Colonel William Strothers

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• Name	Colonel William Strothers  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  Born	1868 Catalpa, Culpeper, Virginia, USA [2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1870 Catalpa, Culpeper, Virginia, USA [13]  –  Residence Post Office: Culpeper Court House
  Occupation	1880 Gary, Lake, Indiana, USA [14]  –  "When he was 11 or 12 years old he ran away from home to join the railroad as a water boy for a railroad gang in Gary "
  Residence	1880 Catalpa, Culpeper, Virginia, USA [5]  –  12 Age: 12; At Home Occupation: At Home; EnumerationDistrict: 032; MonthsUnEmployedPastYear: 10; Single MaritalStatus: Single; Son RelationToHead: Son
  Physical Description	1896 [14]  –  "Six feet two inches tall and weighed a muscular 220 pounds."
  Residence	1896 Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [16]
  Residence	1898 322 Calder street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [15]
  Residence	1910 433 South Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [15]
  Residence	1914 600 Forster Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [15]
  Residence	1920 423 Strawberry, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [11]  –  Age: 52; Occupation: Proprietor; AbleToSpeakEnglish: Yes; CanRead: Yes; CanWrite: Yes; EnumerationDistrict: 88; HomeOwnership: Rented; Industry: Pool Room; IsEmployed: Own Account; MaritalStatus: Married; RelationToHead: Head
  Only First Ten Games To Count In Eastern League	18 Apr 1925 Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA [17]
  Race	Black [5, 11]
  Sports Team	Manager: Harrisburg Giants [14, 15]
  Name	C. W. Strothers [11, 16]
  Name	C.W. Shothers [12]
  Name	Colonel Strother [13]
  Occupation	Entrepreneur: Owner of Baseball Team, Pool Hall, Cigar Store, Dance Halls. [14, 15]
  Probate	​ Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [9]
  Residence	1930 Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [18]
  Residence	1933 423 Strawberry, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [8]
  Died	15 Jul 1933 423 Strawberry, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [2, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  	Age: 65
  Buried	​ 201 South 30th, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA [2, 7]
  	Lincoln Cemetery
  Notes	Colonel William Charles “C.W.” Strothers was a pioneering figure in African American baseball and a prominent businessman in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Born in Culpeper, Virginia, in 1868 to Willis Strothers and Mary E. Wallace, Strothers ran away from home at the age of 12 to work on the railroads. In 1888, he settled in Harrisburg, where he would make significant contributions to the community until his death in 1933. Upon arriving in Harrisburg, Strothers initially worked at the Harrisburg Car Works and held various jobs, including waiter, houseman, laborer, and policeman. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish several successful businesses, including a restaurant, barber shop, cigar store, lunchroom, and billiard rooms. His pool hall, located at 423 ½ Strawberry Street from 1916, served as the headquarters for his baseball team, the Harrisburg Giants. Strothers is best known for founding the Harrisburg Giants in 1890, a team that would rise from amateur status to become one of the leading professional black baseball teams in the country. The Harrisburg Giants played in the Eastern Colored League from 1924 to 1927, featuring legendary players like Oscar Charleston, Ben Taylor, John Beckwith, Rap Dixon, Fats Jenkins, Rev Cannady, Bunny Downs, and Spottswood Poles. These players were recognized among the greatest Negro League players of all time. Under Strothers' leadership, the Harrisburg Giants achieved numerous successes, including winning several championships and becoming known for their competitive spirit and talent. His commitment to the team and the sport left a lasting legacy in the history of African American baseball. Beyond baseball, Colonel Strothers was a community leader, involved in various civic and social organizations such as the North Stars Social Club, the Workingmen’s Social and Protective Association, the Knights Templar, Elks, Odd Fellows, St. James Commandery No. 17, and Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43. He was remembered as a friendly, good-spirited individual who was always willing to help others. Strothers was a member of the executive council of owners of the Eastern Colored Baseball League. Despite the financial losses he sufferred later in life, he continued to support the Harrisburg Giants and other business enterprises. He remained dedicated to the team's success until his passing. Colonel William "C.W." Strothers passed away on July 14, 1933, at his home in Harrisburg. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Jennie Strothers, three sisters, three brothers, and other family members. Funeral services were held at the Chosen Friends Lodge F. and A.M. and was buried in Harrisburg's Lincoln Cemetery. By Rachael Keri Williams. July 28, 2024.
  Person ID	I567 SOALsearch
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024

