Bio-Miner, EllaAmaretStillman

Ella Amaret (Miner)
Stillman Holt Morris
(1852-1937)

Ellen "Ella" Amaret (Miner) Stillman Holt Morris was born on Sept. 16, 1852 in Columbus, Franklin County, OH, the daughter of Francis and Myra (Jordan) Miner. She was a pioneer settler of Illinois, but also resided in Pennsylvania and Florida as an adult. Surviving three husbands, her first one was a prominent lawyer in Illinois; her second was a Pennsylvania justice of the peace and postmaster; and her third was her widowed brother in law.

When Ella was a young girl in Columbus, her mother and several sisters tragically died around the same time. In about 1857, when Ella was five, her father moved with her and several sisters to Illinois, settling in Lewistown, Fulton County. Ella was raised in the household of her grandfather Joseph Jordan in Elmwood, Peoria County, IL, as shown in the 1860 federal census.

At the age of 17, Ella married 48-year-old lawyer Henry B. Stillman (1821-1879) on June 13, 1869. She was 31 years younger than her husband. Henry was the son of Hannah Stillman, and a native of either New York or of Canton, Fulton County. Henry had been married once before, brought a daughter to the marriage, Harriet D. Beggs. Henry also had a twin son Harry L. Stilman who died at the tender age of three days in September 1855.

The Stillmans resided in Canton and later Lewistown, Fulton County, and had two children -- Ella "Frances" Davidson and William H. Stillman.

Henry received his legal training when he "read law in 1843 and '44, went to the northern part of the State and became Prosecuting Attorney," said the History of Fulton County, Illinois, published in 1879 by Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria. "He was a good lawyer but unfortunately he drank hard during much of his life." He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois in 1842, at the age of 21. He is known to have spent some years practicing in Whiteside County, and made appearances in court in Henry County, as noted in the 1899 book, The Bench and Bar of Illinois, Historical and Reminiscent, Vol. II, edited by John M. Palmer. He served as State's Attorney for the Whiteside County Circuit Court from 1853 to 1857, and is mentioned in the 1877 volume, History of Whiteside County, Illinois, edited by Charles Bent.

Moving to Lewistown during the Civil War, in 1863, Henry set up a private law practice. "He was an honored and trusted lawyer, the truest of friends, full to the brim with kindness and sympathy, and lavish in deeds and charity," reported the Fulton County Ledger. "Long will he be remembered most kindly, by hosts of family in many places."

Henry also was elected as a township supervisor, serving during a year's term in 1876. He owned six lots in block 9 of the Veits Addition to Lewistown.

At the age of 58, on Aug. 8, 1879, Henry died at his home from "cerebral softening" of three years' duration, according to his death certificate on file at the county courthouse. Death was caused by "a protracted decline in which there was but little suffering," reported the Ledger. "He passed from life as a child closes its eyes in sleep, and was buried the day following in Judge Bryant's private burial plat, followed to his last resting place by the members of the Lewistown bar and many other friends." Officiating at his funeral were Rev. Magill and Rev. Ayling. Pallbearers were the Hon. T.A. Boyd, Judge Shope, Judge Winters, J.W. Bantz, A. Barnett and J. Henry. Undertaker E.T. Moore built the casket and trimmings. The Canton (IL) Register eulogized that Henry was:

... one of the most worthy citizens and lawyers of this place... The community has lost one of its most valuable members. He was, what we can say of few men, viz: Strictly honest in all he did. His mother, his daughter, his wife and his little ones, have the sympathy of the whole community in this, their hour of dire distress.

Among Henry's books were volumes of the Illinois Digest, Blackstone, Chittys Practice, Chittys Pleadings, Code of Iowa and Statutes of Illinois and other miscellaneous legal treatises.

Widowed at age 41, Ella ran a variety or "notions" store in Fairview or Lewistown. She and her children actually are enumerated twice on the federal census of 1880, once in each location.

At Henry's death, his assets were worth $301, but his debts totaled $769. Ella brought a lawsuit in the Fulton County court to sell all of the town lots to raise funds to pay the estate's debts.

Adding to Ella's heartache, her son Willie came down with a fatal case of diphtheria in the summer of 1881. He died at age six years, seven months on Aug. 15, 1881. The news was carried on the front page of the Fulton County Ledger. The physician who attended the boy during his illness was his own cousin, Dr. Henry Peter Stipp, husband of Ida Platt Boyd.

Circa 1884-1888, Ella served as a nurse for her sickly step-mother, Ann (Thompson) Miner Walder. When the step-mother died, Ella received cash payouts from the estate circa 1888-1890 as well as the deceased's music box. She claimed $110.00 in fees for her nursing services. In addition, she was named assistant to the executor of the estate, helping executor Henry Phelps in the task of dividing the assets.

