Stilwell - Stephen A. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Captain Stephen A. Stilwell, aged 74, a veteran of the civil war and a well known justice of the peace of this city, was found dead in his bed this morning at 7 at his home on South Walnut Street. Death came very suddenly and his many friends were greatly shocked when they heard the report of his demise. Death was caused by a spinal hemorrhage and the end came almost instantly. The summons came to the venerable and genial captain sometime between three and seven this morning. He was awake at 3 but soon went to sleep and this is the last time he is known to have been alive. This morning Mrs. Stilwell arose as usual and prepared breakfast. When the meal was ready she went to the bed room and called her husband, but received no reply, and called again. No answer being given to this summons, she became frightened and came to the bedside and made the discovery of his death. Dr. G..T Williams was immediately called, but he could do nothing. Capt. Stilwell was resting as if in sleep, and all indications pointed that he had passed away without any pain or struggle. Capt. Stilwell has been a justice of the peace for 16 years, having been in office since 1894. During that time he made many friends and gained the appellation of marrying squire due to the great number of marriages be performed. It is said that he has performed more than 900 ceremonies since being a justice of the peace. For several days his health had not been good but he kept the fact from everyone except his wife. On Wednesday Mrs. Stilwell asked EJ Sutton, who had offices in the same building to watch her husband and to call a physician if he should become ill. He had been bothered for some time with internal paints but refused to believe that they were at all serious. Capt. Stilwell was twice married, the first time to Miss Martha A. Hardee, a most exemplary woman. No children were born to them. For a second wife he married Sarah Simpson, a well known and highly respected lady on July 5, 1905. Besides his widow he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Martha Hall of this city. Five brothers, George, John, Hiram, Allen and Thomas and two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Conner and Mrs. Elsie Davis, preceded him in death. The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 at the Primitive Baptist Church and will be in charge of Rev. JH Oliphant of this city. Interment will be made in Oak Hill Cemetery. Capt. S.A. Stilwell, was born March 22, 1838 in Montgomery County. His father, Jeremiah Stilwell was born in Shelby County, Kentucky July 14, 1796 in 1826 he entered 120 acres of land 7 miles south of Crawfordsville, upon which he lived until a couple of years after his wife's death which occurred May 8, 1870. They were both members of the old school Baptist Church. Mr. Stilwell was one of the first settlers in Montgomery County and assisted in carrying the chains in the laying out of the state roads. When he first visited this city there was but one dwelling and the land office in its limits. Capt. Stilwell's early educational advantages were not of the best. But in 1857 and 1858 he attended a private school and by hard work paid his own way. He then began teaching in the winter and farming in the summer, until his 23rd year when he enlisted as a soldier under Capt. Harry Leming and was mustered in to Co. C 40th Ind in Lafayette Ind., Nov 15, 1861 and was mustered out in February 1864 at Dalton, Tenn. He then reenlisted and was mustered in at Chattanooga, Tenn in the same month and was mustered out June 30, 1865 at New Orleans on the Jackson battle ground. He participated in the following engagements in the order named: Stanford; Perrysville; Stone River; Chattanooga; Missionary Ridge; Chickamauga; Resaca; Peach Tree Creek; Shiloh; Corinth; Buzzard's Roost; Atlanta and then came back with Thomas and was in the battle off Nashville and was on the skirmish line that began the battle of Franklin. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain June 27, being shot through the right leg, breaking the front bone from the effects of which he passed through an untold amount of suffering. He did his duty fighting for the nation amply described by his military record. At the expiration of the war he became engaged in farming. After 2 years he was employed i the planing mill of Boots & Canine at which for 5 years he was noted as a steady worker, having lost but 24 day is the entire time. He then was engaged in the grocery business 14 months.. His appointment as Dept. Treas of Montgomery County dates from the expiration of this time and for four years he was known as an efficient officer. He was a member of McPherson Post, GAR No 7 of this city, the Odd Fellows' fraternity and Knights of Pythias. He was in religious belief a Universalist. His zeal for the principles of the Republican party was unbounded. Coroner Howard of Yountsville held an inquest over the body of Justice Stilwell this afternoon and found that the captain came to his death from natural causes. -- kbz