Solomon R. Stoughton
Solomon Stoughton was the last child of his parents. His birth date is reported variously, as 1876 on his gravestone, 1878 in a county history, but most likely was 1877 as indicated on the two earliest census and on his WWI draft registration card. Thus he was born about eight years after his next older sibling, Sydney Jane. He was of slight build, with red hair and blue eyes. His mother was of Scottish lineage, by way of Ireland, and his father was of English and Dutch lineage. He married early, at about age 16. His son Howard Ray appears to have been born 17 years after the 1877 birth date for Solomon. There was an earlier child who died before 1900, and was probably born within the first year of the marriage, about 1892/93.Solomon would have been age 15 or 16. Two infants died before 1900,per the 1900 census. In 1924, their 22 year old son Ira, named for Sol's brother, died. One has to believe there were inordinate strains on this couple, given their young age at marriage and the recurring deaths of their children.
Besides farming Sol worked at lumbering, threshing for hire, and oil drilling with brother-in-law James L. Wilson. His draft card lists another entrepreneurial effort, "manufacturing wholesale...(illegible)". By the date of the draft card (1918), his father John C. Stoughton had been dead a dozen years, and Sol was separated from his wife; he listed his brother Ira as next of kin. The youngest child, Hazel, would have been age 6 in 1918.
Sol later opened Stoughton's Beach on the bank of Slippery Rock Creek. The small resort always opened on Mothers' Day weekend, and there was a concession selling ice cream and soda. The water current was fairly swift and the creek bed rocky. And slippery.
(I'm told I waded there as a child in the 1940's, and fell on the rocks). Sol Stoughton was my great-grandmother's brother. Being the youngest of his siblings, Sol Stoughton was well remembered by my father John T. Wilson, and my uncle Russ Wilson. E.W.W.)
| Date | Location | Notes | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 Feb 1877[1][2][10] 1 Feb 1878[7] 1876[6] |
Franklin Twp., Butler Co. PA on his parents' farm. |
[1][2][6][7][10][14] | |
| Marriage | calc. 1892 | to Emma M. Stillwagon (Feb 1876-17 Mar.1930), dau. of Adam Stillwagon of Slippery Rock ; divorced 1922 |
[2][6][7] | |
| Death | 7 Mar 1966 | [6][11][14] | ||
| Burial | 10 Mar 1966 | Mt. Zion Baptist Cemetery, Isle, Butler Co. PA | [6][11] |
Ancestry chart segment
Generation 4 Generation 5
+-- John C. Stoughton
| (1832-1902)
Solomon R. Stoughton --+
(1877-1966) |
+-- Mary Jane McCandless
(~1832-1882)
Sources:
[1][6][7][8][9]
Children
(9 children with Emma M. Stillwagon)
| Name | Gender | Date of Birth | Birthplace | Spouse | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unknown Stoughton | ? | (expect b.~1892/93 & d. bef.1900) | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | (died young); birth order unknown; expect was first child. |
[2][3][14] | |
| Howard Raymond Stoughton | M | 27 June 1894 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | Esther Mathilda Fehl, b. 4 Feb 1899, dau. of Wm. H. Fehl & Matilda unknown |
Howard died 28 Nov 1953. | [2][3][5][11][12][14] |
| Ethel Jane Stoughton | F | 18 Aug 1895. | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | died 27 Aug 1895 (9 days old) | [2][3][14] | |
| Stella Grace Stoughton | F | 21 Nov 1897 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | William J. Fennel, per 1930 census | Stella died before 1966 |
[2][3][11][14] |
| Mabel Gertrude Stoughton | F | 5 Dec 1899 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | Nicholas P. Fennell | res. Chambersburg, PA Gertrude died 19 Dec 1973. |
[2][3][4][11][14] |
| Ira Frank Stoughton | M | 16 Mar 1902 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | Ira died 28 July 1924, age 22. |