In 1895, after 16 years as a widow, Ella married 44-year-old widower Reuben Holt (1851-1918) of Pennsylvania. How she became connected with this man so far far away to the east is unknown.

He was the son of John and Drusilla Holt. Reuben had been married once before, to Margaret Emma Forcey (1855-1893 of Graham Township, the daughter of Thomas H. Forcey, the president of the County National Bank of Clearfield. During that first marriage, Reuben and his wife had 12 children -- C. Percy Holt, Guy Holt, Clyde F. Holt, Grover C. Holt, Dr. Lloyd M. Holt, Anna Edna Harker, Mabel Woodside, Ora B. Smith, Minnie Kreder, May C. Myers, Nina (or "Vida") Gottshall and Carrie V. Taylor. Reuben became a widower in 1893 upon Margaret's death.

In early manhood, Reuben was "devoted to lumbering, and when that industry in this section ceased to flourish, he turned his attention to farming and merchandising," said a newspaper.

In connection with his store at Sington he served faithfully for years as postmaster. In 1876 he united with the Methodist church, and retained his membership therein up to the time of his death. He was a kind, indulgent husband and father, a most genial and companionable gentleman, and esteemed for his many splendid traits of character.

In 1911, the Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens was published, authored by Roland D. Swoope, Jr. (Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company). Reuben's biography was featured on pages 477-478. All that the history states about Ella was that she was "a widow ... of Lewistown, Ill., who was born in Columbus, O., but reared and educated in Illinois." Of Reuben, the profile states that he was a graduate of the Millersville State Normal School, and taught terms of school at Wolf Run, Williamsgrove, Wallaceton and Stoneville, "meeting with excellent results." He also was a trustee of his church and a member of the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and Lodge No. 885 at Sington. The history goes on to say that Reuben:

... was assistant postmaster while his father served as postmaster at Wallaceton, and in 1900 he was appointed postmaster at Sington, the duties being familiar on account of his former training. In 1908 he was appointed a justice of the peace, on the Democratic ticket and secretary of the school board. Mr. Holt also conducts a general store at Sington and is agent for the Graham township Telephone Company.

The newly married Ella and Reuben lived in Sington, Graham Township, Clearfield County. The census of 1900 shows Reuben marked as "married" and a farmer and living with his children Ora, Matt and Carrie, but without his wife. Ella, in turn, was residing with her married daughter Frances Davidson in Carthage, Hancock County, IL.

When the federal census was taken in 1910, Reuben and Ella are shown to be together, with Reuben's occupation was given as a merchant of groceries. They made their home at Sington, 10 miles east of Clearfield in the eastern-central section of the county.

Reuben suffered from kidney disease in his later years. Sadly, he passed away at home on Dec. 13, 1918, at the age of 67, of the effects of the illness. A local newspaper reported that he was "one of Clearfield county's best known citizens" and that the "news of his death came as a shock to his legion of friends scattered all throughout this section... The community in which he spent practically all his life, and where he closed his earthly career, will keenly feel the loss his death has occasioned." The funeral was held in the Center Hill Methodist Episcopal Church.

In April 1920, Ella was named in the Tampa Tribune obituary of her sister Salina "Lina" Morris. Her name was given at that time as "Holt," but her residence was unknown, and has not yet been located in the 1920 census.

It is believed that Ella soonafter moved to Florida to marry her widowed brother in law, Joseph C. Morris. They made their home in Sulphur Springs, near Tampa, Hillsborough County.

Tampa's Franklin Street, looking north from Court House Square

They were together for several years until Joseph's passing on April 23, 1928. At the time of Joseph's death, the Tribune noted that he was survived by "a widow" although her name was not printed.

Ella apparently remained in Tampa for the rest of her life. The 1930 census shows her living alone on Tampa Street, at the age of 77, under the name of "Morris." The census taker marked that her father had been born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Maine. Oddly, another Ella Morris -- with the middle initial "S." -- resided next door that year, at age 65, and shown as mother in law of pharmacist William E. Sandlin and his wife Kate C. Sandlin. This family of Morris and Sandlin all were from Arkansas, with no known connection to our Miner-Morris group. She moved again sometime before 1937, to 8303 Brooks Street.

At the age of 84, Ella died at her home in Tampa, on April 3, 1937. The funeral was held at the Ebenezer Tablernacle, led by Rev. L.J. Oliver. Pallbearers included Spencer Evans, West Shelenbergre, G.H. D. Hanson, O.L. Bryant, J.H. Carter and Mr. Robinson. She was laid to rest in the Morris family plot in Tampa's Woodlawn Cemetery. She rests under the shade of a tall palm tree (seen here), directly between her sister Lina Morris and nephew Harold Miner Morris.

