Stiles, John W. 1818 – 1906

STILES, SCHILDKNECKT, BONDY, SPURR, FLEMING, ANDERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:42

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer June 29, 1906, FP, C5

The Decorah papers report the death of two of Decorah’s pioneers on Saturday last, June 23rd, John W. Stiles and Erick Anderson. Mr. Stiles was born in New York in 1818, and located in Decorah in 1856, just at the birth of the town, and entered into the stage business, operating stages from Decorah to Dubuque long before railroads traversed the state.
Previous to this, he had driven stages out of Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha, St. Louis, Galena, and Dubuque, and for the old M. O. Walker stage line which at one time run through this section. In 1870, he established the Stiles’ Hotel which he has conducted ever since. His funeral was held Monday afternoon, Erick Anderson was born in Norway in 1827, and came to Chicago in 1839. After working as a compositor on various Norwegian papers for several years, he came to Winneshiek County in 1850, and entered land in Springfield Township. He was elected sheriff of that county in 1860, and served two terms.
PIONEERS AT REST.
Death Claims two Well Known Residents of Decorah who were Early Settlers.
JOHN W. STILES.
Not unexpectedly, but with a sense of regret at the passing of one of our very oldest residence, came the report Saturday morning of the death of John W. Stiles. A few months ago the infirmities of old age made their first serious inroads upon the pioneer, and gradually he failed until he had to spend day after day in his room. For a time he grew better, but the improvement was not for long, and gradually strength and vitality ebbed, though not until three days before his death did Mr. Stiles give up and express ay doubt of his recovery.
Mr. Stiles was born in Cazenovia, N. Y. Nov. 22d, 1818, but the greater part of his early life was spent in and near Cleveland, Ohio. His education was acquired at Oberlin college, and before coming west he spent some years on the Great Lakes as a master mariner. The life of the pioneer was destined to be his lot however and the late forties and early fifties found him engaged in the stage business—first out of Chicago, and later in Milwaukee, Galena, Dubuque, Omaha, and other places. He came to Decorah in 1855 and engaged in the livery business, but after a time returned to staging and continued in it until 1870 when he opened the Stiles hotel, an occupation that has claimed the remainder of his days. In his more active years Mr. Stiles was allied with public life through his service as a member of the city council. In personality a rough exterior covered a heart that was warm in its friendships, generous and open handed in his impulses, kind and loving as a father and companion to his children and the widow who remain to cherish his memory.
Mr. Stiles was married in Decorah, Feb. 18, 1858, to Sarah Fleming. To them nine children were born, of whom eight survive. They are Charles, Lizzie, Mrs. Nettie Spurr, Mrs. E. R. Haines, Mrs. Oscar Bondy, Mrs. W. M. Norton, Mrs. Philip Schildkneckt, and Miss Ruth Stiles.
The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the Stiles hotel, Rev. M. Willett officiating.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he is buried in Phelps Cemetery; however they show he was born in 1828. According to the above he died June 23 but Find a Grave shows June 25.