Otto’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY Stauffer family suffered through untimely deaths

Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.

BY OTTO DICK

One of my present projects is researching people buried at Riverside Cemetery. Our cemeteries are much more that a number of tombstones.

This cemetery was first called the burying grounds owned by the county. Later it was turned over to the City of Oregon.

Researching these early families of Oregon and vicinity is a constant reminder of the high mortality rate of many of these families.

The Levi Stauffer impressive marker is located in the south section of Riverside Cemetery.

Ten names are listed in the Stauffer Cemetery plot. Levi, his wife Eva and eight other family members are listed. The father and three of his children named Helen, Alice and Floyd all died in 1877. Two others of his children passed away before he died.

Levi started out as a trader in stock in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was born in Pennsylvania on July 24, 1848. Following his marriage to Eva Shaffer in 1873 they came to Oregon in 1876 with their two children Sallie and Albert.

The following 1877 Stauffer obituary: “Died In Oregon, of scarlet fever, December 14 th A.M., daughter of Ms. Eva Stauffer. Age about four years. This afflicted lady buried two other children within five months

Levi Stauffer was born on July 25, 1848 and died on Nov. 15, 1887. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Oregon as are other members of his family. Photos by Otto Dick

and her husband four weeks ago last Sunday. Her cup is full to overflowing.”

The 1898 Oregon Directory shows the Stauffers living at 800 S. 5 th St. This is now a parking lot. The occupants were his wife Eva, son Lee listed as a messenger and Miss Stella a teacher.

Lev’s and Eva’s son Lee passed away at age 25 in California with his mother at his bedside. She accompanied his remains back to Oregon.

Originally he was a telegraph operator for the Burlington Railroad in this vicinity. He moved to California and worked as a Telegraph Operator for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Their daughter Estelle Marie Stauffer grew up in south Oregon and received her education in the Oregon public schools and graduated with the class of 1898 at Oregon High School.

She taught several terms in the country schools. She married the son of John L. Smith, general superintendent of the Schiller piano factory.

Her brother Floyd was a lifelong resident of Oregon and a WWI veteran. Floyd died when he was 73 as a result of a car accident in Oregon. He died in the veterans’ hospital from a broken leg and other injuries.

At Riverside Cemetery are buried many infant deaths. The lifespan of many others were short. Several died from accidents, drowning in the Rock River and one shot.

Many of our settlers moved to this location seeking less crowded conditions of the East Coast.

We complain about so many things today, however what we see as difficulties are minor and minuscule compared to what our early settlers faced.

If anyone has information or are related to this Stauffer Family I would appreciate it. I have no photos of this family and their family home site is now loaded with used cars.

This family suffered what I would call a living hell.

Lets think and talk about the good things in life, enjoy what we have and help others.

Respect and love goes a long way. Each one of us is a unique human being, a product of our inheritance and our daily life experiences.

OREGON LIBRARY Library Closure

Due to the shelter in place order the Oregon Public Library will be closed until further notice. All programs have also been cancelled.

We hope to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and contribute to the health of the community.

Since we are a fine free library you will not be accruing fines for overdue materials, so don’t worry about returning your items.

Use our WiFi outside of our building by connecting to the Oregon Library Guest Access WiFi network that doesn’t need a password.

Did You Know?

Kathy Bouska, retired Oregon School District teacher, was one of the first children’s librarians at the Oregon Public Library? Even when Kathy returned to teaching she, and her husband George, also retired Oregon School District teacher, continued to be supporters of the Library by encouraging their students to read, discover and investigate through reading.

They have also been very generous with book donations and sharing their “tools of the trade” with the children’s librarians that have followed.

We will miss seeing both of them at the Library and around town. They are going on a new adventure and relocating to Montana to be closer to family. Best wishes to Kathy and George, you will be missed!

2020 Summer Reading Program - Dig Deeper, Read, Investigate, Discover!

Join us this summer for our virtual summer reading program! Due to COVID-19 constraints the summer reading programs at Oregon Public Library will be a bit different from previous years, but it will go on.

You may now register for READsquared at http://oregonpubliclibrary.readsquared.com/ . Please answer the registration questions and complete the form to be placed in the appropriate group.

We will be communicating with our participants throughout the summer as this is a new online program and we are creating things as we go. If you do not have internet access, please call the Library and leave a message with contact info and one of the staff will contact you.

Summer Reading activities will begin Monday, June 1. We will still be having

See OREGON LIBRARY, Page 7

Mystery Photos, Lego Club, prizes, incentives, virtual events, and missions, they’ll just be a little different.

Looking forward to a unique summer and thank you for your patience with this new way of summer reading!

You can also email us at oregonlibrary.SRP@gmail.com with questions about all things related to Summer Reading!

We Now Have Overdrive for E Books!

Readers may browse OPL’s digital collection, instantly borrow titles and start reading or listening for free with a valid library card. This service is compatible with all major computers and devices, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without wait lists or holds.

Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®”. All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and there are no late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use. To get started enjoying ebooks, audiobooks and more, visit https://omnilibraries.overdrive.

Summer reading program registration has begun! Check the Oregon Public Library’s website to see how to participate in this year’s summer reading program.

com/ or download Libby today.

Big News!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mt. Morris and Oregon Public Libraries are temporarily waiving non resident fees and offering that anyone living within the boundaries of the Oregon Unit School District can sign up for a temporary library card.

This special digital card will allow access to the library’s electronic resources for a limited time period which will be helpful in supporting students’ e-learning as well as meet other informational and recreational needs. This temporary card is valid until Sept. 1.

To apply for a free temporary card, please visit http://oregonpubliclibrary. com/services/library-cards/ to complete

Talented Tuesdays - Every Tuesday

Visit our Facebook page every Tuesday and look for the Talented Tuesday post. Each week will feature a staff member and their talent or hobby.

If you have a talent or hobby you’d like to share through our Facebook page, email cbergoply@gmail.com and we’d be happy to share your talent!

What Ya Watchin’ Wednesdays - every other Wednesday

Join the Library Director, Hilaree Lombardo and Adult Programming’s, Cari Berg to discuss what you are watching during shelter-in-place. We will share our thoughts on various television shows, Netflix series, Movies, Podcasts, and more.

Video Story Time

We are continuing to post a Video Story Time to our Facebook page every Thursday while the Library is closed. It might be just stories and suggested activities or maybe some off- site guests.

So check out the Oregon Public Library Facebook page.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING! FHN encourages you to practice social distancing as you log various types of physical activity to win prize money for the school system of your choice.

Sign up for some healthy competition!

Your summer sports and other physical activity can help schools within FHN’s service area! FHN’s Miles And Minutes program encourages you to be active as you log various types of physical activity to win prize money for the school system of your choice.

Register for this online program at www.fhn.org/ milesandminutes. All of the rules of the competition are there, as well as information about how miles and minutes will be calculated to determine the winning school systems.

Competition begins Monday, June 1, 2020 through Sunday, August 30, 2020. Questions? Call FHN marketing at 1-877-6000-FHN (1-877-600-0346) ext. 901.

Prize money awarded for: • School system with the most average “miles” logged per participant • School system with the most “miles” total • Schools not eligible for above prizes will be entered into a drawing to win one of three cash prizes.

School Systems in FHN Service Area Aquin Schools Chadwick-Milledgeville Dakota School District Durand School District East Dubuque School District Eastland School District Forrestville Valley School District Freeport School District Galena School District Immanuel Lutheran School Lena-Winslow School District Orangeville School District Pearl City School District Pecatonica School District River Ridge School District Scales Mound School District Stockton School District Tri-County Christian School Warren School District West Carroll School District