At the time of his World War I Draft Registration of June 5, 1917 at age 25, Emerson and his wife were living at Route 6, Timmonsville, Florence County, South Carolina. He was listed as a married self-employed farmer, tall, medium build, blue eyes, and brown hair. He registered at Precinct 8, Florence County, South Carolina, and signed the registration card in his own handwriting.

Mr. Strickland did not have another given name other than Emerson, and according to a 90-year-old daughter (in 2012), who always has and still spells her maiden name "Stricklen", there was a period in Emerson's life when he started spelling his surname "Strickland", a spelling of a similar name, with a slightly different pronunciation. His obituary referred to him as Stricklen. None of the others in the family were ever known to spell it that way.

Obituary: "Florence Morning News", Florence, Florence County, South Carolina of Saturday, November 27, 1971. Mr. Stricklen died on Thursday the 25th.

"TIMMONSVILLE – Emerson Stricklen, 80, died Thursday night in a Florence hospital after a long illness.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sparrow Swamp Baptist Church by the Rev. Arthur Wall. Burial will be in the church cemetery, directed by Layton-Perry Funeral Home.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Mr. Stricklen was born in Florence County, a son of the late William Beaty and Ella McKay Stricklen. He was a member of the Sparrow Swamp Baptist Church, and a farmer.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Agnes Leroy Sansbury Stricklen; Three daughters, Mrs. Eugene (Marie) Brown and Mrs. Willard (Nobia) Alexander, both of Timmonsville, and Mrs. LeRoy (Emma) Brown of Florence; two brothers, Earl and Corbett Stricklen, both of Timmonsville; seven sisters, Mrs. Charlie Greene, Mrs. Douglas Green Sr., Mrs. Walter Hill, Mrs. Louis Anderson, Mrs. J. B. Timmons, all of Timmonsville, Mrs. S. E. Meggs and Mrs. Albert Timmons, both of Florence; and six grandchildren and a great – grandchild."

Mr. Stricklen passed away at McLeod Hospital in Florence.