Statler Family Historical Documents
AN ANCESTRAL HISTORY OF THE
HELEN VIRGINIA GARBE STATLER FAMILY
Prepared and Researched By
Helen Garbe Statler
August, 1980
Alameda, California
[Transcribed in 2009 to HTML by David Statler]
Transcriber's Note: Helen Virginia Statler (nee Garbe) was born 6 April 1920 and died 23 August 1995. She married Joseph Daniel Statler 1 January 1943. I tried to faithfully recreate the layout of the original document, including any spelling mistakes and blanks for people's names that were unknown to Helen at the time. -David Statler
PROLOGUE
TODAY WHEN FAMILIES LEAVE THE PLACE OF THEIR BIRTH TO FORM NEW FAMILY GROUPS, THEY OFTEN LEAVE THEIR HERITAGE BEHIND. IT IS MY HOPE THAT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL TAKE PRIDE IN KNOWING SOMETHING OF THE ROOTS FROM WHICH THEY CAME.
IN THE STORY OF EVERY FAMILY THERE IS ADVENTURE, HAPPINESS, SADNESS, AND SOMETIMES HUMOR TOO.
THIS FAMILY TREE HAS MANY BRANCHES AND ITS SEED HAD SCATTERED ALL OVER OUR LAND. BE PROUD OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU SO THAT YOU MAY BE PROUD OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW.
The above was written in February of 1963 when my search for the past first began as my mother was telling me stories of her girlhood and of her mother and grandmother. Little did I realize that there would be so much research, writing and re-writing as new information was found, learning new lessons of history, especially of Missouri's settlement and its bond to the settling of Northern California.
Signed: Helen Garbe Statler
INTRODUCTION
It is possible that the first Statlers (Stadler) arrived in Pennsylvania Colony at the port of Philadelphia about 25 September 1738 aboard the ship "Winter Galley" along with others fleeing religious persecution in the German Palatinate. Heinrich Bullringer (Bollinger) led the group of refugees first to Zurich, Switzerland and then to the port of Hamburg, where they sailed to the New World.
These "Pennsylvania Dutch" settled along the Western border of the Pennsylvania and North Carolina colonies and the men took part in the battles of King's Mountain and Cowpens during the Revolutionary War as "irregulars." That is, they did not enlist in the regular Continental Forces, but fought with their long rifles as needed. Having fled religious persecution, they resented having to tithe to the Church of England as well as paying a marriage bond if not wed by a state-supported minister.
When Major George F. Bollinger, grandson of Heinrich, immigrated to Upper Louisiana with twenty German-speaking families in January of 1800, they entered Spanish territory deeded to France in 1801 through Napoleon's conquest of Spain and then sold to the United States in 1804 as the Louisiana Purchase under President Thomas Jefferson.
Every head of household had to swear intent to become Roman Catholic and a citizen of Spain in order to obtain a land grant. (When Upper Louisiana became Missouri Territory, these German Swiss were able to prove their patents in spite of long court struggles; some cases taking as long as forty years to settle). At this time Spain thought it advisable to populate Upper Louisiana as a barrier to the British in Canada, and offered great inducements to settlers, especially those from the British colonies to the east since their prejudices against the British were so strong. To them lands were given gratuitously and they were exempted from taxation. The extent of the concession was regulated by the wealth and importance of the settler; the size of his family and his ability to cultivate the land; except for special services, however, it did not often exceed 800 arpents, which is equal to about 680 acres. The only cost to the settler was the fees of office and surveyor's charges which amounted to about $41. This did not give complete title until the settler had actually inhabited, possessed, or cultivated the land for ten years; a confirmation was required. To secure this, it was necessary for the lieutenant-governor to certify the fact of possession for the required time to the proper officer in New Orleans who issued the patent. This White Water Community was in reality the first purely American settlement west of the Mississippi. Here in what was to be Cape Girardeau County there were no villages, traders, or trappers, except for Luis Lorimier's fort along the river.
The journey into Spanish territory was made in wagons. The company crossed the Mississippi River at Ste. Genevieve on the 1st of January 1800 and proceeded to the White Water River, along which stream they made their settlements.
Family surnames of that band of pioneers are:
Nyeswonger, Freeman (Friemann), Snell, Kreutz (Krytes, Crites), Lorr, Probst, Cothener,
Miller, Becker (Baker), Clingensmith (Klingensmith, Klingenschmidt), Slinker (Slinkard),
Daynish, Timson, Statler (Stotlar, Stadler, Stautlar), Grunt, Barks (Berqs), Frenderick,
Hartle, and Seabaugh. Frederick Limbaugh came in 1804 to start the first school,
teaching in both German and English.
