Howard-Ripley County IN Archives Biographies.....Stahl, Jacob 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2006, 3:12 am Author: Jackson Morrow JACOB STAHL. Among the successful, self-made men of Howard county whose efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding and general business activity of their respective communities, the gentleman of whom the biographer writes in this connection occupies a conspicuous place. Being ambitious from the first, but surrounded by none too favorable environment, his early youth was not especially promising, but he accepted the discouraging situation without a murmur and, resolutely facing the future, gradually surmounted the difficulties in his way and in due time rose to a prominent position in the industrial circles of his community, besides winning the confidence and esteem of those with whom he was brought in contact, and today he stands as one of Howard county's most representative citizens and one of the prominent men of Liberty township. Jacob Stahl was born in Ripley county, Indiana, September 24, 1857, the son of Frederick and Catherine (Schrody) Stahl, the former having been born in Germany. Jacob Stahl, grandfather of the subject, was born April 12, 1802, and died June 12, 1870, in Ripley county. Indiana. Catherine Grimes, his wife, was born in Germany, November 8, 1803, and died September 8, 1885. Frederick Stahl, father of our subject, was born in Germany, December 26, 1832, and he died September 24, 1872. Catherine, his wife, was born March 18, 1831, and died February 27, 1875. The subject's grandfather came to America in 1852, first stopping at Wheeling, West Virginia. After coming to Ripley county, Indiana, he purchased timbered land, cleared it and farmed there until his death. He and his wife were the parents of three sons and one daughter, all living in 1908 except one son. Jacob Stahl was reared on his father's farm and attended the common and grammar schools, receiving a fairly good education. His parents dying when he was a young man he was compelled to hustle for himself, consequently he went out in the world to make his own way, being compelled at the same time to look after his other brothers and sister. He came to Howard county March 1, 1876, having been preceded by George and Adam Stahl, uncles of the subject. Jacob lived with them for eight months, working in a tile mill; later he went to ditching, becoming a ditching contractor and also contracted in cutting cord wood, succeeding at both. Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Marrietta Smith, who was born at Sycamore. Jackson township, Howard county, April 5, 1856. Her father was a native of North Carolina and her mother of Tennessee. Mrs. Stahl received a fairly good common school education. To this union, one child was born, the date of its birth occurring on May 19, 1881, and he bears the name Lawrence D. He received a common school education and later took a course in the business college at Marion, Indiana. He is a very promising young man. The subject and wife had about eight hundred dollars when they were married. Receiving some from home the amount aggregated one thousand dollars. After renting land for three years the subject bought where he now lives, the place consisting of sixty acres. Later his wife received forty acres from the old home place. The subject now has one of the best farms in Liberty township, having improved it to a high degree and installed an excellent drainage system of about eleven hundred rods of tile ditch. He feeds good stock on his place and of late his son, who married Tessie Cavaielt, has been running the farm, which is kept in a high state of productiveness and is well fenced. On it stands an excellent dwelling and convenient out buildings. Our subject has operated a threshing machine for three years with much success, and did a very large business with his machine in the season of 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl are adherents to the Catholic faith. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the lodge at Greentown. His son, Lawrence, is also a member of this lodge. The former being one of the trustees of the same. He is also a member of the Red Men's lodge at Greentown, having served as treasurer of the same for five years. Mr. Stahl and his son keep abreast of the times by general reading and they have found time to see something of the outside world, having attended the world's fair at St. Louis. Mr. Stahl was nominated by his party for trustee of Liberty township and had a majority against him of about sixty Republican votes. He is a friendly man and has a very large number of friends. He is known to be a man of upright principles and anxious to see his county develop in all lines. No one in Liberty township is better or more favorably known than he, for he has always taken a lively interest in local movements whether political, educational or moral and he can always be depended upon to lend his support and give of his valuable time in the furthering of all movements looking to the good of his community. Mr. Stahl has shown what an honest, earnest, hard working man can accomplish, although he had to hew his own fortune from the obstacles that beset his way, for he started life with no great aid from any one, but he has been industrious and economical, so that today he has a comfortable competency and can look forward to an old age of comfort and quiet. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/stahl331nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb