From "Pioneers Of Hopkins County, Texas" Volume I
Compiled by Sylvia M. Kibart and Rita M. Adams, Co-Editors for the Hopki ns County Genealogical Society

Today, Striblings are widely scattered throughout the United States. The first Striblings that came to America from England in the 1660's settled in Accomack and Northampton Counties and some in King George and Stafford Counties, Virginia. One of these early settlers, Joel Stribling, was an active participant in Bacon's Rebellion in 1676.

Thomas Jefferson Stribling was born November 9, 1788, in Union District, South Carolina. He moved to Mississippi in 1838. In 1868 he moved to Texas with his two sons and three widowed daughters and their children. Thomas Jefferson Stribling was old and blind and lay on a cot in the covered wagon during the trip from Mississippi to Texas. Beneath the bedding in the wagon was hidden gold and other valuables. This pioneer Stribling family was held up at Birch Creek in Arkansas by approximately 500 marauders. John Flavins Stribling, son of Thomas Jefferson, gave the Masonic sign, and the leader of the band was also a Mason. Instead of being robbed, they were safely escorted into Texas by a group of the marauders. The Stribling family first moved to Campbell, Texas, but after a few years settled at Reilly Springs, Texas, in Hopkins County. Thomas Jefferson Stribling died in 1872 and was buried in the Reilly Springs Cemetery.

Thomas Joseph Thadius Stribling, son of Thomas Jefferson Stribling, was born in Mississippi in 1827. He was a captain in the Confederate Army. He moved to Texas in 1868 and settled at Reilly Springs. Thomas Joseph Thadius Stribling married Jane Smiley McDonald. Six children were born to this family. The third child of Thomas Joseph and Jane was Neal McDonald Stribling. He was born April 24, 1854, in Neshoba County, Mississippi. Neal married Abbie Gail Gamblin at Reilly Springs. Two children were born to Neal and Abbie: William Gamblin and Lola Beatrice. The Neal Striblings moved from Reilly Springs to the Park Springs Community south of Sulphur Springs. At a later date they moved to Sulphur Springs on Locust Street to make their home. Neal Stribling died August 30, 1933 and Abbie Stribling died February 14, 1946. They were buried in the Shooks Chapel Cemetery south of Sulphur Springs.

William Gamblin Stribling, son of Neal and Abbie, was born September 23, 1893, in Reilly Springs. He spent his entire life in Hopkins County. On October 10, 1915, William was married to Gurtrude Lucille Darby in Sulphur Springs.