Conrad, Adam and Peter Statler were given grants near Byrd Creek along the Little White Water.
All of these settlers spoke German and were members of the German Reformed Church. As soon as the interdiction against Protestant ministers was lifted by the transfer of government through the Louisiana Purchase, Bollinger induced the Rev. Samuel Weiberg (Whybark) to look after the spiritual state of the colonists. He began his circuit in 1805 and continued through 1833 to his death.
Before the cession in 1806, Commander Lorimier through Captain Bollinger promised to pay troops sent to punish a group of Indians near New Madrid with grants of land, no other means being at his command to pay troops for military service. A grant of 300 arpents or about 260 acres went to each of the men who served for six weeks in that campaign. Included on the roster were Adam and Conrad Statler. These grants were confirmed by the United States Government in 1809.
At the eastern edge of the village of Bufordville on the White Water (then White Water) River is the Bollinger Mill where farmers came from as much as 100 miles away to have their meal ground. A first story of stone was built around 1800 by Peter and Conrad Statler. The three stories of brick were added later.
These settlers were anti-slavery and no slaves are counted in the early census years in the fertile valleys of the Whitewater until after it leaves the hill country. Before the Civil War school was taught in both German and English and all the men could read and write. With the travail of the War Between the States and the disruption of lives it entailed, literacy dropped and the men who were listed as able to read and write showed a great decline until 1880.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
National Archives: Census Record for Cape Girardeau County: 1830, 1840, 1850. Bollinger County: 1860, 1870, 1880.
Douglass, Robert Sydney: Goodspeed's, A History of Southeast Missouri, Indexed.
Federal Writer's Project: Missouri - A Guide to the "Show-me" State.
Houck Louis: A History of Missouri from the Earliest Exploration and Settlements until the Admission of the State into the Union. 2 Volumes. 1880
McReynolds: Missouri - A History of the Crossroads State.
Bollinger County Bicentennial Commission: Bollinger County 1851-1976. July 1977.
Missouri Pioneers, Volume IX.
ADAM STATLER (32)
Adam Statler was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina between 1760 and 1770 of Pennsylvania Dutch parents. He immigrated to Upper Louisiana Territory in 1800 and received a land grant in 1802. In 1804 he received another 250 acres for military service against the Indians near New Madrid. This service lasted six weeks. The land grant was on or near the Little White Water River.
According to the 1830 census, Adam was the head of household and between 60 and 70 years of age. Living with him were: Males--between 30 and 40 years of age - 1, between 20 and 30 - 1, between 15 and 20 - 1, and between 10 and fifteen - 2; Females-- between 60-70 - 1, between 40 and 50 - 1, between 20 and 30 - 1, and of 10 but under fifteen - 1.
Issue:
Henry Clay 26 works on farm.
Margaret Statlaer 19 daughter.
i. Henry M. Statler married 1862 Lavina Hartle.
a. Jefferson b. 1863
b. Sarah C. b. 1865
c. Peter b. 1867
d. William B. b. September 1870
e & f. Nancy and Mary J. (twins) b. 1876
g & h. Marble (male) and Mavrada (female) (twins) b. 1876ii. Catherine b. 1843
iii. Daniel b. 1845
iv. Rebecca C. b. 1846
v & vi. Elizabeth J. and Adam Jefferson (twins) b. September 1850.
Adam J. married Hannah __________.Issue of Adam Jefferson Statler and Hannah ________:
a. Randolph b. 1870
b. Alexander b. 1873
c. Charles b. 1875
d. Lewis b. 1877
e. Mary M. b. 1878
f. Ida J. b. 1879
In 1870, Conrad was living on his own farm with his son Adam, Adam's wife, Hannah, and their six month old son, Randolph. In 1840 and 1850 census reports, Conrad's farm was adjoining that of Christian, Adam, and Joseph.
Issue:
i. Quise b. 1838
ii. Aaron b. 1842 married Catherine ________ in 1860. In 1870 he and his family were living on the farm of Aaron Bollinger, aged 77 and his wife Sarah, aged 79. His brother, Joseph, was also working on this farm in 1870. In 1880 he had his own farm in Whitewater Township and his niece Sarah Seabaugh was living with his family.
a. Henry b. 1860
b. Aaron b. 1870 was working on father's farm in 1880
c. Sarah E. b. about 1845
iii. Priscilla b. 1845
iv & v. George and Susan b. 1850. George married Sarah C. about 1872. George Washington Statler was a farmer.
