Thomas Milton Stahlman:

T. M. Stahlman, a leading and prosperous farmer of Eldred Township, has spent his entire life in Jefferson County, where his birth occurred December 11, 1856. His paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Stahlman, was of German extraction, and was reared in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, but in 1844 removed to Clarion County, where from the wilderness he developed a good farm, and continued to follow agricultural pursuits and hunting throughout the remainder of his life, dying there in 1868. He was a devout member of the Lutheran Church, and strictly observed all religious customs. His children were eleven in number, namely: Moses, Paul, Benewell, William, Cornelius, Dewalt, Gabriel, Lucy, Hettie, Elizabeth, and Catherine.

Gabriel Stahlman, our subjects father, was a native of Schuylkill County, and was about sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Clarion County, where he grew to manhood. He early started out in life on his own account and subsequently purchased a tract of raw land in Warsaw Township, Jefferson County, upon which he still resides. Soon after beginning its improvement he was married and located there. He has met with a fair degree of success in both farming and lumbering, which he still continues to follow, and is now a stockholder in the Brookville Wagon Factory.

In Jefferson County he was married to Miss Ester Keck, a native of Clarion County, and a daughter of David Keck, who removed from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Clarion County at an early day, and later took up his residence in Jefferson County, where he improved a good farm and spent his remaining days. His ancestors were originally from Germany. In his family were three children: Israel; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Deiner; and Ester, mother of our subject. To Gabriel and Esther Stahlman were born ten children, namely: David; Cornelius, who died at the age of eleven years; T. M. of this sketch; Saloma, who married A. Beninger, and died soon afterward, leaving one daughter; Douglas M., a teacher by profession; George M. and Francis M., both farmers; Emma, at home; Clark R., who is attending the normal school; and  Abbie, at home. 

Politically the father is a democrat, and has held some township offices, but cares little for political honors. His estimable wife is a member of the Lutheran Church, and both are held in the highest regard by all who know them.

In much the usual manner of farm lads T. M. Stahlman spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and at the age of sixteen commenced lumbering, which occupation he has followed during the winter, while the summer season has been devoted to farm work. Soon after his marriage, in 1878, he purchased his present farm in Eldred Township, which at that time was fairly improved, and today he has sixty-five acres of the 150-acre tract cleared, the stumps removed, and under a high state of cultivation. By the erection of a commodious two-story frame residence and good barns and other out-buildings, he has made the farm on of the most desirable places in the locality. He is successfully devoting some attention to stock-raising, and yet owns some good sawed timber.

In 1878 Mr. Stahlman was married to Miss Leathy A. Geer, whose parents, Lawson and Nancy (Knapp) Geer, were early settlers of Jefferson County. The father, who was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, is a millwright, and in following that vocation has become widely and favorably known throughout the state. He and his wife are both earnest members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and are the parents of eight children: Rebecca, now the wife of  M. C. Butlet; Albert, a farmer by occupation; Leathy A., wife of our subject; Cassius M., an engineer; Joseph, Abigail, Nancy J., and Newton, deceased.

Four children grace the union of our subject and his wife, all at home, namely: Carrie, Mary E., Nancy M. And Annie M. With their parents they hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, And  Mr. Stahlman has ever taken an active and prominent part in church work, as trustee and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. His political support is given to the democratic party, and he has done all in his power to advance the interests of his township and county, but has never cared for office.

Transcribed from The Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, pages 1316-1317 by Steve Stahlman