Charles Story as written by him
Dedicated in loving memory to my Mom and Pop, Homer and Louise Stillion
The reason I am writing some of this history of our family is when I die this history will die with me. My prayer is that whoever is interested in this family will be able to get a copy. I am writing this to show how thankful I am that I was one of Homer and Louise Stillion's family and to show what an interesting and exciting area and time we grew up in. I have only touched on a few of the highlights of our family growing up in the Ohio Valley. I could go on for days and days. I'm so proud that it seems like I just can't say enough about the Stillion name. There was supposed to have been research made on the Stillion name because there were so few by that name; at one time there was only 141 families and the name has a crest. My son, Ron has it. This is supposed to go back to the Vikings Norseman in Norway, the first people to get to the America soil. It may sound like a little bragging, but so be it...
But, I think I have shown why I think like I do and I want to say any one that has any connection to the Homer and Louise Stillion Family can be very proud and honored to have some of that blood in their veins!
Just a few highlights of the lives of our Mom and Dad and the raising of their eight children, my five brothers and two sisters in the wonderful home of Homer and Louise Stillion. When one was glad, we were all glad. When one was sad, we were all sad.
Homer Maxwell Stillion (1882-1966), Louise Stuntz Stillion (1889-1962), George (1908-1991, Charles (1911), Elvin (1914-1984), Dorothy (1917), Ruth (1920), Robert (1922-1973), Homer, Jr. (1925), and William (1929).
I was the second oldest, so I know pretty much the whole story. Pop and Mom were married, I would guess in year 1907-1908. Mom was born in South Wheeling, West Virginia. Pop was born at Salesville, ohio, Guernsey County. He went to work for his Uncle as an apprentice carpenter at age fourteen. His Uncle was a well known contractor around the Columbus, Ohio area. His name was Roy Rogers and the company name was Rogers Construction. He was married to pop's oldest sister, Aunt Min. When Aunt Min died, two sons, Roy (aged 7) and Edward (aged 5) stayed with us and Mom cared for them until their Dad moved to Texas around year 1915-1916.
Our pop was a self-made man, seems like he drifted into the Ohio Valley at an early age and built wood oil derricks. All derricks were built of wood in those days down in the mountains of West Virginia. Then he came to Wheeling and went to work for a large contractor doing work in Wheeling and all the towns along the Ohio River. About this time in early 1900 they were building a lot of the three story 24 to 30 room mansions out the pike at Woodsdale for the factories and business owners, the very rich of Wheeling. He played a big part in many of the very expensive ones. One that comes to mind was the I. M. Scott mansion. He was the owner of Scott Lumber Companies. It is a large brick mansion on a very large sloping landscape located just before you get to Greggsville. I would guess it had about forty rooms. It's still there, and it was built in the very early 1900's!
He use to tell and show me many of the homes he had a part of. He was the main man for the contractor I mentioned, seems like his name was Hicks. At that time they traveled from job to job in a horse and buggy. They built bank buildings and businesses, houses in town on both sides of the river. At one time they loaded their tools, caught a train and went to Cleveland, Ohio to build a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio towards New York. I guess that was about year 1915-1916. They would come home ever so often, then go back on the train. Mr. Hicks was living in Cleveland when he died and was 81 years old and crossing the street and a car hit him.
When Pop was eighteen he was one of the buyers to buy a lot in Warwood when there were just a few houses. Streets and avenues were layed out, but streets were not paved, they just used river gravel to keep out of the mud. Some streets were large, oblong stones and had (what you would call) cobble stone streets, large oblong stones taken out of the Ohio River about the size of two fists. When the big draft horses would pass by at night, the sparks would fly from their steel shoes striking the flint in the stones.
Pop helped build the Peninsula Foundry out in East Wheeling. They made tank bodies for the First World War. He was the Outside Superintendent for all the housing and anything pertaining to wood like housing, tipples, etc. for Richland Coal Company, one of the largest mines in that part of West Virginia. He used to take me with him down to the mine in a horse and buggy on weekends. I gained a great amount of knowledge by going to so many work locations with him. Sometimes I would stay with him all day when he was working on an air shaft for the mine or other important functions of the mine.
