Absalom Andrew Sydenstricker (, 1852–1931) was an American Presbyterian missionary to China from 1880 to 1931. The Sydenstricker log house at what later became the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace in

Hillsboro, West Virginia Hillsboro is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 232 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. History Hillsboro was named for pioneer John (Richard) Hill, from N ...

, was Absalom's early childhood home. He was of German descent. His daughter, Pearl S. Buck, became an award-winning author. The book '' Fighting Angel,'' written as a companion to her memoir of her mother, ''

The Exile ''The eXile'' was a Moscow-based English-language biweekly free tabloid newspaper, aimed at the city's expatriate community, which combined outrageous, sometimes satirical, content with investigative reporting. In October 2006, co-editor Jake ...

'', recounts the life and work of Absalom (called "Andrew" in the book). Her representation of her father was conflicted between respect for his steadfastness, and bitterness for his treatment of her mother. She wrote that his was This brief summary of the family life and missionary work of Absalom and Caroline Maude "Carie" (Stulting) Sydenstricker (1857–1921) shows the perseverance, under extreme hardships, of missionaries to China during this time period. The names of the family members appear in quotes as they are given in the books ''The Exile'' and ''Fighting Angel''. Absalom is called "Andrew", Caroline is called "Carie", Pearl is called "Comfort". Names of cities of China are given in the modern Pinyin form, with names used in the books given in parentheses.

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Bibliography

* , originally New York: John Day. * Buck, Pearl S. ''The Exile. Portrait of an American Mother'' (John Day, 1936; rpr. with a new Introduction, Norwalk, CT: EastBridge, D'Asia Vu Reprint Library, 2009 . * . * . * . {{DEFAULTSORT:Sydenstricker, Absalom 1852 births 1931 deaths American expatriates in China American Presbyterian missionaries People from Hillsboro, West Virginia Presbyterian Church in the United States members Presbyterian missionaries in China Presbyterians from West Virginia