Edwin M. Stotlar 1873-1962
Edwin M. Stotlar was born on a farm in Herrin Prairie on the south end of Herrin on March 16, 1873 to Thomas and Louisa (Cox) Stotlar. The Stotlar family, one of the oldest and most substantial families of the County, are of German origin and date back in this country to Jacob Stotlar, who in an early day came from Germany to Pennsylvania and was killed by the Indians. His son, Joseph Stotlar, who was a scout in the war of 1812 and was present at the surrender of Gen. Hull, settled near Winchester, Adams County, Ohio. His son, Samuel, was born in Adams Co. in 1813 and died in 1876 at the age of 62. His wife, and the mother of Thomas, was born in 1818 and died in 1893 at the age of 77, on the old Samuel Stotlar homestead in Herrin.
Edwin’s father Thomas was born near Branfort, Highland Co., Ohio, March 9, 1840. He moved with his father Samuel’s family to Herrin, where he drove his stakes and spread his tent November 27, 1856. He began teaching in 1860, but after teaching one term the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in the 9th Ill., Co. G, being sworn in at Cairo August 11, 1861. The brave 9th served at Forts Henry and Donaldson, going with Grant to Shiloh, where Thomas had his left arm nearly shot off. The wound eventually caused him discharge from service. On the 14th day of July, 1869 he was married to Miss Louisa Cox, daughter of George and Sarah Jane Cox, of German parentage, and natives of North Carolina and Mississippi. She died February 15, 1901 having given birth to three children, Edwin N., manager of the lumber business in Marion, Norah, the wife of Dr. Wiley N. Ford (founder of Energy, originally named Fordville) and Leroy A., who died at home in April, 1905 at 21.
Thomas was a teacher and a farmer and helped to organize the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Company, and became its first vice president. A year later he assisted in the organization of the State Savings Bank and was elected its president. He also owned stock in the First National Bank of Marion and was a director and a stockholder in the Williamson County Bank of Marion.
In 1900 when the census was taken Edwin was 27 and still living with his parents and brother Leroy on their farm south of Herrin in Herrin Prairie. He was already following his father’s footsteps of acquiring an education (5 years of college) and teaching locally. The following year on February 14, 1901 his mother Louisa passed away and before the year was up he had married Lydia Owen.
When Stotlar Herrin Lumber Company was formed in 1901 Edwin and his wife Lydia were already entrenched in Marion. When the company was formed, Edwin became Sec./ Treasurer of the company and by 1904 was already serving on the Marion Board of Education as President. When the Second Ward School (Lincoln) was built on Chestnut Street he served as head of the building committee.
Ed and Lydia Stotlar’s first home in Marion was 106 N. Hamlet which is where they were listed in the 1907 Street Directory and the 1910 census and likely where their first and only child Owen was born in 1903. It is likely the home on Hamlet was only a temporary place of residence till their future home at 1304 W. Main Street, literally only yards away, could be built or the home on Main may have been a consequence of first locating on Hamlet. Nonetheless, by 1914-15 their expansive new home on West Main had been completed and this became their permanent home.
On September 11, 1918 when Edwin filled out his WWI draft registration card at the county registration office at 201 ½ Public Square he was physically described as medium height, medium build, brown eyes and dark hair. He was 45 years old, married, with one child and employed at Stotlar Herrin Lumber Co. at 602 N. Market St. and living at 1304 W. Main St. The 1920 census reveals that Lydia’s mother Lovinia Owen, 75, had become widowed and was now living with them.
By the late 1920’s Stotlar Herrin Lumber company was still operating in the 600 block of N. Market but Edwin as Sec/Treasurer for the company was working in an office at the First National Bank on the public square, now the Bank of Marion.
The 1930 census shows Edwin 57, Lydia 55 and her mother Lovinia Owen 85 still living at 1304 W. Main St. which he values at $15,000. The census states they also own a radio set. He is still active as Sec/Treasurer of Stotlar Lumber.
The 1940 census records Ed as 67, Lydia 65, and Ed still working at the lumber company. His income for 1939 reflects over $5,000 and they value their home at $7,500. He claims 5 years of college education and Lydia claims 2 years of college.
Throughout his life Ed Stotlar was active in promoting the educational needs of the Marion district in which he lived. He was instrumental in obtaining funds from the Carnegie Foundation to build the Marion Library and became known as “Mr. Library” having served as board president for more than 30 years.
Stotlar was a member of the Pioneer Sons of Williamson County, served as Vice President of the Williamson County Centennial Association and was active in the 1939 County Centennial. When the Williamson County Historical Society was formed in 1939 Stotlar served as Secretary of the newly formed organization. He was also active in the formation of the local Boy Scouts.
Lydia Stotlar passed away in 1954 and was buried at Rose Hill 3rd addition. Edwin continued living in the home on W. Main till he died in the last days of June 1962 at 89 years of age and was buried next to Lydia at Rose Hill on July 1, 1962. Ed Stotlar can truly be described as a “model citizen” in the highest sense.
(Photo and some data from1905 Souvenir Book, WCHS; 1880 through 1940 Census Records, WWI Draft Records, City Directories, Marion Cemetery Records, Pioneer Folks and Places by Barbara Barr Hubbs; compiled and edited by Sam Lattuca on 12/31/2012)