People used to say, with his knowledge he could have been the richest man in the Ohio Valley, but he always wanted to be in the "thick of things" where he could use his skills. Some might think he could not hold a job - but far from that - If he was on a job and anybody crossed him, he would tell them to "stick it", and there was always many, many others that were wanting to have him because of his abilities and getting things done. He could leave a job and go to work almost anywhere he wanted to and could do anything they might need him for. He could get mad, tell them to stick their job and go back anytime he wanted to, but like I stated before, he always enjoyed doing the work and let the other guy make the profit. In a way, he was one of a kind, you might say. He always said he was Scotch Irish. I remember when he had a few "shots" of white lightning in him and was in another room he would talk like an Irishman that had just come to this country, and you would have believed it was someone with an Irish brogue just arrived from Ireland!
The other side of his Irish make up was that he would fight at the drop of a hat! (As the old saying goes) Ask me, I know, I was there from about the age four to nineteen. Up to now, it may sound like he didn't have many friends, but not so! He could go up and down either side of the Ohio River and he had more friends than any man I have ever known. Speaking of how he could use his fists, he bought a pair of boxing gloves for Christmas when I was nine or ten years old and George was about twelve or thirteen. He would have us (George and me) put them on and spar with him. He would let you get some pretty good licks to him, then when you thought your were doing pretty good, he would "give you one on the button" and your hind end would land in the corner on the floor! I've seen him take on men a lot larger than he was; he never looked for a scrap, but would never back off (again, I was there).
Pop was about 5'10", and had a brother-in-law about 6'2" or 6'3". Pop would bring him down to size quite often when they would be drinking together. I know there were times when he would, as the saying goes, "beat the hell out of him", and maybe the next week he would tell Mom to order them (brother-in-law) a load of coal to keep their kids warm, or tell Mom to buy his kids some shoes. It would be the start of winter, and his kids were still in bare feet. This is the reason I am writing this about him and Mom, I guess. I knew more about our Dad than any of the eight children (in the horse and buggy days). Then when we got our first auto, a Maxwell 1917, I went to work in a furniture factory at the age of fifteen and worked the farm from about eleven years to fourteen years when we were on the farm.
Getting back to younger days, five or six, I used to go with Pop in the horse and buggy on weekends, stop at friends houses. He would have a drink or two every place we stopped. Now here I go again, sounds like he was always drunk - but not so! When Monday morning came, he was up at daylight ready to go to work. I don't know of any day he ever missed work because of drink. His kids and Mom were his main concern. I recall one time when George was twelve or thirteen years old and a big bully about nineteen or twenty hit him or did something to him. (I don't recall just what.) Anyway, George told pop about what had happened and Pop went looking for the guy named John Beal. Anyway, George was never bothered by that guy again. He knew what would happen if he touched George again. Everybody in Warwood knew what he could do and he would do it if the occasion arose. He was very protective of his children! Again, don't get the idea he was a bully or was always looking for trouble....not so!
I might say something else about him: The kind of father he was with we kids, especially we older ones at the table, he and Mom would talk, but for the kids to butt in...that was a no no! If the plate of food was passed to you and you did not like what it was, you did not voice your opinion that you did not like it.....you would just keep your mouth shut and pass it on. In other words, the kids at the table ate their food and kept their mouth shut. If not, he would stand up, take his belt off and it only took one time to know he meant what he said. I never saw him use his fist and strike a child like some fathers would do. He used a belt or a switch. Also, if you asked to be out after dark and he told you to be in at 9:00 P.M. That was what he meant and you learned to do as he told you.....he was never out of reason! We were taught to respect him and Mom and any one of our seniors by holding the doors open for them to enter first, "yes sir, yes mamn," when spoken to by our seniors.
