John Stirling, Sr., d. 1907

STIRLING, WHITLOCK, DANIELS, HAFFNER

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 5/14/2005 at 08:04:38

John Stirling.

John Stirling, Sr., the aged founder, president and stockholder in the Stirling Woolen Mills at Farmington died Friday morning, November 1, 1907, aged eighty-three years. He lived with his son, George, and for several years had been in failing health requiring considerable attention.

Friday night he was restless and was watched carefully, until he fell asleep about midnight. About four o’clock his grandson, Walter Stirling, went to his bedside and found that he had gone. After a hasty search the body was found at the bottom of the back stairs. No bruises were found on the body and it was evident he had not fallen down stairs.

The following paragraphs are from the Farmington News of Friday and tell of Mr. Stirling’s family and his success in business.

“Eight children survive Mr. Stirling, of whom Mrs. George Whitlock lives at Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. Ed Daniels of southern Texas and John Stirling, Jr. editor of the Wayne County Democrat at Corydon; George, secretary of the Stirling Woolen Mills Co.; Jospeh B., a director and superintendent of the mill company; William, Mrs. Dan’l. Haffner? and Mrs. Will L***** of Farmington. Until the out of town children reach Farmington final arrangements for the funeral will not be made.

The deceased was an unusually successful woolen manufacturer. He learned his trade in Scotland, where he was born eighty-three years ago. He came to America about 1857 and located at Littleton, N. H. Seven years later he came to Illinois and for a short time lived four miles east of Burlington and from there he moved to Bonaparte and became superintendent of the Meek Woolen Mills. In 1880 he got the Kansas fever and started a sheep range in Stafford County but returned to Iowa the following year and located at Franklin. Her he began a small woolen manufacturing business, but outgrew the disadvantages of an inland town and moved his plant to Farmington in 1888. Here with the aid of local capital he incorporated the present company which has increased from $29,000? to $100,000 and won for it an enviable reputation. Year by year John Stirling Sr. added to his holdings in the company which he created and he lived to see it firmly established and himself the majority stockholder.”

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA