IowaJones/Biographies/S. E. Starry

S. E. Starry–F. Sthalek

S. E. Starry
Born 1851

S. E. STARRY, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 28; P.O. Clarence; born in Jones Co. in 1851; in 1853, went to Linn; remained there until 1874, and returned to Jones Co. and bought 100 acres and made all the improvements himself. Has been Town Clerk, Road Supervisor and President of the School Board. In politics, Republican; in religion, Wesleyan Methodist. At the present time, he is lecturing and working the Degrees of Masonry through the United States. His wife, Alice McShane, was born in Linn Co. in 1853; married July 3, 1873, and have one child—Inez.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 642.

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R. W. Stearns
Born January, 1825

R. W. STEARNS, farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 28; P.O. Lisbon; he was born January, 1825, in Wayne Co., Penn.; in the fall of 1866, he came to Jones Co.; he owns 120 acres of land. Married Miss Elizabeth Aten in 1851; she was born in Luzernc Co., Penn., in 1827; have three children—Earl B., who has charge of and manages this farm; Addie and Charles W. Republican.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 589.

Ephraim Steckel
Born April 12, 1827

EPHRAIM STECKEL, farmer, Jackson Twp., Sec. 9; P.O. Amber; born in Lehigh Co., Penn., April 12, 1827; came to Jones Co. in 1871; carries on farm on shares with Mr. Smith, of Anamosa; there are eighty acres in the farm. Wife's maiden name was Sally Ann Steckel, a native also of Pennsylvania; they were married in their native State in 1851; have nine children—Franklin, Nathan Joseph, Milton, Sarah, Mary, Titty Ann, David, Walter and Appascina. All the family are in the German Reformed Church; Mr. S. is a Democrat.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 613.

R. Stephens
Born August 28, 1824

R. STEPHENS, farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 8; P.O. Martelle; born August 28, 1824, in Knox Co., Ohio; in 1866, he came to Jones Co.; owns 210 acres of land. Married Miss M. A. Herring in 1845; she was born in England in 1824; had eight children; seven living—W. K., L. O., N. R., W. A., E. K., F. D. and R. S.; lost Lucretia in 1855, aged 4 years. When in Ohio, served as a recruiting agent during the war. Republican.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 589.

J. W. Sterling
Born April 10, 1811

J. W. STERLING, farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 1; P.O. Viroqua; born April 10, 1811, in Fairfield Co., Ohio; in 1843, came to Jones Co.; owns 174 acres of land, which he entered. Married Catharine Granel October 28, 1834; she was born September 18, 1816, in Fairfield Co., Ohio; had ten children; three living—William R., Daniel G. and Lomeda C; his son George enlisted in 1861, in Co. B, 9th I.V.I., died at Forsyth, Mo., June, 1862. Has been Justice of the Peace and School Director. Republican.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 589.

George B. Stevens
Born 1826

GEORGE B. STEVENS, farmer. Sec. 15; P.O. Anamosa; born in Otsego Co., N.Y., in 1826; removed with his parents to Cortland, N.Y., about 1846; he removed to Indiana in 1854; he came to Anamosa in August, 1856, where he lived about fifteen years; purchased his present farm in 1871, where he has since resided. He was married to Lucetta Harvey, daughter of Amasa Harvey; have an adopted son, George. Mr. Stevens' farm contains 80 acres.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 697.

Hiram Steward
Born 1818

Hiram Steward, farmer, Sec. 28; P.O. Olin; born in born in Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1818; went to Michigan in 1827, and to Iowa in 1839, and settled in Jones Co. When he crossed the Mississippi River, he had only $12 in money, and it was late in the fall and he had no winter clothes; he entered 240 acres, and now owns 257; has made all the improvements on the place; has a fine house and barn; he is now on the same land he entered first. In politics, Republican; in religion, Disciple. Has been Justice of the Peace twelve years; he was elected the first Justice when organized as a country, and was appointed Constable when a Territory, in 1839; was in the Assembly of 1858-59 as Representative; has been County Supervisor for ten or twelve years. In an early day, he took six barrels of clear side-pork to Galena, Ill.; paid $1.50 apiece for the barrels; sold for $6 per barrel, and received no money in pay. His first wife, Nancy Soesbe, was born in Michigan in 1827; married in 1846, and had nine children—-four dead and five living--Francis M., Edith E., Mary A., George E., James; she died 1861; his second wife was Delilah Pringle, born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1829; her husband, Mr. Pringle, was born in Delaware Co., Ohio; married in 1852; died Jan 7, 1858; had one child—-Marion, now in Kansas; her maiden name was Brothers; married Mr. Steward in 1862, and had four children—-Jacob L., Otis B., Dora M., Hiram Grant (died at the age of 19 months).

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Co., Chicago, 1879, p 652

John Stewart
Born July 15, 1836

JOHN STEWART, manufacturer of fine creamery butter, Anamosa; is a native of Mariette, Washington Co., Ohio, and was born July 15, 1836; he grew up to manhood and received his education there. After the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. B, 39th Ohio V.I.; hc was in a number of battles, beside a great many fights and skirmishes; in the battle of Corinth he was the third man in the rebel works; was wounded in the assault on the rebel works at Rough's Mills, Ga., and was in the service four years; in 1870, he came to Iowa and located in Manchester; in April, 1872, he established the first creamery in the State of Iowa, and now is the proprietor of six creameries; he came to Jones Co. and located at Anamosa in 1878; he was awarded the first premium for butter at the St. Louis Fair in 1873 and 1874, and the second, third and fourth premiums in 1875; he was awarded the first premium on October butter and the first on November butter at the International Dairy Fair, New York, in 1878; he was awarded the gold medal at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, in 1876, and was awarded the second prize at the Royal Agricultural Exhibition in London, Eng., June 30, 1879, and the second premium at the St. Louis Fair in 1879; his butter commands the highest price in the Eastern and foreign markets; he is the largest butter manufacturer in the State. Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Sarah F. Prescott, from Galena, Ill., September 22, 1869; they have had two children, only one of whom is living—Newton P.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 581.

Frank Sthalek
Born Ca. 1840

Austria has furnished to the United States many men who left their native land inspired by laudable ambition to seek in this western country, with its more progressive methods, livelier competition and broad fields of industry, the opportunity to attain success and have here established their homes. Among this number is Frank Sthalek, who was born in Bohemia about seventy years ago and, starting out on the journey across the Atlantic unaccompanied, arrived in America and settled in Jones county, Iowa, sometime in the '60s after the Civil war. He started to work immediately on his arrival in this county, being employed as a farm hand by the month and in this way his time and energies, conscientiously given to others, enabled him to acquire a practical knowledge and broad experience in his chosen work. Eventually he rented a farm of eighty acres in Oxford township, whereon he made his home for six years, industriously tilling the land and raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. Realizing the importance of economical and careful expenditure, through his capable management, wise selection of grain and untiring efforts in the cultivation of the fields, he finally saved a sum sufficient to purchase this eighty acre farm and, as the years have passed, he has added to this tract another of like dimensions situated nearby, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. Sthalek married Miss Mary Kucra, who was also born in Bohemia, in 1844, and came to America with her brothers. Unto this union have been born three children, as follows: Joseph, who died unmarried at the age of thirty-two years; Annie, who became the wife of John Bawlists, of Clinton county, Iowa; and Frank, who is at home with his parents and operates the farm. Mr. Sthalek has engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life and, while at present he oversees and is yet interested in the management of the farm, most of the manual labor is entrusted to his son, Frank, who is ambitious to follow in the footsteps of the father, who is classed among the worthy representative citizens of his community.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 391.