Sorry to disagree, but I have researched this family before!

First, Laura Ann Strickland did not come west on the 1838/39 "Trail of Tears". She was still living with her family in Alabama when her brother, John Anderson Strickland, was born on 10 June 1840 - (parents: Samuel Smith Strickland and Aetna Jane (Jenny) Robertson- both "white" and born in KY in 1807. They were married 28 July 1827 in Lawrence Co. TN.).

After stopping over in Mississippi for a couple of years, the Strickland family did not even come to Indian Territory (the termination point of the "Trail of Tears") when they did come west!- They went to Searcy County AR and are shown on all of my records from there--.

The best source on Searcy is James Johnston, Historian and publisher of many books and Newsletters on people and happenings in that area. Also check out http://www.argenweb.net/searcy/

Good luck--

Jerri (Rogers) Chasteen
Claremore OK