Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Hon. Solomon F. Stahl

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Hon. Solomon F. Stahl, cashier of the Benton County Bank, of 
Bentonville, Ark., is a native of Shelby County, Mo., born February 8, 
1851, son of Frederick and Margret (Link) Stahl. The father was born 
in Economy, Penn., in 1816, was of German descent, a farmer and 
engineer by occupation. He was a young man when his father, Martin 
Stahl, moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, and in 1844 Martin Stahl 
moved to Shelby County, Mo., where he died. He was a farmer by 
occupation. Frederick Stahl was married in Mahoning County, Ohio, and 
soon after devoted his time and attention to engineering, at which he 
has worked the greater portion of his life. In 1844 he moved to Shelby 
County, Mo., and in 1868 he moved to Aurora Mills, Marion County, 
Ore., where he now lives. His wife, Margret (Link) Stahl, was born in 
Columbiana County, Ohio, and died in March, 1852. She was the mother 
of six children, five of whom lived to be grown: Joseph (deceased), 
Lydia (deceased), Mrs. Mary Backert, John, Henry M. and Solomon F. The 
latter received a good common school education, and at the age of 
fifteen began working in a store at Bethel, Shelby Co., Mo., for P. & 
M. Miller, and remained three years in their employ. At the end of 
that time he became partner with J. G. Bauer. The firm title for the 
next three years was Bauer & Stahl, after which he formed a 
partnership with John D. Miller, under the firm name of Miller & 
Stahl. Both the above businesses were carried on in Nineveh, Adair 
Co., Mo., where he had moved to in 1868. In 1873 their store and 
contents, with no insurance, was burned, and the hard earnings of Mr. 
Stahl were swept away. He had a large amount of latent energy, and 
went to work with renewed vigor, establishing himself at Shibley's 
Point, Adair Co., Mo. February 22, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Shoop, 
who was born in Adair County, Mo., in 1854, and who became the mother 
of four children: Lillie A., Clauda C., Edwin R. and Carmine S. In 
1880 Mr. Stahl was elected judge of Adair County, Mo., on the 
Republican ticket, and afterward moved to Kirksville, Mo., and 
assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of that city. 
He was director and stockholder, and the following year he was elected 
assistant cashier, holding that position until March, 1885, when, 
owing to his wife's health, he resigned his position and moved to 
Bentonville, Benton Co., Ark. On June 8, 1885, he organized the Benton 
County Bank, with a capital of $20,000, and was elected cashier of the 
same. May, 1887, the capital stock was increased to $50,000, paid up. 
Judge Stahl has been cashier of the same since its organization, and 
is a man of shrewd business capacity, and one whose honesty and 
integrity have never been questioned. The bank has prospered from the 
time of its organization and is doing a good business. This bank has 
the finest banking house in Northwestern Arkansas. Judge Stahl has 
always been very temperate in his habits, and is a warm supporter of 
temperance reform. He is a Master Mason of Lodge No. 56 and of Chapter 
No. 15, and he and his wife are member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, of which he has been a member for fourteen years, and all that 
time he has been a ruling elder.