Joseph Lewis Stiner was born in Logan County, Ohio, July 7, 1812, son of Abram and Betsy (Lewis) Stiner. He was raised on a farm, and obtained his education in the common schools of his native place. He was married in the fall of 1835, in Union County, Ohio, to Miss Esther H. Wagner. In 1849 he removed to Clayton County, Ia., and settled on 160 acres on section 16, Wagner Township, where he lived until his death. He made frequent purchases of land during the years following his settlement there, and owned altogether nearly 800 acres of land. On section 16 he erected a fine brick dwelling-house, and made the most substantial and modern improvements on his land. When he first settled there were but four or five families in the township. He endured all the hardships of pioneer life, and learned in those days the lessons of hospitality that he practiced all his life. Mr. and Mrs. Stiner had twelve children, nine now living - Minerva J., John, Christopher C., Hattie A., William J., Abraham, Joseph L., Emma E. and Franklin P. Sarah S. died at twenty-four years of age, and George and Victor in infancy. Mrs. Stiner died in April, 1869, and in 1874 Mr. Stiner was again married, to Mrs. Ann Sherman, a sister of his first wife. He died Aug. 31, 1879, at the old homestead. By his death Clayton County lost one of her most valued and respected citizens. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1142-43 |