Stauffer Family Geneology
Terri Stauffer Family Web Page
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Genealogy of Charles L. - Genealogy of George W. - Genealogy of John E. - Genealogy of Christian
Farnwell Ellsmere Stauffer & Fern Elizabeth Cline Stauffer
Farnwell and Fern Stauffer are current residents of Sun City West Arizona. They were both 86 years old this year, 2008, and are still living life to the fullest. Farnwell still plays golf and Fern is an avid swimmer. My mothers sister, Helen Spellmeyer lives nearby and she and Fern often enjoy breakfast on Thursday mornings after Helen gets her hair done.
Farnwell was born June 24, 1922 in Dixon, Illinois. Fern Cline was born August 18, 1922. Bud, as my father came to be known, worked at the local soda shop while attending Dixon High School. He was recognized as being a very intelligent and forthright young man. One of his patrons recognized his abilities and recommended he attended college. Because of him my fatherwas able to attend Bradley University in Peoria Illinois on a scholarship. After 2 years he transferred to Purdue University. He was in the ROTC, as was customary in those days.In 1945 Farnwell was called to duty and served as an MP on the island of Sai Phan. Fern had just left visiting her sister in California when Bud came back on leave. Knowing that Fern was the one for him, he called his mother and father in Dixon, Illinois, and asked them to bring Fern to the their house. Bud made the phone call that would change their live. Fern quickly packed her things and flew back to Glendale, California, where she married Farnwell on February 15, 1945 at the Little Church of the Flowers in Forest Lawn. After the warBud finished his college studies at Purdue University with a Degree in Electrical Engineering. He and Fern began raising a family in Dixon after his graduation.
Charles Lee Stauffer Charles Lee Staufferwas born December 31, 1883 in Pine Creek, Ogle County, Illinois. In his younger years he helped on his fathers farm and taught school. The schoolhouse is still standing today at the corner of Pines and Anterier Roads just outside of White Pines State Park. He marriedGoldie Mae Bovey, born May of 1886, on December 7, 1904 in Polo, Illinois. Charles school teaching ended when he took up religious studies. He became a minister sometime after.
Federal Census records of 1910 show Charles, age 25 and Goldie age 23 living in Hancock Illinois. In 1916 at the age of 33 there is a record of his World War I draft regististration in Ogle County. Federal Census records of 1930 show Charles, Goldie, Bernice 18 and Farnewll 8, living in Hoisington Kansas. When the depression of 1933 came, churches were no longer able to afford a ministers salary and Charles and his family were forced to return to Dixon, Illinois. His brother-in-law Dave Bovey sold him the house he owned on Summit drive where Goldies parents were living. They lived together with them in the house. He was a groundskeeper at the Chapel Cemetery, and became a truck farmer, selling his fresh vegetables to the local grocery stores. Goldie sold her fresh baked pies and cakes.
He was at one time the minister of the Christian church in Dixon, but at some point he and the church parted ways. He and his wife Goldie became good friends with the mother of Ronald Reagan as she was a devout member of his parish. He and Goldie visited Mrs. Reagan when she was living near her son in California.
As his son Farnwells (Buds) family began to grow, they needed more space than an apartment above the funeral home, so Bud and Charles built them a house. It was behind the home of Bernice Stauffer Cox, and down the road from Charles and Goldies.
Charles enjoyed cigars, and kept them in a round silver humidor by his favorite chair. Goldie was always busy washing clothes and hanging them on the line, canning, cleaning or baking. She made some of the best apples and cherry pies, and always kept a glass cookie jar of fig newtons on the kitchen table.
Charles Lee died after a stroke on March 19, 1966 and was laid to rest at Chapel Hill. Goldie Mae passed away December 29, 1967 and was laid to rest beside her husband of 61 years.
George Washington Stauffer was born February 27, 1849 in Stark County Ohio. His father John moved the family to Elkhart County Indiana by wagon when George was a boy. His younger brother Peter died on the road. He spent most of his boyhood in Indiana, and is listed on the 1860 census of Baugo township with 9 of his brothers and sisters. About 1865, he moved with his family to Ogle County, Illinois. He was 15 years old. He purchased 80 acres at the corner of Lowell Park Road and Pennsylvania Corners.
