The first child of William and Susan was John Stall. I don't know whether he was born in Harrison County, Ohio or in Coshocton County after William and Susan moved here. I have him born in 1817, David Stall has him born Nov. 3, 1816. I assume his reference is the tombstone near Bennett, Nebraska. According to David and Jade he died Oct. 1, 1884. He must have left Ohio in 1870 or 1871 as he was here for the 1870 census but gone by 1872. He married Elizabeth Harger, who was probably from Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The marriage occurred May 24, 1840 in Tuscarawas County. She was born Jan. 3, 1821 according to David Stall. I also have her born in 1821. According to her tombstone she evidently died March 30, 1893. I have a copy of her obit which says she died March 30, 1892. So you all can see how things get confused, but still close.
One of the things that amazes me is that our common ancestor William Stall (1792-1853) was literate. He could evidently write his name and read, while his wife Susan Firebaugh could not and signed her name with an "X". All of the male children of William and Susan could read and write, but evidently none of the girls could. They all signed with and "X" on deeds I have seen. Hills 1881 Coshocton County History on page 488 states: "[speaking of Crawford Township]... a school was a novelty for a long time after the whites settled this township. The first one was taught about 1820 by Jacob Seidler, in a little cabin which stood in the woods where Chili now stands, just north of the bridge. It was the usual subscription school, and was only three months in duration. ...This one short term was all the school instruction that some of the aged fathers and mothers of today [1881] received, all they had an opportunity of receiving. For a number of years after, school was not again taught in this neighborhood, and then only at irregular periods. The teachers were usually little in advance of their pupils in point of knowledge, and consequently the progress of the latter was very slow. It is said that Joseph Townley was the first early efficient teacher in the township. He taught, about 1835, near the Lutheran church, just above Chili."
So it is a wonder that the boys were literate under these circumstances and also shows how primitive the area our ancestor settled was.
This is John Stall's signature in a Adams Township book from 1861. This is the only thing personal I have of him. I have no identified picture or description, I only know he and my great grandfather Daniel were close to one another.
As for Elizabeth I have the following obit.
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"Mrs. Elizabeth Stall whose funeral occurred at the Christian Church on Friday of last week, was one of our oldest and most respected citizens. Her maiden name was Harger. She was born in the year 1821 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. In the year 1840 at the age of nineteen, she was united in marriage to John Stall. To them were born eleven children, nine of whom survive her. These with numerous grand children and great grand children sustain the loss of a loving parent and cherish the hope of a happy meeting in another world. At the age of eighteen years she became a Christian and remained faithful to her Master 'til the summons came that called her hence. In her last long illness she sustained that heroic bearing that characterizes true discipleship and in all her sickness there was no murmur or complaint but rather the true resignation of one who has implicit faith in the saving blood of Christ. She died march 30th 1892. The funeral services were conducted by Elder Jones and the remains were laid to rest in that slumber that knows no awakening till the great trumpet shall sound that shall call the dead form their silent repose."
Sleep on, dear mother kind and true, |
The obit says she had eleven children. I have ten listed, Dave Stall has twelve.
1. Ervin (sometimes Irvin) Stall b. March 14, 1841
(per Dave S.)
2. Robert N. Stall born March 28, 1842
3. Lucinda Jane Stall, born 1844 (Jane in the 1850
census, Lucinda in the 1860)
4. Susanna Stall, born Dec. 4, 1845 (per Dave
Stall)
5. Christine (David S. has Justine ) born 1848
6. Emaline Stall, born 1849
7. William Stall, born 1852
8. Saphrona Stall, born 1853
9. John Stall, born 1855
10. Lem? Stall born 1858. I can't read the poor
census writing. Could be Dan.
David Stall agrees with me on the first nine children. Starting with #10, he had Daniel Morgan Stall, born 1857, Sherman Stall, born 1859, Mary L. Stall, born 1864.
John Stall bought 90 acres of land in Adams Township, Coshocton County in the 1840's. He had other land, but this was the homestead. I went there several years ago. The farm is vacant and all grown up in brush. The present owners just use it for hunting ground. The buildings are all gone except the house and it was built by Peter Schlarp, the person who bought the farm from John when he sold it about 1871. So at this homestead there is nothing left from when John Stall lived there.
John was a farmer and evidently his sons dug coal from the hills and sold it. He held several township offices so evidently he was well liked.
Like with the others I will in a later installment show maps showing land holdings of John over the years.