About his politics: He voted democrat and always said that party did more for working class people than the republicans, but I doubt it. He was very active on election day because he had so many friends. Just an added note: I was old enough to vote for President Roosevelt in his first run for president. I voted for him by proxy in Germany during the War. He was the greatest president this country ever had. Ackerman Press Steel Plant was paying 28 1/2 cents an hour when he was elected. In his first term wages went from 28 1/2 cents to $2.00 an hour. Enough said, you may get the idea I am also a democrat like my Pop. (Ha!)
Another thought comes to my mind: he and I went one Saturday down to the Coal Company in the buggy and went to Lew Lias's store (Of course, also a speak easy). He was Greek, and brother to Bill Lias, "king pin of the Vice" in Wheeling and Ohio Valley. Any way, Lew had a new utensil called a bread or dough mixer. Pop asked Lew to get it down from the shelf and said, "I'll but it for my wife to mix her dough. It will make it easier for her" It was a large pot and had a spiral mixer. You would hook to a crank that was fastened on top, put all the flour and other ingredients in and turn the crank instead of having to mix it all by hand. Mom used it for years. Dot and Ruth should remember. This is to show how good he was to her, always looking for something to help her in her work. God only knows, she needed all the help she could get, no matter how small.
Now the other things he would buy for her: When he built the second new house in Horseshoe Bend on Riley Hill Road, he bought Mom a new player piano from C. A. House Company one Christmas. At the same home he bought our first auto, I think a 1917 Maxwell Touring car. New House # 2 was on two acres of ground for garden space, beautiful home, split level panoramic view of the Ohio River. Then he decided he wanted his boys to have some life on the farm. I remember hearing him tell us how he had plans for us on this farm, so he got Mom to agree to sell this house and move to Guernsey County Ohio, fourteen miles northwest of Cambridge, Ohio, a beautiful farm with a new large story and half home. New House #3: I spent a very happy boyhood growing up there, but after a period of time, Mom got homesick for her native Wheeling. Pop was always ready to do what would please Mom, so we moved back to Wheeling. Another factor was he could make so much more money in the Ohio Valley where there was much more work and better pay, so we rented a while in Wheeling. Then he bought some hillside property not far from house #2 and George and I were getting big enough to help him, so this would be New house #4. It had two stories, full basement, panoramic view of the Ohio River on Riley Hill Road. Mom had given him all eight children by this time, Bill was the last baby.
I was twenty three years old, still living in this house when I was married. If I'm not mistaken, George, Charles, Pete, Dot and Ruth were all married while living in this home. It was in this home where we first got our big Majestic Radio. Mom got her first electric washing machine, a Dexter double tub. We had running water, telephone, and Mom's home was furnished with the best and she kept it up with the best. Eight children could have never had a better home life. After the married children began to leave, Pop was instrumental in building Mom three more new homes and maybe four. I don't know about Oregon. But, Mom was not satisfied there, so Pop brought her back to Wheeling. He never forced her to live where she was not happy.
I remember in this house where most of us were growing up, Pop would work all day on his job and Mom would work all day washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning, then it seems like the whole year they were cold packing fruits, vegetables, meats, and whatever they could to feed us hungry kids the year round. They would work all day and be working till 10:00 and 11:00 P. M. at night. Pop always helped her, no matter what they were doing.
During the depression Pop worked at the black smith trade. He was not only good at doing carpenter work; he was a man of many talents and he was very good at all of them. During the great depression we were too proud to take charity. We worked for whatever we could get, labor exchange for meat, potatoes, anything to feed us. I can say there never was one time any of our kids ever went to bed hungry. He cut our hair, half-soled our shoes. Mom mended our clothes, clean home and home cooked meals. Mom made him a batch of home brew (twelve gallons each week). We older kids would wash the bottles and bottle it for her. I never once saw Mom ever taste the home brew she made for him. (Quite a change from women of today.) The making of the brew was just like part of her cooking to her. She supplied his every need.
