Stillings, Origan

STILLINGS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 21:57:33

Origan Stillings

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.553)
ORIGAN STILLINGS, one of the pioneer settlers of Layton Township, was born in Illinois, February 18, 1839, the son of Josiah J. STILLINGS, who was of German descent. His father died in Baltimore, Maryland, when Josiah was but three years of age, and his mother died when he was but six years old, and he was brought up on a farm by his uncle, Abraham SWARTZ, a farmer of Knox County, Illinois. When about seventeen years of age, he left his uncle and went to Galena where he worked in the lead mines. He afterward returned to Knox County and was married to Lucy A. COY, daughter of Benjamin COY, a native of the eastern states, and who was a pioneer of Kentucky. He was a great hunter and a fast runner, and could have outrun his Indian companions. He married a Welsh lady in Kentucky, and here Lucy, the wife of Josiah STILLINGS, was born. Her family settled in Iowa where they were among the early pioneers.

To Mr. And Mrs. Josiah STILLINGS were born eight children: Arena A., Mary A., Origan A., Eliza J., Sarah E., Martha E., James B. F., Emeline and one who died in infancy. The father was a miller in Illinois for some years, and in 1844 came to Iowa, settling in Washington County, where he ran a mill for four years. He then moved two and a half miles northwest, where he built and ran a mill. He then went into a grocery store and also kept a hotel at Wassonville, one of the oldest towns in Iowa. He also owned a small farm, where he died in 1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was in the Black Hawk War when a young man; held the office of Constable twenty-four years in Iowa, seventeen consecutive years; and was a member of the Methodist Church. Mrs. STILLINGS was a member of the Baptist Church.

O. A. STILLINGS, our subject, was reared to farm life, and when five years of age, he came with his father to Iowa and was early accustomed to the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and well remembers seeing the Indians buy goods of his father, who could talk and understand some of their language. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1861, he enlisted in Company F, First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and served one year in Missouri. He was in the battle of Black Water, where 1,300 Confederates were captured, and he was also in the battle at Silver Creek, where a ball struck the visor of his cap. He was honorably discharged at Sedalia, Missouri. Returning home, he engaged in farming; then went to Illinois, thence to Kansas, where he drove a Government team to Salt Lake, Utah; next he went to Virginia City, Montana, where he remained through the winter of 1863-64, and was a member of the celebrated committee which established law and order in Montana, and who executed a great many desperadoes. The next August, Mr. STILLINGS returned to Iowa, and in 1867 was married to Elizabeth PHILLIPS, daughter of George and Elizabeth (DEAN) PHILLIPS, and they have five children: Bertha, Frank, Wilber, Frederick, and one who died in infancy. The mother died, and Mr. STILLINGS married Hortense VAN METER, in 1886, during which year he came to Pottawattamie County and bought his present farm of eighty acres, but which he has since converted into a fine farm of 120 acres.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is a class leader and steward. Mrs. STILLINGS is a member of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican, voting first for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the G.A.R. post and is a man who stands deservedly high in his township as a straightforward and honorable man. He was injured in the United States service and is now drawing a pension from the Government. Mrs. STILLINGS was born in Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of Elias B. HOWELL, who was born in Ohio and was an early settler of Johnson County. He was married to Rachel PRESTON, and they have had seven children: Mattie, Lorena, Hortense, Cora J., Fadilla, Ralph and one who died when young. Both Mr. And Mrs. HOWELL are members of the Christian Church, in which he has for many years been a deacon and class leader. The HOWELL family originated in New Jersey. Elias HOWELL, the father of the above, was an old pioneer of Licking County, Ohio, and was a member of Congress from that State in the time of William H. Harrison, and was also prominent in the Log Cabin and Hard Cider campaign. He was Sheriff of Licking County for many years, was the proprietor of the silk interest in Ohio, was married three times and was the father of twelve children. His son, James B. HOWELL, was United States Senator from Iowa.