On March 20, 1873 he married Rebecca Diehl in Ogle County Illinois. Rebecca Diehl was born January 20, 1856 in Carol County, Maryland. The Federal Census of 1910 shows a record of George 61, Rebecca55, and Mary Susan Stauffer Branter 19, living in Polo, Illinois, Ogle County. They had 6 children: Charles Lee Stauffer, David Stauffer, Harry W. Stauffer, Ada May Stauffer, Clinton Stauffer and Mary Stauffer.
Rebecca Diehl died January 21, 1917 in Polo, Illinois. George died June 3, 1924 in Polo, Illinois. Both are buried in the Pine Creek Bretheren Cemetery on Anterier Road with their daughter Ada May.
John Ensminger Stauffer John E. Stauffer son of Christian Stauffer was born November 27, 1819 in Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He was named after his mother Christiana Ensminger. He moved with his father and mother by wagon to Stark County Ohio in 1833. On August 14, 1842 he married Sarah Rebecca Haight in Ohio. The Federal Census of 1860 shows John and Rebecca living in Baugo Township, Elkhart County, Indiana with 8 of their 12 children. Shortly after the Civil War the family moved to Pine Creek Township, Ogle County Illinois. John purchased 80 acres of which he farmed until he retired in 1880, and moved to town. He rented his farm to his son Daniel who later purchased the land upon his fathers death. The Federal Census of 1900 shows John and Rebecca living in Buffalo Township, Ogle County Illinois in the town of Polo. He was 80 years old and Rebecca was 75. Their youngest daughter Anna, 25 lived with them. John and Rebecca lived in Polo, Illinois until their death. They are both buried in the Fairmount cemetery in Polo north of town on IL Route 26.
Christian StaufferChristian Stauffer, the third of the children of John and Margaret Bart Stauffer, was born April 29, 1798 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Like his brothers and sisters he was brought up by strangers after the death of his mother and possibley the death of his father. Two accounts exist, that he was adopted by his uncle Henry Stauffer of Franklin County and the other that he was taken in by Phillip Stein and learned the hatters trade. It is possible that both are correct. He was adopted by Henry and then went to work for Phillip Stein, a hatter by trade in Annville Pennsylvania, in whose family he lived for several years. The quaint old stone house in which the business was carried on for two generations is still standing in Annville, on the principal street of the town. While learning his trade, he formed the acquaintance of Christiana Ensminger, who was the living with her married sister, Mrs. Catherine Miller at that time residing two miles south of Annville. Christian Stauffer and Christiana Ensminger were married in the Lutheran and Reformed Church in Annville, December 31, 1818.
She was fortunate enough to be the daughter of Peter Ensminger, a man of great moral and intellectual force, and an astronomer of considerable note in his day, and a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, whose scarred face eloquently testified to his love of country. The young couple began housekeeping at Jonestown, Lebanon county. From here they moved to Meyerstown, seven miles east of Lebanon. Here he carried on his trade for some years. From this place they moved to Palmyra, on the Reading and Harrisburg Pike. From this place they moved to Spring Creek or Derry Church, Dauphin county, where they bought a small farm just outside of the village. From this place they moved by wagon to Stark county, Ohio, early in the spring of 1833. They settled first at Newman’s creek and later on bought a farm five miles northwest of Massillon on which Paul’s Station is now situated. Here they lived till the spring of 1856, when they moved to Fairhope, Stark county, between Canton and Louisville. Christian died December 26, 1862. Christena died June 16, 1875. Both were members of the Lutheran Church during the earlier part of their married life. In fact, all of the children except two were christened in that faith. The probability is that Christian, in spite of his Mennonite training was induced by his wife to enter the Lutheran Church about the time of their marriage. However that may be, Christian never was an ardent Lutheran, and both were converted to the belief of the church called Bretheran in Christ or “River Brethern” in 1839. In this change Christian took the initiative and his wife followed him only after a stern inward protest and much misgiving and heaviness of heart. In this denomination he found ample scope for the use of his talents as a preacher, in which capacity he served for about fifteen years. During a part of this time he was bishop of the congregations of three counties.
A Work Still in Progress.......