Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Stauffer, Ripley 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 3:11 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Ripley Stauffer, general farmer and apiarist on section 23, Jordan Township, 
was born June 13, 1839, in Manor Township, Lancaster Co., Pa., where his 
parents were also born and passed their whole lives. They were members of the 
pioneer Dutch families that settled in considerable numbers in Lancaster 
County. The father was married twice, and had 11 children by his first wife, 
all grown up and married but one. He died in 1852, when more than 70 years of 
age. Elizabeth (Ripley) Stauffer, the mother, was twice married. By her first 
husband, William Rummel, she had three children. Christina is the oldest; 
William is deceased; John is the name of the youngest. Mr. Stauffer is the 
only child of the second marriage. When he was ten years of age he found 
himself at liberty to maintain himself, and he earned his own livelihood among 
strangers until he was married. He worked at various points until he was 18 
years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of a 
carpenter, with his cousin, Zachariah Witmer, in the township where he was 
born. He spent three years in the acquisition of a complete knowledge of that 
business, and after he was 21 years of age was employed as a journey­man in the 
same place. His marriage to Mary A. Hess took place in Lancaster County, Oct. 
16, 1862. Mrs. Stauffer is the daughter of Michael Hess, and sister of the 
wife of Henry Mellinger. (See sketch of H. Mellingerfor a condensed account of 
the parents.) She was born in Manor Township, March 19, 1843, and was reared 
and educated in Conestoga Township in her native county. Lizzie, born Feb. 5, 
1863, and now the wife of Charles Bennett, is the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Stauffer. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett reside on a farm in Jordan Township. They have 
one child, Jessie; Minnie and Walter are deceased. Susie, second child, born 
June 18, 1864, married Jabez Franklin, and they live in Los Angeles, Cal. 
Willie, born Sept. 12, 1870, is the youngest and lives at home. Mr. Stauffer 
followed the business of carpenter five years in his native county, and at the 
expiration of that time came West. He purchased 20 acres of land for a 
homestead for his family, and has cultivated his place and devoted his time to 
bee-culture, with satisfactory results. He has about 40 stands of bees, and is 
gradually enlarging the number of his colonies. His annual product of honey 
averages about one ton. Mr. Stauffer is a staunch and zealous Republican and 
has held several township offices. He belongs to the United Brethren Church, 
of which his wife is also a member, and has acted as Steward and Class-leader 
some years.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/stauffer2357nbs.txt

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