A few weeks ago, Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge got me thinking and motivated me, too. It was to determine the number of descendants from one set of great grandparents. In other words, what was the family increase from their lifetimes to today?

I chose my husband’s great grandfather, John Henry Stufflebean and his fourteen children. My father-in-law kept in touch with his extended family and told me about all of the children. He knew, for the most part, who they married and whether or not each had children.

However, I have never pursued filling in today’s generation, so I’ve decided to post what I know, hoping for this to be cousin bait. 🙂

Only ten of the fourteen children married and had children of their own and I know all about Earl Marcus Stufflebean, as that he was my husband’s grandfather. That leaves nine children for whom I need to account.

The eldest child of John Henry Stufflebean and his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Hollen, was Ernest Lavern Stufflebean, born 21 May 1887 in Linn County, Missouri. John Henry’s grandparents had been among the first white settlers there in 1840.

I only have one photo of Ernest, and he is part of this group photo that I will be sharing in most of the children’s stories simply because it might be the only picture I have of that person.

Ernest Lavern Stufflebean with father and brothers, c1918

Ernest was close to adulthood when the Stufflebean family left Linn County and headed off to a new life adventure in the Oklahoma Territory about 1905 or 1906. They settled in Noble, Cleveland County, where John Henry opened a general store.

Ernest married a Baker cousin, Gracie M., on 11 December 1907 in Linn County, Missouri. John Henry gave his verbal consent, as Ernest was six months shy of his 21st birthday. Gracie was only 15 years old. Her father, G.W. Baker, gave his verbal consent.

By 1910, Ernest was working as a clerk in the family store and Gracie was at home with their 11 month old son, Nolan, who had been born on 15 May 1909.

Ernest Stufflebean died in 1959 in Noble, Oklahoma. Gracie predeceased him by two years, passing away in Norman, Oklahoma in 1957.

Nolan Everett Stufflebean was Ernest and Gracie’s only child. He married Sibyl Moreau on 24 May 1931 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born 22 April 1913 and died on 6 July 2003. Both are buried at the IOOF Cemetery in Noble. Nolan died on 15 September 1988, also in Noble.

Nolan Everett Stufflebean
Source: My Personal Collection

Nolan and Sibyl had two daughters, Maxine and Norma Lee, both in the 1940 census and one son, who is still living. Maxine was born c1933 and attended the University of Oklahoma in 1953.

I think I have a lead on Maxine’s family and will be able to fill in this branch of the family tree!

Norma Lee was born on 30 December 1937 in Norman, Oklahoma. Norma married a Mr. Tucker, but I have no further information about him or any family they might have had. Norma died on 4 February 1997 and is buried in the IOOF Cemetery, where so many other family members are also buried. Her gravestone says “Children Tod Tamara,” but no other information. I don’t know if they are children who died young or survivors.