Notes |
- June 2008
Information on this family was kindly contributed by Clark W., great-grandson of Frederick.
Email address: clark(at)brittonsd.com
June 2008
Email from Merry Bird ( Thrushway(at)aol.com )
FREDERICK AARON STILES
Frederick Aaron Stiles (1875-1945) was the son of Sylvester E. Stiles (1847-1890) and Susan E. Chapin (1858-1902). Fred, as he was known, came from River Falls, Wisconsin with his parents to Cass Co.,
Dakota Territory about 1880. About I883 the Stiles and Chapin families came to Marshall Co., locating in White Twp. on sections 16 and 17.
Mr. Stiles grew up on the farm, and when a young man, came to Britton and was employed as a barber in the Brown Barber Shop. He saved his earnings and invested in sheep. He soon left the barber trade to engage in the draying business with his brother, Albert C. Stiles. After Albert's death in 1900, Fred sold the dray business and purchased the A. Lawrence Hardware store, together with Charles Kenney. Later he sold the business to George G. Baker, after which he engaged in the banking business as president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. Following the closing of the bank in the early 1930's, he started a grocery business, using a truck and going through the countryside selling groceries and taking eggs and cream on trade. He always gave out candies to the children along the route. The grocery business grew, and he later established a store in Britton.
On May 12. 1908 he married Clara Adele Goebel, who died Sept. 7. 1909 following the birth of their daughter, Clara Mabel. After his wife's death, his only sister, Mabel Claire (1882-1939) kept house for him.
Fred was a member of the local Masonic bodies, being a 32 degree
Mason, and a member of the Aberdeen Scottish Rite Bodies. He was also a member of the Britton Methodist Church. He served several years as mayor of Britton.
All deceased members of the family are buried in the Britton Cemetery.
Clara Mabel (1909- ) was reared by her grandparents, Henry and Charlotte Goebel, living most of her early years in St. Paul, Minnesota. She learned the arts of sewing, knitting, crocheting and tatting from her grandmother. She started piano lessons at the age of four. After graduating from public grade school, she attended Oak Hall, a private school for girls. Clara worked at Oak Hall after graduation as a secretary and teacher assistant in the primary grades. While attending the University of Minnesota she worked at the St. Paul Pubic Library. She was a member of the Merriam Park Presbyterian Church, and taught Sunday School. In 1930 she married Moritz Edward Wismer and moved to Britton, South Dakota.
Compiled by Clara Stiles- Wismer-Neff.
1910 Census - Britton, 3rd Ward, Marshall Co, South Dakota
Frederick A. Stiles, 35, widowed, born Wisconsin, Father: ME - Mother: NY
Mable C. Stiles, sister, single, 26, born South Dakota, Father: ME - Mother: NY
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=marshallcounty&id=I4760
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