Andrew Stonebraker

STONEBRAKER, AULTFATHER, BARR, KEEFER, ZIMMERMAN, MOORE, WELCH, SAAR

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/6/2001 at 09:35:34

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
ANDREW STONEBRAKER
Andrew Stonebraker, Treasurer of Cantril, won the position, which he now holds, as the result of his worthiness, ability, and the high regard he is held by his fellow townsmen. He is a retired farmer of Van Buren County, having since 1883 made his home in Cantril, where he is the owner of the finest residence of the village. It is a tasty and commodious two-story dwelling, surrounded by towering maples, while the beautiful lawn in the front is adorned with many plants whose lovely flowers and fragrance add not a little charm to the scene. A fine bearing orchard at the rear of his home is another of its pleasant additions. Here surrounded by all the comforts, which go to make the life worth the living, Mr. and Mrs. Stonebraker expect to spend their remaining days.
The family of which our subject is a descendant is of German extraction and was established in America in the year 1700. The father Andrew Stonebraker was born near Hagerstown Maryland in 1765, where he was reared to manhood. In 1798, he married Lizzie Aultfather and unto them were born three children, but the mother did not long survive the birth of the third child. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Stonebraker immigrated to Ohio, where in 1815 he was united in marriage with Barbara Barr, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1785, and was a daughter of Daniel Barr, also of the Keystone State. The marriage was graced by nine children; the fourth in order of birth, being our subject.
Andrew Stonebraker was born on July 8, 1821, in Belmont county Ohio where he was reared to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as the common schools afforded. He was reared to farm life and chose that occupation for his own, and ere his removal to the west he had become owner of one hundred acres of choice land in Athens County Ohio, which yielded him a golden tribute for the care and labor, which he bestowed upon it. In 1873, he left the Buckeye state after disposing of his property, and came to Van Buren County Iowa. Upon his arrival he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and began the development of a fine farm. Many improvements he added which greatly enhanced the value of the land and the well cultivated fields indicated the thrift and enterprise of the owner, but at length, having accumulated a competency sufficient for all his wants in coming years he laid aside business cares and in 1883, as before stated, came to Cantril.
In August of 1844, Mr. Stonebraker was joined in wedlock with Susanna Keefer, the marriage being solemnized in Ohio. The lady is a native of Belmont County, that State, born in April of 1827, and a daughter of William and Jane Keefer. Her paternal grandparents Casper and Mary Keefer, were of German descent. Nine children have been born of this union, seven of whom are yet living, namely: James A., Silas A., Charles V., Sherman T., Narcissa J., deceased wife of Louis Zimmerman; Mary E., wife of Henry Moore; Alice A., wife of Wesley Welch; Viola M., wife of Martin Saar; and William Henry the eldest of the family who was killed at the battle of Corinth Mississippi during the war.
The father also donned the blue and marched southward in defense of the old flag. He served as a member of Company K of the Sixth-Third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, under Captain McGinnis and Col. Sprague. He enlisted in November of 1861, but was not actively engaged for owing to illness, he was placed on the sick list and at length was discharged in September of 1862 on account of physical disability. His duties as a citizen have ever been performed with the same loyalty and faithfulness as characterized his war record. He is a man of progressive ideas and enterprising spirit who gives support and encouragement to all worthy interests, while to the poor and needy he is a benefactor. In politics Mr. Stonebraker is a Republican; for three years he served as School Director, for a similar period was a member of the City Council of Cantril, and in March of 1889, he was elected to his present office, that of Treasurer. He and his wife are faithful members of the Christian Church of which he is an Elder, and by all who know them, are held in the highest regard.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family