Issue of George W. Statler and Sarah C. _______:
a. Joseph b. 1874
b. Bernice J. b. 1878
c. Andrew J. b. 1880
vi. Christian b. 1851
vii. Joseph b. 1853 married Mary _______ about 1876. A farmer.
a. Lillie b. 1877
b. Laura b. 1880
Also living in Christian's household in 1860 was Jesse Statler 21, married to Mary A., aged 19. He was working on the farm.
Issue:
i. Christina born about 1840
ii. Polly Ann born about 1845
iii. William H. born about 1847, a farmer
iv. Jesse Lee born about 1850 married Hannah C. _________, a farmer
a. Lutitia born about 1878
v. Susan born about 1852
vi. Cordelia born about 1854
vii. Margaret born about 1858
viii. Bearnell (male) born about 1860
Sources: See BIBLIOGRAPHY after INTRODUCTION.
Book A - County Recorder's Office, Jackson, Missouri
To all persons to whom these presents shall come, GREETINGS:
Know you, that I, Adam Statler, sen., of the County of Cape Girardeau and State of Missouri for and consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to me in hand paid by Conrad Statler, Christian Statler, Joseph Statler and Adam Statler, jun. of the same county and state aforesaid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have this day and do by these presents grant, bargain and sell until the said Conrad Statler, Christian Statler, Joseph Statler and Adam Statler, jun., their heirs and assigns the following described tract of land (to wit) being a certain tract confirmed to me, situated on whitewater in said county known as survey No. 7.78 in township No. 33 North of Range No. 10 East and bounded on the East on John <<Hos(o)>> boundry line and on the West on Handel Barks boundry line containing 500 arpents or four hundred and twenty-five acres and thirty-three hundredths of an acre be the same more or less.
To have and to hold the above described tract of land with all the appurtainances thereunto belonging unto the said Conrad Statler, Christian Statler, Joseph Statler, and Adam Statler, jun. their heirs and assigns forever and I the said Adam Statler sen. do forward, warrant and defend the right, title, claim and demands against every person or persons claiming whomsoever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of December 1840.
attest John Whitecker
Adam Onslow
State of Missouri, Cape Girardeau County
On the 12th day of June A.D. 1840 the foregoing deed was filed for record and recorded the same day. J. Sanford, Clk.
Recording 365 words ... $.36
certifying and seal ........ $.25
indexing ....................... $.05
$.66
JOSEPH STATLER (16)
Joseph Statler was born in Missouri Territory about 1810 and was married 27 February 1840 to Lavina Hartle. They were married in Cape Girardeau County, Union Township, which is now Bollinger County, by Aaron Fullbright, Justice of the Peace. This marriage certificate is on file in the Recorder's Office at Jackson, Missouri in Book B, page 28.
The value of his farm in the 1850 census was $500. By the census of 1870, the farm's value had increased to $1200 and personal property was listed at $900. In 1840 at 1850 his farm was adjacent to those of Christian, Conrad, and Adam Statler and located in Union Township, Cape Girardeau County. In 1860 his farm was located next to Conrad Statler's in Union Township. He was farming in White Water Township, Bollinger County, in 1870. He died, as did his wife, some time shortly after 1870, when his youngest child, Daniel Logan, was about 10 or 12.
Issue:
Issue:
i. Sarah born about 1868
ii. Louisa born about 1870
iii. Rada born about 1878
Issue:
i. Minerva born about 1868
ii. William H. born about 1871
iii. Mary born about 1873
iv. Parosetta born about 1875
v. John F. born about 1878
Issue:
i. Noah E. born about 1877.
ii. Lydia born about 1880
Issue: See Daniel Logan Statler {8) following page.
Sources:
(a) Recorder's Office, Jackson, Cape Girardeau County Missouri, Book B, page 28.
(b) National Archives, United States Census
microfilm for 1850 and 1860 for Cape Girardeau County, Missouri;
1870 and 1880 for
Bollinger County, Missouri.
(c) Oral History from Rada Statler Fellows, Joseph Statler's granddaughter, taken in her home in July 1977.