[3][4][11][14] | |
| Clyde Burt Stoughton | M | 28 Feb 1906 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | m. Gussie Mae Hoch | res. Grove City PA Clyde died 25 Aug 1969 |
[3][11][14] |
| Blanche Alberta Stoughton | F | 28 Aug 1908 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | Vernon L. Vaughn | res. San Diego CA Blanche died 12 Feb 1985 |
[3][11][14] |
| Hazel Dorothy Stoughton | F | 9 Dec 1912 | Franklin T., Butler Co. PA | Ralph Walter Eld | res. Hagerstown MD; Hazel died 14 May 1991 |
[11][14] |
Places of Residence
| Location | Dates | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin T. Butler Co. PA born on parent's farm |
1877-1892 | [1][7] | |
| Franklin T. Butler Co. PA his 116 acre farm, at marriage |
1892-1966 | [7] |
Photo Gallery
Photos by E. W. Williams, Oct. 2006
Sources
| 1 | 1880 United States Federal Census, Franklin Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration district 42, Page 17, lines 14-18 lists John C. Stoughton, 50, married to Mary Jane Stoughton, 50. They live with three children: daughter Ellin Stoughton, 14; daughter Sydy Jane Stoughton, 12; and son Solomon Stoughton, 3. Mary Jane Stoughton is somehow listed as both married and single. John C. Stoughton is a farmer. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. Ellin and Sydy attended school within the census year. This census is dated 9 Jun 1880. |  |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1900 Federal Census, Franklin Twp., Butler Co., PA, Sheet 7, Dwelling no. 233; date of census 16 June 1900. Solomon Stoughton, born Feb. 1877, age 23, married 8 yrs, farmer,home (farm) owned, free of mortgage; Emmie M. Stoughton, wife, born Feb. 1876, age 24, married 8 yrs, mother of 5 children; 3 children living. Both Solomon & Emmie can read, write & speak English. Howard R. Stoughton, son, born Jun. 1894, age 5; dau. Stella V. Stoughton, born Nov. 1897, age 2; dau. Mabel G. Stoughton, born Dec. 1899, age 5 mos. All born in PA; all parents born in PA. |
 |
| 3 | 1910 United States Federal Census, District 89, Franklin Twp, Butler Co, PA, page 13. Census dated 4 May, 1910. Lines 11-18: Solomon Stoughton, age 32, head, mar. 15 years, farmer, general farming, owns farm, no mortgage; Emma, wife, 33, mar. 15 years, 8 children, 6 living; Howard R., son, 15; Stella G., dau, 12; Mabel G., dau, 10; Ira F., son, 8; Clyde B., son, 4; Blanche A., dau., A., 2. All and all parents b. PA. All but three youngest read, write, and speak English. Howard, Stella, Mabel and Ira attended school. |
 |
| 4 | 1920 United States Federal Census, District 47, Franklin Twp, Butler Co, PA, page 14. Census dated 20-21 Jan 1920. Lines 65-67: Solomon R. Stoughton, head, age 41, owns home, with mortgage,married at age 18, contractor, lumber mill; Gertrude M., dau, age 20; Ira F., son, age 18. All read, write, speak English, All (and parents) b. PA. Note:The notation in the marital status column is neither "M" nor "S", but an odd (WB?) overwrite. Wife Emma is not present in the ennumeration; nor are the youngest children who should be aged 12 & 14. See source notes below. |
 |
| 5 | 1930 United States Federal Census, District 61, Slippery Rock Twp, Butler Co, PA, page 13. Census dated 11 Apr 1930. Lines 44-50: H.R.Stoughton, head, age 35, owns home (not on farm), owns radio, first mar. age 23, reads and writes English, laborer, creamery, not a veteran; Esther, wife, 31, mar at 20, reads and writes; Roy, son, 11, in school; Roberta, dau, 7, in school; Audrey, 5; Betty, 1 year, 5 mo.; S.R., father, 53, mar at 16. All and parents born PA. Note: The head of household is Howard Stoughton; the father is Solomon. |
 |
| 6 | Gravestone Transcription, Mt Zion Baptist Cemetery, Franklin Twp.,Butler Co. PA. Butler Co. Cemetery Inventory, Vol. II, Mt. Zion Cemetery, & transcription June 2007 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams.
