When I began this deep dive into Michael Stufflebeam’s branch of the family tree, I had no idea of the success that I would finally have. These family members moved a LOT so it took time before full-text search could finally identify many unknown places where they lived.

In fact, I’ve had so much success that the family sketches this month will extend into June. It’s important to correctly identify these families because there are many descendants today and the meager trees I’ve found online contain many errors – mostly incorrectly identifying the children of Michael and his son, John E. Stufflebeam.

I’ve correctly identified Michael’s children, at least those who survived him, through the probate record found in Warren County, Indiana.

I was able do the same with the many heirs of John E. Stufflebeam through his estate administration.

Today begins the journey to take these lines into modern times so today’s family members can learn more about their ancestors.

Elza Stufflebeam, born about 15 December 1817/18, most likely in Pickaway County, Ohio was the eldest child of John E. Stufflebeam and Eleanor Roland, who married in Pickaway County on 17 February 1817.

Elza married Laurene (Laura) Fleming on 20 February 1839 in Warren County, Indiana. In 1840, the newlyweds lived next to Elza’s father, John E. Stufflebeam, his brother John and sister, Mary Ann Rakestraw.

However, by 1850, the family had removed to Mason County, Illinois.

Elza Stufflebeam died on 29 April 1884, Harrison County, Missouri and wife Laura passed away there on 5 January 1890.

Children: (Stufflebeam)

1. Benjamin Franklin Stufflebeam, born 7 January 1842, Indiana; died 22 January 1897, Harrison County, Missouri; married Mrs. Nancy Brown, 4 April 1867, Fulton County, Illinois. Nancy was eleven years older than her husband and, apparently, had been married before. They were the parents of two children – Franklin E., born 1870, Illinois; died 1915, Harrison County, Missouri and Nancy, born c1877, Illinois; died after 1880. Franklin had no children and there is no further record of Nancy, so it is thought that Benjamin has no descendants today.
2. Abigail Elizabeth Stufflebeam, born about 5 August 1844/45, Indiana; died 26 October 1929, Quiver, Mason, Illinois; married Henry Thomas High, 26 July 1866, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of nine children, but only one, John, was living in 1900. He married, but had no children and his wife died soon. She has no descendants.
3. Thursa E. Stufflebeam, born about 26 October 1846/47, Indiana; died 29 May 1898, Perry, Noble, Oklahoma; married James C. Chessher, 22 November 1866, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of six children.
4. Fleming Stufflebeam, born c1856, Illinois; died after 1860. No further record.

Thus, of the four children of Elza and Laura (Fleming) Stufflebeam, only Thursa had descendants.

James C. Chessher was born 1844, Illinois; died 13 December 1922, Bates County, Missouri. This family lived in Culver, Ottawa, Kansas in 1875. James and Thursa were the parents of six children:

Children: (Chessher)

1. Wesley A. Chessher, born 22 September1867, probably Mason County, Illinois; died 17 November 1936, Kay County, Oklahoma; married Anna Hendricks, 25 December 1888, Jefferson County, Kansas. They were the parents of five children.
2. Leonora (Norah) May Chessher, born c1869, probably Mason County, Illinois; died after 1920; married James S. Hillman, 15 May 1886, Jefferson County, Kansas. They were the parents of four children.
3. Elza Edwin Chessher, born about 9 January 1876/7, possibly Ottawa County, Kansas; died ; married Delia Stanley. They were the parents of one daughter, Thelma, born 1909, Oklahoma; died 2002; married Walter G. Bittman, 26 July 1927, Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas. They were the parents of two children.
4. James Frederic Chessher, born about 8 April 1881/83, probably Lincoln County, Kansas; died 2 April 1948, Santa Clara County, California; married Mary A. (Eckert) Haller, before 1930. She was 15 years older than him. They had no children.
5. William T. Chessher, born May 1885, probably Lincoln County, Kansas; died after 1900. No further record.
6. Mary C. Chessher, born September 1890, probably Lincoln County, Kansas; married Peter J. Cordes, 1907, Oklahoma. On 8 November 1909, he posted a news clipping refusing to cover her debts in Perry, Noble, Oklahoma. No further record. It appears they had no children.

Next Generation (from Children 1, 2 and 3 above)

(1) Wesley A. Chessher and Anna Hendricks were the parents of five children:

Children: (Chessher)

1. Winnie V. Chessher, born February 1891, Kansas; died after 1940, perhaps in Arkansas; married (1) Charlie Sample Clarke, 31 August 1914, Kay County, Oklahoma. They were the parents of three children. (2) Mr. Lindell, between 1930-1940, probably Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas.
2. Clarence Wesley Chessher, born 26 July 1893, Oklahoma; died 22 September 1918 During WWI; unmarried
3. Ernest Weldon Chessher, born 14 February 1899, Oklahoma; died 17 February 1987, Kay County, Oklahoma; married Regina Alice Pratt, 1920. They were the parents of two children.
4. William Henry Chessher, born 1902, Oklahoma; died 1961, Kay County, Oklahoma; unmarried
5. Merle W. Chessher, born 16 October 1907, Oklahoma; died 21 March 1989, Pulaski County, Arkansas; married Ruth Tennie Ibbotson, 30 August 1928, Pulaski County, Arkansas. They had two children.

(2) Leonora Chessher and James S. Hillman were the parents of four children:

Children: (Hillman)

1. Ethel Grace Hillman, born September 1887, Kansas; died 21 November 1966, Newton County, Missouri; married Guy Ola McEldowney, c1905. They were the parents of seven children.
2. Frederick Lester Hillman, born 28 May 1889, Kansas; died 22 August 1939, Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana; married Fern Ruby McNew, 6 January 1909, Noble County, Oklahoma. They had no children.
3. Mary Mabel Hillman, born 24 February 1891, Kansas; died 3 June 1982, probably Oklahoma; married (1) Fred G. Logan, 9 June 1912, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma (2) Mr. Ballenger, after 1952. Mabel and Fred Logan were the parents of four children.
4. J. William M. Hillman, born August 1896, Kansas; died 5 January 1971, probably Orange County, Florida; married Frances A. (MNU). Nothing further is known and William hasn’t been found in any censuses after 1920. He is mentioned as living in Lockhart, Orange, Florida in his mother’s 1959 obituary. It appears he had no children.

(3) Thelma Chessher married Walter A. Bittman were the parents of five children, three of whom died in infancy:

Children: (Bittman)

1. Donald Edward Bittman, born 7 March 1929, Noble County, Oklahoma; died 24 August 2013, married (1) Mary Louise Bellanti, 21 November 1948, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2) Luetta Hughes, 28 August 1949, Cooke County, Texas (3) Unknown, early 1970s in Arizona and (4) Norma (MNU), who survived him. He was the father of four children, but mothers’ names are unknown.
2. Peggy Lenore Bittman, born 20 September 1930, Noble County, Oklahoma; died 30 July 1986, Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona; married (1) Jerry Kay Driehorst, c1950 (2) William Ligon, by 1975 (3) Mr. Bottoms. Her obituary called her Peggy Bottoms with husband William Ligon surviving her along with three children.
3. Son Bittman, born and died on 26 April 1933, Noble County, Oklahoma
4. Son Bittman, born and died 14 July 1935, Noble County, Oklahoma
5. Child Bittman, died April 1937, Noble County, Oklahoma

These are all the known descendants of Elza and Laura (Fleming) Stufflebeam into the early part of the 20th century.