Bio of William STAUFFER (b.1826), Faribault Co., MN

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"WILLIAM STAUFFER, a retired farmer, now residing at Winnebago City,
Faribault county, is one of the early pioneers of Minnesota, the date of 
his arrival in this county being 1856.
Mr. Stauffer was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1826, 
and is descended from Revolutionary ancestors, both his grandfathers 
having served in the war for independence, and his father in the war of 
1812.  His parents were Henry and Susan (Binder) Stauffer, natives of 
Clinton County, Pennsylvania, and both descended from old German families 
who came to this country in colonial days.  The original founded of the 
Stauffer family in Pennsylvania was a member of the colony that first 
settled Philadelphia.
When William Stauffer was a small boy his parents removed with their 
family to Butler County, Pennsylvania, where the remainder of their lives 
were passed, and where our subject grew to manhood on his father's farm,
receiving a fair education in the common schools of the neighborhood.  He
remained at home until twenty-five years of age, giving his parents the
benefit of his labor.  In January, 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth L.
Miller, a native of Butler County, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Richard 
and Mary (Christie) Miller, natives of that state.
In the spring of the same year of his marriage, accompanied by his wife, 
he started out to seek a home and fortune in the new and growing West. In
Fayette County, Iowa, he bought 120 acres of school land at $1.50 per acre,
and immediately began its improvement.  After residing there five years he
sold out and came to Faribault County, Minnesota, bringing with him five
hoke of oxen, a few necessary implements and supplies to keep his family a
few months.  June 8, 1856, he settled on 160 acres of government land in
section twenty-two, Winnebago City township, which he held under a
pre-emption claim until the homestead law came into force.  At that early
day there were but few actual settlers in this part of the county, only 
five families, or rather, three families and two men who kept bachelors'
hall, having spent the previous winter here.  He built a log cabin, 
roofing it with bark and having the bare earth for floor.  That summer 
he broke several acres of land and commenced prairie farming with a 
determination to succeed.
They experienced many hardships and privations, but heroically met and
overcame them all.  For a few years their nearest market was Mankato, and
for the first flour purchased after their arrival he had to go to Waucoma,
Iowa, a distance of 140 miles.  The journey to Waucoma was made with three
yoke of oxen, eighteen days were required to go and come and at night they
camped where darkness overtook them.  In 1858 the crops were almost a total
failure, which, with the hard times then prevailing, made the following
winter one of extreme hardship and almost destitution with the most of 
these early settlers; but two years later they were amply repaid by the 
most abundant crops every grown in the state.  As prosperity attended Mr.
Stauffer, he from time to time added to his original purchase until he
became the owner of over a section of fine land, the most of which he has
disposed of.  He now owns a choice farm of 198 acres, three-fourths of a
mile from the Chicago and Northwester Railroad depot, which is well 
supplied with excellent buildings.  For over thirty years Mr. Stauffer 
followed farming and stockraising in Winnebago City township, and by 
industry, perseverance and the assistance of his frugal wife, made it a 
success and acquired a handsome competency.  In 1888 he bought a residence 
in Winnebago City, where he now resides, and has since lived retired, 
enjoying a well-earned rest.
Mr. Stauffer has not only witnessed the growth and development of the
county from one vast, unbroken prairie, but also has faithfully performed
his part in assisting to develop its natural resources, and every measure
for the advancement of the public good has received his encouragement. He
has supported the principles of the democratic party, but has never sought
or desired office of any kind; is strictly temperate in all his habits; 
and he and his wife hold membership in the Protestant Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have fourteen children, twelve of whom are living at
this writing, namely:  Emeline, wife of Thomas Jenkins, of Delevan 
township, this county; Henry W., who was born February 3, 1857, and was 
the first white male child born in Faribault county, is now a farmer of 
Amboy; Amelia, wife of Joseph Spaulding of Oregon; William Marion, a 
farmer of Nashville, Martin County; Elizabeth, wife of Oscar Jenkins, of 
Delevan township; Amilda, who married James Barnes, a farmer of Winnebago 
City township; John , a farmer of the same township; Newton; Mary, wife 
of John Jenkins, of this county; Edith, now Mrs. A. Aldridge of 
Minneapolis; Alice Zella; and Judson. 
Mrs. Stauffer's father died in Pennsylvania when she was twelve years of
age, and her mother and the other members of the family, with the 
exception of one daughter, came West with Mrs. Stauffer.  Mrs. Miller 
died at Northfield, at the age of nearly eight-four years."   

Exerpt from "Memories of the Counties of Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and
Jackson, Minnesota" (pp. 415-417)
Chicago
The Lewis Publishing Company
1895