|
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| 7 | 20th Century History of Butler & Butler County PA by James A. McKee, 1909, p.1001: Solomon R. Stoughton, a thriving agriculturist of Franklin Township, was born on his present farm of 116 acres, February 1, 1878, son of John C. and Mary Jane (McCandless) Stoughton...John C. Stoughton...came to the present farm of his son Solomon at the time of his marriage...Solomon R. Stoughton...has been largely devoted to agricultural pursuits, but for three years he was engaged in operating a saw-mill and threshing-machine, in partnership with James L. Wilson. He also spent seven years in the oil fields. ..Mr. Stoughton was married at the age of fifteen years to Emma Stillwagon, who is the daughter of Adam Stillwagon, of Slippery Rock, and they have six children: Howard Ray, Stella Grace, Mabel Gertrude, Ira Frank, Clyde, and Blanche. |
(Complete text, Solomon R. Stoughton sketch) |
| 8 | Manuscript of John T. Wilson researched 1975-1985, including personal knowledge and interviews of McDeavitt cousins and of his aunts Stella Wimer (McNeese), Lizzy Wimer (McDeavitt), Meda Wimer (McDeavitt), and Mary Gahagan. | |
| 9 | Interview of Russell W. Wilson, June 2007 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams. He accompanied us on a driving tour to visit the old beach, and told of family outings to Slippery Rock Creek on opening weekend. | |
| 10 | World War I Draft Card Solomon R. Stoughton, dated 12 Sept 1918. Euclid RD1, Butler PA; age 41, birth date 6 Feb 1877; white, native born citizen; self employed, manufacturing wholesale illegible; nearest relative Ira Stoughton, same address; short, small build, blue eyes, red hair. |  |
| 11 | Obituary of Solomon R. Stoughton, 7 Mar 1966 Butler Eagle, pg. 23. Solomon R. Stoughton, age 90, died Monday 7 Mar 1966, Butler Memorial Hospital. Born in Butler Co., son of John & Jane McCandless Stoughton; member of Butler Bapt. Temple. Wife Emma Stillwagon Stoughton, 2 sons & a daughter preceded him in death. Surviving 3 daughters: Mrs. Nicholas (Gertrude) Fennell, Mrs. Vernon (Blanche) Vaughn, & Mrs. Ralph (Hazel) Eld; and a son Clyde B. Stoughton. Burial at Isle Cemetery. |
(See complete transcript) |
| 12 | Kurt Albert, personal correspondence, 2008. Howard R. Stoughton, son of Solomon and Emma Stoughton, married Esther Mathilda Fehl, daughter of William H. Fehl and Matilda unknown. Esther was born 4 Feb 1899 in Franklin Twp., Butler Co. PA, per Butler Co. Birth Records of 1893-1905 (available on microfilm , Butler Library). | |
| 13 | Butler County Divorce Records, 26 Jan 1922, Pg. 5, lists the divorce of Emma and Solomon Stoughton. Per the research of contributor Jan Finke. | |
| 14 | Communication of Jan Finke, great-great-grandaughter of John C. Stoughton; email Sept 2011. Emma & Sol Stoughton had 8 children: |
Source Notes
- McKee's history of Butler County, published in 1909, was researched when Solomon was about thirty, so Sol may have been personally interviewed for it. It says that he married at age 15 to Emma Stillwagon, but it also puts his birth (1878) one year later than Solomon lists on his draft card or that he gave in the 1900 census,(1877) when he was age 23. (His gravestone gives yet a third date of birth (1876), but is probably the least reliable.)
- Emma and Sol Stoughton appear in separate census records in 1920, Emma by then living in Summit Twp., Butler Co. with daughter Stella & her husband William J. Fennel; and the two youngest Stoughton children, Hazel Dorothy & Clyde. (Note: surname is spelled "Stoten" in this census. It is apparent that she and Sol Stoughton separated by 1920. They were divorced by 1922.
- Blanche A. Stoughton is found in the 1920 census living with her aunt Sidney Jane Stoughton Wimer, and is listed as a niece.