  
  
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  Father	Willis Strothers, I b. 1830, Virginia, USA
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Mary Ellen Wallker b. Abt 1848, Spotsylvania, Virginia, USA
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F194 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Jeannete Jennie Smith (Age 57 years) b. 29 Nov 1882, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA d. 25 Jan 1940, 423 Strawberry, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 57 years)
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F193 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Annie V Randolph (Age 25 years) b. 15 Aug 1871, Clarke, Virginia, USA d. 1 May 1897, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 25 years)
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F3416 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Colonel Strothers

  
  

• Sources

  [S1] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;). [S2] Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1967, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 062001-065000. [S74] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), The Evening News; Publication Date: 25 Jan 1940; Publication Place: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/59949250/?article=e6b632b7-c640-4b9d-af1e-7d323149daef&focus=0.146606,0.67500585,0.26133722,0.7511248&xid=3355. [S2] Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1967, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 002551-005550. [S20] 1880 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Year: 1880; Census Place: Catalpa, Culpeper, Virginia; Roll: 1361; Page: 312D; Enumeration District: 032. Record for Colonel Strother https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=6742&h=42671941&indiv=try [S74] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), Harrisburg Telegraph; Publication Date: 25 Jan 1940; Publication Place: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/43087078/?article=30734c52-3201-404d-a6e9-fc730679c25a&focus=0.37893733,0.079692,0.49801436,0.23607537&xid=3355. [S1904] U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2012;). Record for Colonel William Strothers https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=60525&h=212843369&indiv=try [S245] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), Harrisburg Sunday Courier; Publication Date: 16 Jul 1933; Publication Place: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/88279060/?article=a004d76a-eb9d-4957-865c-cfb3988a8f58&focus=0.5738623,0.5875762,0.7071757,0.73487043&xid=335. Record for Colonel W. Strothers https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61843&h=519180537&indiv=try [S269] Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2015;), Dockets, 1785-1852; Index, 1785-1937; Author: Pennsylvania. Orphans' Court (Dauphin County); Probate Place: Dauphin, Pennsylvania. [S12] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), Harrisburg Telegraph; Publication Date: 15 Jul 1933; Publication Place: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/41549809/?article=c0e94d43-3c43-4319-b9f8-992c74de976a&focus=0.7299113,0.6277393,0.84600353,0.71353805&xid=3355. [S36] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Year: 1920; Census Place: Harrisburg Ward 9, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1558; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 88. Record for C W Strothers https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=6061&h=50196218&indiv=try [S35] Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriages, 1852-1968, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2016;). [S69] 1870 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), Year: 1870; Census Place: Catalpa, Culpeper, Virginia; Roll: M593_1641; Page: 566A. [S2437] Center for Negro League Baseball Research, Dr. Layton Revel, (Name: Center for Negro League Baseball Research; Location: 1409 Carroll, Carrollton, Texas 75006; Date: Copyright 2022;), Dr. Layton Revel and Richards J. Puerzer. “Early Pioneers of the Negro Leagues: Colonel William ‘C.W.’ Strothers.” Center for Negro League Baseball Research, Copyright 2017. http://www.cnlbr.org/ [S1344] Digital Harrisburg (blog), Strothers, Colonel William. Digital Harrisburg. “Colonel William Strothers,” October 27, 2020. https://digitalharrisburg.com/commonwealth/100names/colonel-william-strothers/ [S67] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2020;), Harrisburg Daily Independent; Publication Date: 2/ Jan/ 1896; Publication Place: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/82908458/?article=e0236c10-fcfd-4b82-b744-d68cdc7b804b/4148fad3-65cc-4045-be47-dc616e0daf95&focus=0.48634455,0.86674774,0.6354593,0.9195144&xid=3398. Record for C. W. Strothers https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=62116&h=328100122&indiv=try [S5644] Newspapers.com - The Afro-American - 1925-04-18 - Only First Ten Games To Count In Eastern League, (Name: The Afro-American; Location: Baltimore, Maryland; Date: 1925-04-18;), Only First Ten Games To Count In Eastern League 1925-04-18. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-afro-american-only-first-ten-games-t/151747129/?xid=637 [S27] 1930 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;).