Bios: Michael M. Stair: Huntingdon Co, PA 

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 mike_gifford@geocities.com

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(from The History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties by Simpson Africa, 1883)

MICHAEL M. STAIR

Mr. Stair, one of the oldest residents of the south part of Huntingdon
County, was born in Guilford Township, Franklin Co., PA, Oct 8, 1802.  He is
of German origin on both the paternal and maternal side.  His grandfather
and a brother came from Germany previous to the Revolution, and settled near
Hagerstown, MD.  The brother enlisted in the war for independence on the
side of the colonies, and did good service.  Samuel, father of Michael
Stair, was born near Hagerstown, MD and remained there until after his
marriage to Elizabeth Ressler, whose parents came from Germany and settled
in Franklin County, PA.  After his marriage, Samuel moved to Guilford
Township where he worked at his trade that of a cooper.  He was also what
was known in those days as a rough carpenter.  He was a noted athlete and a
scienced boxer, and seldom, if ever, found his match in trials of strength
and skill.  At the breakout of the War of 1812, he enlisted in the American
Army, and served until the close of the war.  He then returned to Guilford,
where he resided until his death.  To him were born four sons and four
daughters, of whom one daughter is now living; also one son who is the
subject of this sketch. 
 
When Michael was eight years old he was bound out to Simon Logan, who lived
in Black Log Valley.  He was to receive one year's schooling and an outfit
of a certain or prescribed amount.  The latter he never got and but very
little of the schooling.  Michael remained with Mr. Logan until he was
eighteen years of age, when he commenced life on his own account, his entire
capital being a very poor suite of clothes.  He was blessed with a great
constitution and a brave heart, elements that always bring success when
backed up as in Mr. Stair's case with good judgement. His first work for
himself was threshing (with a flail) wheat, oats, and rye for a Mr. John
Logan.  He was more than an ordinary thresher and by working hard could earn
twenty-five cents a day.  He earned about four dollars, which was the start
of his life.  Until 1830 we find Mr. Stair working at whatever he could get
to do whereby he could earn a dollar.  The cooper's trade was learned, and
for a year or so he worked at it.  At another time he would cut wood, again
rail-splitting, working by the year driving team for
seventy dollars per year.  But when a dollar was earned it was a dollar
saved, for he never spent money unnecessarily.  On the 5th day of January,
1830, he was married to Miss Mary Hagie, daughter of Jacob Hagie, who was
born in Germany.  Miss Hagie was born in Tell Township in June, 1796.  On
her marriage she received a small outfit, which, with his saving, enabled
Mr. Stair to buy the tools and stock necessary to work a farm.  He rented a
farm of Mrs. Logan, and remained on it four years; then rented of Mrs. Gray
the farm he now owns.  In 1840 he bought the farm of the heirs, paying them
off as they became of age.   When it was paid for another tract was bought
and this he continued to do until he owned three hundred acres.  He devotes
his time  and farm to stock-raising, at which he is very successful.  In
partnership with Mr. Krough, of Orbisonia, he in 1866 engaged in the
mercantile business.  At that time Orbisonia was but a small place, and Mr.
Obison's store the only one.  The first year their trade amounted all told
to not over five thousand dollars, but increased year by year until they
sold in one year over twenty-seven thousand dollars' worth of goods.  After
remaining in the business fourteen years he sold out to Mr. Jacob M. Krough.
He still owns property in Orbisonia, and in one of his buildings his
daughter, Frances J. Stair, has and manages a millnery store.  He is a Roman
Catholic in his religious belief, and has been a member of that church for
half a century.  His family are also members of that same church.  In
politics he is an ardent Democrat, and as such was elected poor director
though his county at the time was strongly Republican.  He has also held
township offices at different periods.  Mr. Stair came into this county a
poor and friendless boy when it was in its infancy, and now, after a
residence in it of seventy-one years, sees it traversed with highways and
railroads, sees villages and cities in the place of forests, and in the
place of the poor bound boy finds himself a well-to-do farmer and
businessman, and honored and respected by all.