DANIEL LOGAN STATLER (8)
Daniel Logan Statler was born in Bollinger County, Missouri, 28 December 1860; he died 8 December 1928. He spent his life as a farmer in the county where he was born. He married 6 December 1882 Mary Elizabeth Hanners (Hanna), daughter of William T. Hanna and Mary Elizabeth Statler (Stautler) Hanna. Mary Elizabeth was born in Bollinger County 22 December 1859 and died 22 June 19935. Daniel Logan was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 40 years. According to daughter, Rada Statler Fellows, he was orphaned at the age of about 12, and had "to have lived with somebody." The census of 1880 lists the household of Elisah Statler and includes a brother, Daniel L., who was working on that farm in Whitewater Township, Bollinger County, Missouri. He lived near the village of Sedgewickville.
From a letter from his granddaughter, Edith Statler dated 6 November 1879:
"You asked about some of the things I remember about our Grandpa Statler . . . When we would be at their house in cold weather, he would put a rock on the hearth of the heating stove and then put it in a buggy to keep our feet warm on the way home.
I always knew they had a home blacksmith shop. Aunt Rada told me how they got it. Grandpa sold a horse to a man. Sometime later Grandpa asked the man if he could pay for it. The man said he couldn't but he had a set of blacksmith tools he could have. So that paid the debt.
Rada said Willis and Anthony worked at it most and I remember he helped dig the cistern at our home farm."
Issue:
Sources:
(a) National Archives, U.S. Census Microfilm 1870 and 1880.
(b) Daniel Logan Statler's Family Bible and newspaper clippings found therein.
(c) Oral History from Edith Statler, his granddaughter 1963 to 1979.
JOSEPH AARON STATLER (4)
Joseph Aaron Statler was born in Bollinger County, Missouri, 8 March 1884 and died 24 October 1958 in Chaffee, Missouri. He is buried at the Methodist Cemetery near Sedgewickville, Missouri. His parents were Daniel Logan and Mary Elizabeth Hanners Statler.
In 1903 he was listed in the class roster of Sedgewickville School, District No. 4, Whitewater Township, Bollinger County. His brothers Anthony, Tevis, and Willis were also on the class roster, as well as his sister Ella.
He worked in Texas before his marriage.
He married 11 November 1915 at Jackson, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri to Carrie Ellen James, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Polly Ann) Seabaugh James. She was born in Bollinger County 1 October 1893; died in Chaffee, Missouri 20 December 1961 and is buried beside of her husband. His wife, Carrie, was listed on the roll of School District No. 8, Township 32-33 Range 10-11 in Bollinger County for 1902-1903. Also in attendance were Floyd, Florence, Willis, Rhoda, and Rada James.
After his marriage, Joseph and his wife lived on a farm near Sedgewickville and here the children were all born. About 1941 they sold the farm and moved to Chaffee. His first non-farm employment was at the Chaffee Lumber Mill. When the mill closed, he was employed at the show factory were he remained until he retired. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Sedgewickville and transferred this membership to the Methodist Church in Chaffee.
After so many decades of family tradition working on a farm, the family moved to town to have a better opportunity for employment and schooling for the children still at home. The mother was convinced the family should make the move when she was told she could buy bread at the store and no longer have to spend long hours baking bread for the family.
Issue:
Sources:
(a) Daniel Logan Statler's Family Bible.
(b) Oral History from his children 1977.
(c) Remembrances of Helen Garbe Statler.
JOSEPH DANIEL STATLER (2)
Joseph Daniel Statler was born on a farm near Sedgewickville, Missouri on 24 March 1920, the oldest son of Joseph Aaron and Carrie Ellen James Statler. He married 1 January 1943 to Helen Virginia Garbe at Reno, Nevada. She is the daughter of Lester Gordon and Hazel Hopper Garbe and was born in San Francisco, California 6 April 1920.
He served in the Army of the United States, attached to the Air Corps and Signal Corps units from February 1942 until January 1946. He was inducted and discharged from Jefferson Barrack, Missouri. His basic training was with the Signal Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington; followed by technical school for radiomen at Samuel Gompers Trade School in San Francisco, California and was domiciled at Presideo. He met his future wife at the Oak Street USO in July of 1942.
Several weeks after his marriage he was transferred to Paine Field near Everett, Washington. His wife remained at her parents' home in San Francisco while she finished her work at San Francisco State College for a B.A. Degree and a General Elementary Teaching Credential. She joined him in Everett in June 1943, the day after she graduated.
Joseph attended Sedgewickville Grammer School and Patton High School. He received a block letter for both basketball and track and graduated fourth in a class of 25. He taught in a one-room school near Sedgewickville for one semester. Following that, he traveled west to look for work. From Kansas he drove a tractor-combine following the wheat harvest north to the Canadian border. His draft notice was waiting from him when he returned to Kansas.
