Sarah H. Stimmel

Sarah H. (Lorance) Stimmel, widow of Jacob Stimmel, was born in Virginia November 6, 1812. Her parents, Virginians, in 1815 settled near Columbus, Ohio, where they engaged in farming. Here, in 1825, her father, Mr. Lorance, died, death being caused by being out in a storm assisting a neighbor to erect a log cabin. Some time after her husband's death Mrs. Lorance married a Mr. Dill. Again in 1836 she was left a widow. Several years later she started for Missouri, but changing her mind on the road she settled in Stark county, Illinois. In 1861 she died at her son's home, in Knox county, in her eighty-second year. Sarah Lorance is the fourth child of their family of ten children. On March 16, 1843, she married Jacob Stimmel, whose Virginian parents were also settlers of Ohio, near Columbus, where they both died. His father, Peter Stimmel, died at the age of seventy, and his mother, Elizabeth (Lantis), at the age of sixty-four. Jacob was the eldest of a family of eight children. He was born May 13, 1818. His early life was spent assisting his parents on the farm. After his marriage he began farming in Ohio. Six years later they moved into the village of Groveport. He came westward in search of a home, and before moving made three visits. In 1857 they moved to Knox county, Ill., remained on their farm for one year, then removed to Peoria county and remained three years, and next settled in West Jersey township. A year later they purchased the place whero Mrs. Stimmel now resides. At the time of their settlement Illinois was a wilderness; their most numerous neighbors being wolves, tho bowlings of which could be heard every night. On March 24, 1885, Mr. Stimmel died, having passed through tho pioneer period of two States, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the I. O. O. F. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom still live: Virginia A. (deceased), Jacob W., now residing in Missouri; Isaac L., also in Missouri; Peter (deceased), Josephine (deceased), Franklin (deceased), Missouri, now Mrs. Griffin, of Iowa; Virginia., now Mrs. Brady, of West Jersey; and Frank L., residing at home. Mrs. Stimmel is now in her seventy-fifth year. She has been crippled for thirty-nine years, and for nearly three years has been unable to walk, but she bears her affliction with patience and forbearance. Her farm consists of 250 acres, well improved.