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Note: Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888. B. F. Stahl, Esq., of Mediapolis, Iowa, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 1, 1812, and is a son of Alexander and Magdalena (Young) Stahl, the father, a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. Among the early settlers of Fairfield County was Alexander Stahl, who took up his residence there when a boy, became a distiller, and resided there until his death, which occurred in 1847. The mother died July 10, 1841, in Ross County, Ohio, and they were both members of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of seven children: B. F., our subject; G. W., a cooper, living at Larue, Ohio; Andrew J., now residing in Clarke County, Iowa, is also a cooper; John is a farmer of Niantic, Ill.; Minerva, deceased wife of Michael Friend, also a resident of Illinois; and Alexander and Miranda, both also deceased. The maternal grandfather, Christopher Young, served his country faithfully in the War for Independence. He was a native of Rockingham County, Va., a shoemaker by trade, and was a zealous Baptist. His death occurred July 12, 1843, at the advanced age of ninety-six years six months and eleven days. Leaving home at the early age of fourteen years, B. F. Stahl learned the cooper's trade, and was united in marriage Aug. 11, 1833, with Clarissa Todd, daughter of Jonah Todd, one of the pioneer settlers of Des Moines County, Iowa. Their marriage was celebrated in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1842, and then Mr. Stahl came to Des Moines County, working at his trade near Dodgeville during the winter, returning to Ohio the following spring and remaining two years in his native State, working at his trade. He then, with his family, returned to Des Moines County in order to secure employment. The lack of work in Ohio was occasioned by the employers hiring the penitentiary men, being able to secure their services at reduced rates. He located two miles east of Dodgeville, and worked at his trade for two years, when he went to Burlington, where he was employed as foreman of William Walker's cooper shop, and being a first-class workman, thoroughly understanding his business, remained in that capacity for three years. He purchased forty acres of land in Flint River Township, and made that his home for two years, when he returned to Burlington and engaged in keeping a toll-gate on the plank road, in which two more years passed by. The two succeeding years he was engaged as foreman of the flour barrel factory of Cock & Heisey, when, again deciding to go upon a farm, he, in 1851, purchased land near Dodgeville, where he carried on the occupations of farming and working at the cooper's trade for eleven years. His next removal was to the village of Dodgeville, where he became proprietor of a hotel; but the same year was appointed Postmaster, receiving his commission from Abraham Lincoln and continuing in that position for three years. Mr. Stahl was elected Justice of the Peace in 1863, and two years later removed to Kossuth, where he was again engaged in the hotel business. In connection with that he kept the stage office; later was again appointed Postmaster, which position he held for seven years, and was also Justice of the Peace for two years. Going to Burlington, he became clerk of the Scott House in 1872, and then settled permanently at Mediapolis in 1875. In that year Mr. Stahl was elected Justice of the Peace, serving continuously ever since. He was also honored with the office of Mayor for six years, serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has tried many cases from Burlington and served about 200 warrants. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl reared a family of eight children: William H. H., now in Phillipsburg, Mont., is a miner and a cooper; B. E. is a resident of Moray, Idaho; Sarah, wife of H. C. Harper, a resident of Mediapolis, Iowa; James H., whose home is in Diamond City, Mont.; Amanda C., widow of R. A. Taylor, resides in Burlington; Mary E., wife of J. E. Ware of Mediapolis; George J., a carriage-trimmer of Atchison, Kan.; and Z. T., residing in Bozeman, Mont., is a saddler by trade. Religiously, both Mr. Stahl and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, while socially, he is a member of Des Moines Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of Burlington; also was a member of Washington Lodge, but is now a member of Garner Lodge, No. 379, I. O. O. F. In early life a Whig, on the organization of the Republican party he joined their ranks and has since affiliated with the same. By industry, economy and good management, Mr. Stahl has gained a comfortable competence and has reared a family which does honor to his name. He is well known and universally respected throughout the community in which he lives. Page 218 of the "Yellow Spring and Huron" by J. W. Merrill, Mediapolis, Iowa, 1897. Benjamin F. Stahl was born in Ohio in 1812. He was married to Clarissa Todd July 11, 1833, and came to Iowa in 1842. He was a cooper by trade, and worked at his trade in Burlington, living there part of the time and a while on a farm. About 1861 he moved to Dodgeville and kept a tavern and was also Postmaster there. In 1865 he moved to Kossuth, this being his first residence in Yellow Spring Township. He kept a hotel for a short time where J. A. Swanson now lives. He was also Postmaster there and a Justice of the Peace. After this he lived in Burlington for a while then in 1875 made a permanent home in Mediapolis. While here he was Justice of the Peace, and during the Prohibitory law excitement had many of the information against Burlington saloon keepers lodged with him. He won a great reputation on this line by imposing an immense number of fines. He is the only one who ever made any money out of the office in these townships. He died in 1891. His widow still survives. They have eight children: William H. lives in Montana; Ellis lives in Idaho; Sarah, wife of H. C. Harper, in Mediapolis; James H., deceased, was a soldier in the 14th Iowa; Amanda C. widow of R. H. Taylor, lives in Chicago; Mary E., wife of J. E. Ware, Mediapolis; George J., lives in Kansas; Z. T., whose first wife was Jemima Bridwell and after her death married Laura Harper, lives in Montana.
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