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Note: CENSUS: 1930 Adams Co., Illinois census (Clayton)--enumerated with parents NAME: Born Omer Edwin Stidham, Jr. Known as Omer Edwin Jackson Stidham (listed this way on his military discharge papers). His Uncle Jake wrote to him: “Your father surely named you for his grandfather (Andrew Jackson Stidham) and also Uncle Jack (Thomas Jackson Stidham), who was your father’s age and was greatly loved by your father.” He was called Omer in his youth up until he joined the Navy. People in the Navy mispronounced his name as “Homer,” so he changed it to Jack. He has been known as Jack ever since. It was maybe when he got married and had to get a copy of his birth certificate that he discovered Jackson was never an official part of his name.
RES: Raise up on a small farm in Clayton, Illinois, where his father was a veterinarian. Residences of Jack and his wife, Eileen: 1943, Norfolk, Virginia 1946, Mendon, Illinois 1948, Jeffersonville, Indiana 1949, Bowling Green, Kentucky 1950, Nashville, Tennessee 1951, Johnson City, Tennessee 1956 Knoxville, Tennessee 1960, Norfolk, Virginia 1962, Knoxville, Tennessee 1973, Kansas City, Missouri 1979, Quincy, Illinois 1981, Morristown, Tennessee
OCCUPATION: spent his working life in sales, for over 50 years. Retired in 1987 Started our selling household products to farmers in Illinois. Gardner Service (cookware) - 1949-1950 Fuller Brush Co. - for 25 years - 1946-1948 and 1950-1972 Encyclopaedia Britannica - about 1966-1972 Cummings Sign Company - 1973-1987 when he retired. After retirement, he continue part time in sales, selling water filters and air cleaners, Fuller, Raleigh and Melalucca products, and working at the Morristown, Tennessee flea market.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Legion in his early years. 1998 - founding member of the Timen Stiddem Society.
HOBBIES: In 1961, began intensive genealogy study of the Stidham family. Traveled all over the United Stated visiting cousins and attending family reunions; communicated with hundreds of people by mail, telephone and email; and spent countless hours in libraries, cemeteries, courthouses, etc. researching the family. His genealogical records were stolen from his car about 1980 while living in Kansas City, Missouri. This was a big blow to his family history efforts,and set him back tremendously. He was discouraged, and it was a number of years before he had the will to continue his research. Began first publishing the Stidham family history in a loose leaf format and publishing a family newsletter in the early 1970s. 2000 - published The Descendants of Dr, Timothy Stidham, Vol. 1 (hardbound) 2005 - published The Descendants of Dr. Timothy Stidham, Vol. 2 (hardbound)
Besides genealogy (which he called it his obsession, not a hobby), his hobbies were fishing, hunting, golf, watching sports on TV, fixing things around the house, traveling (he visited all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska, Japan, Bahamas, England, Canada, Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Jamaica), and reading (he would read the daily newspaper cover to cover).
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: To get along with people you must be friendly, smile a lot and be a good listener. Try to treat people as you want to be treated and follow the “Golden Rule.” His advise for young people (written by Jack Stidham, 1997): 1. Obey your parents. 2. Go to church on a regular basis and learn to pray often. 3. Keep your body holy - no smoking - no alcohol - no drugs, Read good literature, turn off risqué TV programs, and follow the golden rule. 4. Get a good education and follow your heart when it comes time for your vocation.
MILITARY: US Navy, WWII, Petty Officer 2nd class. Enlisted 3 Jan 1943 and went to boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. After boot camp, he became a 3rd Class Petty Officer and was sent to the University of Minnesota for 16 weeks for Machinist Mate training. From there he was sent to Norfolk, Virginia where he was assigned tot he Norfolk Landing Force Equipment Depot where sunken small boats were refurbished. He was then transferred to the Engineering Department, and soon earned a 2nd Class Motor Mechanic rating, rebuilding engines from the small boats. After 2 years in Norfolk, Jack was transferred to Lido Beach, Long Island, New York to train for an amphibious landing in Japan. After 4 months of training at Lido Beach, he went to Treasure Island, California and within a few weeks, boarded a ship for Japan, with a stopover at Okinawa. While en route to Japan, V.J. (Victory in Japan) Day was announced. When he got to Japan, Jack worked with bulldozers in cleanup operations. He was discharged on 24 December 1945. - SOURCE: “The Timen Stiddem Society Newsletter,” Issue 18, Fall 2003 (source was Jack Stidham); Jacob Haller Stidham, "The Lineage of the Boone County , Missouri Stidham Family." self-published, 1970.
MILITARY: Enlisted 12 Jan 1943, Springfield, Illinois, in US Navy. Served during during World War II. Stationed in Japan with occupation forces after the war ended. Honorable discharged 23 Dec 1945 at Great Lakes, Illinois as Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class
<A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~stiddem/photos/r1441-mc.jpg" target="0"><B>MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE</b></A>
<A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~stiddem/photos-htm/6214.htm"target="0"><B>PHOTOGRAPHS</b></a>
<A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~stiddem/photos-htm/1556-1938reunion.htm" target="0"><B>PHOTOGRAPHS</b></a> of the 1938 Boone Co., Missouri Stidham Reunion at the Pinnacles.
<B>Jack Stidham Man of God</b>
Can you imagine the lines as they stood at the gate ? Waiting to meet him with a hearty hand shake.
They held in their hands a giant golden book saying look ! Look, Jack what you have done you’ve joined us together now we are one. A hug, a tear, over come with joy to meet this man in the Lords employ To connect the dead with the living This sacred work he was given
With arms out stretched, his Heavenly Father steps in Well done my good and faithful son you may enter in.
We love you Jack
Written by Janice [8227] Stidham Ashford
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