Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Thomas Stillings
THOMAS STILLINGS
Thomas
Stillings was a farmer. The subject of this biography was born in
Harford County, Md., November 30,1816. His parents, James and
Mary (Barnes) Stillings, were also natives of Harford County. Mr.
Stillings was born May 8,1785. and Mrs. S. November 1, 1791. In
1828, they removed to Clark County, Ohio, and settled ten miles east of
Springfield, where they resided till 1833, and came and located in
Allen Township, where Mr. Stillings bought a tract of 200 acres of land
; he afterward added 100 acres to the original purchase. He was
drafted and served in the war of 1812. His death occurred in the
fall of 1865, and his wife followed some two years after. Thomas is the
second son in a family of ten children. February 21, 1842, he was
married to Miss Somelia, daughter of James C. and Providence
Dines. Mrs. Stillings was born in Clark County, Ohio, June 14,
1823. Of four sons three are living, viz.: William, married Emma
Wood; Edward, married Olive Carpenter; and French G., married Ella
Vance ; Lewis, the eldest son, is deceased. He was born December
15, 1844, and September 3, 1864, in tender manhood, he responded to the
country's call and enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. While in the service, he
contracted the measles and died January 15. 1865, while home on a
furlough. He was a patriotic soldier boy and now sleeps with the
fallen heroes of the Union. In 1844, Mr. Stillings purchased
eighty-seven acres of his present farm, and with thirty-seven acres as
a present from his father, he began life. He now owns 302 acres
of finely improved land constituting the home farm, besides acres in
Union Township. Mr. Stillings started in life like many others of
his day, in limited circumstances. By his untiring energy and
industry he has made for himself a large and valuable competence, and
ranks as one of the solid and substantial men of the county.
Farming and stock-raising has been his exclusive occupation, and in
which he has been crowned with eminent success. Mr. Stillings,
although not an office aspirant, has filled various official capacities
in his township. He is now serving his third term as Township
Trustee. The portrait of Mr. S. that appears in this was made
from an ambrotype taken when he was forty-two years of age.