Let's talk about our Christmas: Pop had built a large platform six inches high, octagon shape with a white fence around it, metal sleeve in the center to hold the tree. He always bought a big tree that would almost reach the ceiling. Christmas night they would trim the tree and lay all the presents for each child on the platform. They made looking forward to Christmas a very important part of our lives. Before school age we would know Pop and Mom were Santa, but even the older ones would know we would never let It be known to the younger ones, so they could look forward to Santa and what he would bring them. To be able to enjoy growing up like we older ones did, all eight children were able to enjoy the same things at this wonderful time of the year. Mom would buy presents all year for the children. They would stand back and enjoy watching the children unwrapping their presents with glee...everything for the children and the family.
Before I forget, I have tried to show how smart Pop was, but have not said much about Mom in that respect, as though she was not very smart, but not so! She was a very intelligent person. She could cook a meal fit for a king, a superb housekeeper. You could eat off her floors. She was very smart when it came to managing money. Pop turned his paycheck over to her. I never saw him cash his check. Mom paid all the bills, did all the buying, bought all the groceries. I used to take her to the grocery store. The grocer was always glad to see her come. You can imagine the amount she would buy to feed her family. Pop always made top wages for the times, but she knew how to use his money and not waste it. She never got threatening letters about not paying her bills like some people did.
Our family Doctor was Dr. Webb. He would never send her a bill, but every so often she would stop in his office and give them what she could, and he doctored our family for years. I guess he helped bring all the babies into this world except George. He doctored us kids through our childhood illnesses. When Mom needed a Dr., she called Dr. Webb.
Getting back to Mom: I was twenty three years old when I left home married. She always cashed my checks and paid my bills. Boy, what a smart Mom! When her kids laughed, she laughed with them. When they cried, she cried with them. She was a very good singer and had a beautiful voice. When growing up I can remember hearing her quietly singing or humming a tune. In other respect, she was like Pop, she would give the last dollar she had to help someone else. Boy, what a mom we were blessed with!
Another added note: Some may not know, Pop and a friend named Brade Butler got a date with two girls; Louise Stuntz and Cora (maiden name unknown). Brade was a heavy person, weighed about 200 pounds. Cora was twice as big as Mom. So, on this date they decided to switch dates to even thing up (I guess). Anyway, Brade ended up marrying Cora and Pop married Mom. They were life long friends after they were married. Their older kids and ours were almost like brothers and sisters, our parents, the same. Anybody who knew our Mom would love her. She was that kind of person. About once each month, each family would exchange visits. Over the weekend, big dinners, chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, and on and on. They would make beds on the floor for the kids. Dads would eat, talk maybe work on cars, clean carbon grind valves, and oh yes, drink home brew!
Now more about Pop and the carpenter trade: As I said before, he was a self made man and could do whatever he put his hands to I. E. furniture, etc. When he and Mom were married he had made a beautiful three corner stand about 3' high. I don't know whatever happened to it, but Mom was always so proud of it and kept it in her bedroom. As I try to point out, he was gifted to know how to do things but he was not a good teacher. At times, I think his trouble was that he expected too much from others because it was so easy for him. George went to work with him when he was about seventeen. George used to tell me that he just could not please him, and would cry about it: like nailing one framing member to another, holding the framing member with one hand and starting a nail with the other. He could hold the member, take a 20 penny spike and put it up against the underside of the hammer close to the hammer head, strike the board hard enough so the nail would stick in the wood, then proceed to drive the nail home. If he told you to nail something to another member and maybe you were having trouble doing it, he would say, "get the hell down from there". He would go up the ladder, and bang-bang it was done, so you can see what George had to put up with.
Just a note on Brother George: He was a superb craftsman. Wood was putty in his hands. He worked at the Fokker Air craft Company ( a German Co.) in Glendale, West Virginia, and transferred to Dundalk, Md. when the company moved. Planes were mostly wood at this time, and he worked on the struts and building the wings - very precise work. Wings were covered with canvas. He also worked at a furniture factory and made Fancy trim for furniture. Like his Dad, he could do anything.
Just an add |