I've just started transcribing the work of Jacob Stahlman, which he published in 1935, as "Stahlman General History 1777~1934. He diverges and provides a lot of his own thoughts about life and politics in general, colored by his outlook on contemporary 1935 events, but its still very interesting reading. His book was 165 pages long, in 8-1/2" by 5-1/2" format, so I'm just getting started in its transcription.....Please bear with me as I find time to type up his work, and if you want to help on this endeavor let me know.... Steve

THE STORY - By Jacob Stahlman - 1935 

Now history mongers, be attentive and listen, and those sitting down, please adjust your seats with the soft and easy side up, and be prepared for a somewhat lengthy session, and, mind you, the story about to be told will be one, not originating from others, nor one whose inception might have come from the Tall Story Club, nor one of the big and sensational bear or fish stories, often related in the country store or blacksmith shop, neither does it originate from others, but rather from first hand facts, and will therefore be related as memory dictates, which will be graphically told in the story to which you are about to listen. Oh horrors! Tut, tut. Wait. A story without a beginning, is no story at all, and not worth the paper required upon which to write it. What shall we do in such a dilemma? Let us see. Oh folks, the problem is solved. Spring to your tip toes and crane your necks. Look yonder, do you see the farm lane emerging from those lovely buildings below us, extending to yonder state road, in full view? The answer is in the affirmative. To the left of the lane fronting the state road, lies the plot of ground where, in the light of this story, stood the old Glade Run School House, forming the center, and all of the surrounding district community, the circumference, with no other qualification, excepting citizens of this particular district. 

Now reader, in order that you may better grasp and understand the intent and purpose of this Memory Story, which will be enumerated in the regular order of each family comprising the then Glen Run district, giving names of parents, names of each individual member attending this school during the sixties and seventies , all known marriages, and to whom married; all known deaths, all known survivors of those years to the present, 1935; traits of school mates, likes and dislikes, the agreeable and disagreeable; a few unfortunates on account of afflictions bodily, and possibly others not enumerated, but who may flash into memory as the story proceeds. 

Now fellow student, we must decide upon a starting point in relating the story, and will therefore begin at the Eastern boundary of the district, at the extremity, and there we find the homestead of Paul Stahlman and Ann Shaffer, his wife. He died by what seemed to be a premature death on account of a strenuous life, while his wife reached the age of ninety or more. The members of this family consisted of Mary Jane, who was married to Levi Himes, and is dead; Lucinda, who died at the age of 23; James B., a bachelor all of his life, who died at the age of 78; Francis T., a bachelor and companion of J. B.; Nathaniel U., married and yet living; Washington, married, wife not known, a splendid schoolmate, fine traits of character, well educated, a school teacher, fine business attainments, but a cripple from small boyhood, as a result of white swelling, leaving him incapacitated for the remainder of his natural life. He is yet living. The baby of the family was Lizzie, married to Joe Bowersox, and is yet living, a public school teacher for many years, and engaged in other business activities. Two other girls died before school age. In habits and temperaments this father and in fact that portion remaining upon the homestead, exhibited marked evidences of both the exclusive, (separate and distinct from society) the second, the eccentric or erratic – self first and distrust for others. 

Next to the above, the William Stahlman family, consisting of four schoolmates, viz: John, a cripple from birth, an entirely helpless mortal, without the use of speech, without the use of muscle, had to be fed by others his entire life of some 50 or 60 years, yet retaining well balanced mental faculties, the one and only blessing in his entire life. Next to him was Simon P., a peppy and wide-awake boy, whose ambition from boyhood was in the direction of carpentry, and this became his life occupation, at which he attained marked proficiency and skill, was twice married, and yet living. Wallace, the third of the family, had the misfortune of the loss of an eye by accident, on the part of Simon, in an accidental casting of a stone. For some forty or perhaps more years, is engaged in the specialization of bees, on a large scale. Mary and Rachel, the other members of the family, died in girlhood. 

The father of this family was a man in possession of traits of character peculiar to him own, with red whiskers and complexion, a soft lady-like voice, a lover of dogs, fond of sport, inclined to be a bit lazy, occupied a great deal of time in making and devising labor-saving devices, which after all, may have accounted for his extraordinary long life, 92 years. 

Next to the above, the Homestead of Samuel, we find John S., whose family were members of the Story; first Emmy, a rather composed and quiet girl, of agreeable temperaments, was married to Alkana Hepler, and died in middle age. Then Louella, a girl who had many admirers, on account of her comeliness and winning ways, which captivated her last school teacher, A. J. Hepler, later an M. D., both of whom are dead. The third, Carrie D., who later became the wife of Lewis M. Mohney, who later became the second owners of the old Homestead, and later sold to the sons of her sister Emma. The last of the family was Quincy P. A boy of fine and sterling qualities who married a Miss Slaugenhaupt, associated himself with large business enterprises, which extended his work throughout the cities of the country. 

This man and his wife, were in many aspects, of the foremost perhaps in the community. In times of sickness and death, good counselors, of a sympathetic nature and character, both of whom have gone to their reward quite a number of years at advanced ages.

Just across the meadow, the Homestead of Jacob, and Felix, his son, we have six of the number composing the Glade Run School. First, Amanda L., a tall girl, of a modest temperament, easy of approach, later married to John Switzer, who about the middle of her life became a victim of paralysis, for a period of eighteen years, both having died in 1929. Next to her, Agnes, a girl of less stature, and more peppy, a girl of convictions, later married to Raymond Hepler, who is yet the survivor, but frail in body, she having died some ten years ago. Next, John J., married to Anna M. Walters, both of whom are yet living. Then Philip, nick-named “Goosey”, married to Alice McKillip, both of whom are yet living. Jacob “Rockey”, married to Mary A. Fulmer, both of whom are yet living. Gabriel G., “Pete”, first married to Chrissie Hepler, deceased, and later married to Mrs. Malinda Miller. With this we conclude the Eastern portion of the District, and go to the more central, which was that of Peter Armagost, and his wife Susan, both of the old Pioneer stock. He being of kindly disposition and she being the direct opposite, whose children had gone from home and therefore not members of the District at this time. 

The next to him was that of Tunis Case, the son-in-law of Peter Armagost, around whom revolves most all others, a remarkable man in his time. The first school teacher, a man of wonderful knowledge and ability, keen and resourceful, popular in the community, a man of unusual qualifications commensurate to the times, firm in his judgments, an athlete in base ball games, resourceful in case of emergencies, always in financial embarrassment, yet always cheerful, slow of motion, yet did things well. Also a competent singing teacher of the highest and most complete order, having almost worn his teeth to the gums with use of the Tune Fork, sounding the Sol-Me-Does. In this family were the following members of the school: Maggie, Emma, Tommy, Jimmy and Twila, and will therefore relate a sad and sorrowful ending. The family having always been exceedingly financially embarrassed, the two older girls of the family, Maggie and Emma, secured employment in the city of Pittsburgh, and, after a time contracted the then dreaded disease of typhoid fever, returned home, and communicated the disease to all of the members of the family, only two surviving, the wife and mother, and Twila, the baby of the family.

TO BE CONTINUED.....