In her obituary, the Tampa Tribune reported that she was survived by her daughter Frances Davidson, who was residing at the time in Minneapolis. The obituary is on file today on microfilm at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa.

Ella's stepdaughter Harriet D. Stillman, from her first marriage, married Roger M. Beggs.

After the death of Hattie's paternal grandmother Hannah Stillman in Elmwood, Peoria County, IL in January 1883, Hattie learned that she was to inherit $10 under the terms of the will. There is no indication whether she received this sum.

The Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County states that Reuben Holt's children from his first marriage were "a large and unusually talented family, all of whom have been given educational advantages and a number of whom have developed into successful teachers." As of 1911, their stories follow:

Son H. "Guy" Holt (1875- ? ) married Jennie Donaldson of Philadelphia and had three children -- Donald R. Holt, Margaret Holt and Graydon Holt.

Son Clarence "Percy" Holt (1876- ? ), also known as "C.P.," married Mabel Davis, and they had one son, C.P. Holt Jr. Percy Sr. taught school in Clearfield County and moved to Shawnee, OK, where he became district attorney. He was a member of the board of directors for The Union State Bank in Shawnee, and is named in the Third Biennial Report of the Bank Commissioner of the State of Oklahoma for 1912.

Daughter Anna Edna Holt (1878- ? ) was a teacher for five terms in Clearfield County. She married New Jersey native Walter Harker, and they had two children -- Evelyn Harker and Margaret Harker. She is believed to have been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution as a descendant of Ensign John Holt.

Son Clyde F. Holt (1879- ? ) married Grace McGovern of Philadelphia. They had only one son, Reuben John Holt, who died in infancy.

Daughter Mabel Holt (1880- ? ) taught school in Clearfield County for eight terms. She married Roy Woodside, of Boggs Township, Clearfield County. They had one son, Thomas C. Woodside.

Daughter Ora B. Holt (1882- ? ) taught three terms of school in Clearfield County and married Frank Smith. They had one son, Leslie C. Smith.

Daughter Minnie Holt (1883- ? ) taught three terms of school in Clearfield County. She married Charles Kreder, a native of New Jersey. The Kreders had three sons: Le Nard Kreder, Karl Kreder and Kenneth Kreder.

Son Grover C. Holt (1884- ? ) was the superintendent of a gas plant at Shawnee, OK. He was married and had one daughter, Maurine Estell Holt.

Son Dr. Lloyd Mott Holt (1885- ? ) was a school teacher and later obtained his medical degree in 1911 at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Circa 1922, he was a member of the Northumberland County (PA) Medical Society, and resided at 146 East Sunbury Street in Shamokin. In 1951, he is known to have attended the Jefferson Class of 1911's 40th reunion banquet, hosted by Erwin D. Funk, M.D., of Wymoissing, PA.

Daughter May C. Holt (1887- ? ) was a teacher who attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She married Paul F. Myers.

Daughter Vida Nina Holt (1889- ? ) was a student at Perkiomen Seminary. On June 19, 1912, she wed Aaron Elmer Gottshall (1889-1971), the son of William S. and Anna "Nancy" (Von Nieda) Gottshall. They had two children -- Drusilla Nan Gottshall (born 1916) and William Holt Gottshall (born 1922). Elmer passed away in Washington DC o nSept. 15, 1971. They are listed in the 1924 publication, A Genealogical History of the Gottshall Family, authored by Rev. N.B. Grubb. For more, visit the Gottshall.com website.

Daughter Carrie Viola Holt (1892-1954) was a student at Perkiomen Seminary. On June 16, 1917, Carrie married Howard Scattergood Taylor (1892- ? ), the son of Howard and Lillie (Ettenger) Taylor of Columbus, NJ. They had two children -- Margaret Forcey (Taylor) Lawrence and James Holt Taylor. Howard was a graduate of Amherst College's Class of 1914. He began his working career as an instructor at Montclair (NJ) Academy from 1914 to 1918. During World War I, he worked in the production department of New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, NJ in 1918-1919. He then went on to employment with International Railway Company in Buffalo and, in 1924, was named group sales supervisor with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, serving until 1958. In 1961, he was appointed president and director of Taylors, Inc. Sadly, Carrie died on May 22, 1954. Howard married again, on June 25, 1955, to Irene M. (Sharpe) Campbell. They are mentioned in the Amherst College Biographical Record 1963.

Many thanks to the Clearfield County Historical Society for their assistance. Bench and Bar title page image courtesy of Google Books