we have no abiding place. His end was peaceful, as his life had been, and full of years, he rests on his sheaves, his harvest work is done. Besides his children, he leaves to mourn his loss eight grand children and two great grand children.
The funeral services were held Wednesday, April 19th, at his home, with appropriate services, Rev. W. J. Hill of the M. E. church, officiating and were attended by a large crowd of friends and neighbors, after which the funeral party went to Appleton City where the services were concluded in the Presbyterian church at that place, Rev. Byrns, officiating. The remains were then laid to rest in the Appleton City cemetery by the side of his wife who had preceded him a number of years.
"So fades a summer cloud away;
So sinks the gale when storms are o'er;
So gently shut the eye of day,
So dies a wave along the shore.
Life's labor done, as sinks the day,
Light from its load the spirit flies,
While Heaven and earth combine to say,
How blest the righteous when he dies."
M.S.L.

Children:

1. Virgil Conway Strickland, b. 16 Mar 1858, Washington, Franklin Co., MO; m. 1931 or later to Eva Kathleen Edelblute (b. 1875; d. 1949; she was married 1st to ____ Grob]; he d. 6 Jan 1946, Kansas City, MO; buried Appleton Cemetery.

2. Emily Strickland, b. 1860, Franklin Co., MO.

3. Virginia Strickland, b. 1862, Franklin Co., MO; probably died in 1870 as was listed on the census taken that summer, but younger sister also named Virginia was born a few months later in Oct; buried Franklin Co., MO.

4. Mary C. Strickland, b. 7 Feb 1864; never married; d. 5 Mar 1917, Rockville, Bates Co., MO; buried Appleton Cemetery.

5. Virginia Stafford Strickland "Jennie", b. 10 Oct 1870, St. Clair Co., MO; m. 1891 to Scott McKey Stout [b. 5 Jun 1870 KY; d. 7 Apr 1949, Montrose, Henry Co., MO; buried Appleton cemetery; son of John Kester Stout and Sarah McCallister]; she d. 9 Feb 1949, Montrose, Henry Co., MO; buried Appleton cemetery, St. Clair Co., MO.

6. Robert Strickland, b. 1864, Washington, Franklin Co., MO; d. by 1870; buried Franklin Co., MO.

7. Ada L. Strickland, b. 6 Apr 1873, Washington, Franklin Co., MO.

8. James Lucius Strickland, b. 20 Jun 1875, MO; m. Stella Warner [b. 31 Jan 1880, Ohio, St. Clair Co., MO; d. 4 Apr 1928, Rockville, Bates Co., MO; buried Appleton Cemetery; daughter of John G. Warner b. Germany and Mary Shaffner b. VA]; he d. 1954; Hillsborough Co., FL; buried Appleton cemetery.

9- 10. Two other children; deceased by 1900, when mother reported 10 chdn; 5 living.