It might be noted here that he did not begin elementary school until age 8 as reaching the school required a four mile walk.
In 1936 grants were made to begin "job schools" by the Missouri State Board of Education and this meant that a high school education was available for the first time. Joseph attended ninth and tenth grades at Oak Ridge and then finished at Patton High School. This required that he live away from home and he supported himself by pumping gas for his room and board. To complete high school involved a sacrifice for his parents for grown sons needed to help work the farm.
During his assignment at Paine Field, Joseph received security clearance and as assigned duty as a cryptographer. At this time the signal men assigned to the Air Corps became part of the newly created Air Force. In January of 1945 he was assigned to duty in the European Theatre of the Army of Occupation at Heidleberg and Bad Kissingen, Germany. He was discharged with the rank of Corporal technical grade.
Luck accompanied this man's military service. Due to a snafu in his papers he did not reach Great Britain until the war ended. In fact, V-E Day occurred while he was on the high seas. Although his convoy was attacked by U-Boats, no damage was done to the ships. The men of the unit to which he had been attached in the United States who had preceded him to Europe, were all killed in action during the time he was detached from Paine Field and arrived to rejoin the unit.
Concerned about the possibility of unemployment upon his discharge, he asked his wife to bring his family from San Francisco to Chaffee, Missouri. The Frisco Railroad gave him a training program as a railroad telegrapher and he worked the "extra board" traveling to various towns in the division while his wife and daughter stayed in Chaffee. In October of 1945 he decided that opportunities there were too limited and he did not like railroading so a return to California was in order.
Immediately upon arriving at San Francisco, in fact the next day, he obtained employment with ADT, a burglar and fire alarm company. A home on Pennsylvania Avenue was purchased under the GI Bill. Their second child was born while they lived there.
Because his work often took him away from home a week at a time, just as had the job on the railroad, a home in Sunnyvale was purchased on Selo Drive. Then this home was surrounded by orchards and corrals but today it is completely urbanized. Their third child was born in San Jose. Just before his birth, Joseph and Helen decided no future lay in his continuing with ADT and Joseph went to work in the construction field as an electrician. In part it was a monumental bluff... He used the knowledge that his skills with his hands were great and, finding his own job again at a subdivision site, he received a permit to work through the Alameda County IBEW Union. Following his craft, moves were made to San Lorenzo, Mt. Eden, Alameda, San Leandro where they lived for ten years, Oakland, and back to Alameda. he used the education benefits of the G.I. Bill to earn a degree in electrical engineering from International Correspondence School.
His wife(3) continued her career, teaching in San Francisco while her husband was stationed in Germany; Mt. Eden, and Alameda Unified School Districts. Much of her teaching experience was with minority and under-privileged children. She studied and mastered Spanish at the age of 46, spending several summers in Guadalajara attending summer school, living with a Mexican family, and increasing her fluency.
Joseph is a charter member of the San Leandro Golf Club; a charter member and Past Exalted Ruler of San Leandro 2241 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 595 in Oakland, California. Helen holds a Life Membership in the California Teachers Association; is a member and Past President of the San Leandro Emblem Club No. 386; the Foreign Language Association of Northern California; the Adelphian Club of Alameda; and is a Past President of the Alameda Retired Educators Assoc.
Joseph and Helen have traveled extensively in the United States, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, England, and Scotland.
Issue:
Sources:
(a) History of Bollinger County - Bicentennial Project of Bollinger County Historical Society.
(b) Oral History from the subject and Helen Garbe Statler 1979.
THE SEABAUGH CONNECTION {156)
Christian Seabaugh was born about 1750 in Pennsylvania and married Christina Statler. He died in Cape Girardeau County in 1839 and his wife predeceased him in 1838.
They crossed the Mississippi River with their wagons and 18 children on 1 January 1800.
Issue:
(a) Married 26 May 1842 by John Whittaker, J.P., Recorded 2 August 1842, Book B., page 33, Jackson, Missouri.
Sources:
(a) Information on the Christian and Christine Statler Seabaugh family compiled by Doylene Rathke, 3101 West Rollins, Columbia, Missouri 65201.
(b) Daniel Logan Statler Family Bible.
(c) National Archives U.S. Census Microfilm for 1860, 1870, and 1880.
(d) Paul A. Stotler, RFD Box 142, School House Road Norfold, Conn. 06058
©2009 by David Statler of StatlerWeb
Last Updated: June 05, 2009