The Dr. Absalom Sydenstricker house was the birthplace of Pearl S. Buck's father, who was a Presbyterian missionary to China for his entire adult life. The house was built in 1834 by Andrew Sydenstricker, who married Frances Coffman on January 16, 1834, and became the father of nine children, including Absalom. Five of Andrew's sons became ministers, four Presbyterian and one Methodist. The Sydenstricker family was very prominent in Greenbrier County. Philip Sydenstricker, great-great-grandfather of Pearl S. Buck, was a Revolutionary War soldier and served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
The Sydenstricker log house was moved to the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace in 1984 and is now a museum that houses exhibits about the Sydenstricker family and their history in West Virginia. The museum also offers educational programs and events that explore the history of the Sydenstricker family, the history of missionary work in China, and the life and work of Pearl S. Buck.
The Sydenstricker family
The Sydenstricker family was a prominent family in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The family's patriarch, Philip Sydenstricker, was a Revolutionary War soldier and served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Five of Andrew Sydenstricker's sons became ministers, four Presbyterian and one Methodist.
Missionary work in China
In 1873, Absalom Sydenstricker and his wife, Caroline, left West Virginia to become Presbyterian missionaries in China. They served in China for over 40 years, and raised their four children there. Pearl S. Buck was born in 1892 in Zhenjiang, China.
Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck was a novelist, short story writer, and autobiographer. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938, becoming the first American woman to win the prize. Buck's novels often dealt with the lives of Chinese people, and she was a strong advocate for social justice.
Buck's most famous novel is The Good Earth, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. The novel tells the story of a Chinese peasant family struggling to survive during the early 20th century. The Good Earth was a huge commercial success, and it was made into a successful film in 1937.
Buck wrote over 100 books, including novels, short stories, biographies, and children's books. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages. Buck died in 1973 at the age of 80.
The Sydenstricker family's legacy is one of service, compassion, and creativity. Pearl S. Buck's work continues to inspire people around the world, and her novels are still read and enjoyed today.
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