[p. 432] a leading citizen of Slippery Rock Township, where he has served for some thirty years as a justice of the peace, resides on his farm of thirty-four acres, which adjoins the corporation limits of Princeton. He was born in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1828, and is a son of William and Mary (Sadler) Stickle.
The grandparents of Mr. Stickle were Samuel and Katherine Stickle, who came from Frederick County, Maryland, and settled in Lawrence County about 1800. The grandfather was a gunsmith and his workmanship was so excellent that trade came to him from all the country round about. He acquired a farm and on it both he and wife died. They had nine children. A brother of the grandfather served in the Revolutionary War in the brigade of "Light Horse Harry Lee."
William Stickle, the eldest son of Samuel and Katherine Stickle, was born in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, in 1800, and spent his whole life here. He acquired an uncleared tract of land which he subsequently converted into a good farm and engdged in cultivating it during all his active years. He died in 1882 and his wife's death followed in 1886. He married Mary Sadler, who was born in Slippery Rock Township in 1804, and was a daughter of Michael and Katherine Sadler. There were ten children born to them, as follows: Katherine, Samuel, one died in infancy, Michael, William, Jacob, Mary P., Rachel L., Anna and Isabella.
Samuel C. Stickle has spent his entire life in Slippery Rock Township, with the exception of a short time in California. The place where he received his first schooling was a log structure which had greased paper in place of glass for windows, while a large fireplace was built in the center. His first teacher was David Tidball, and Judge Stickle remembers very distinctly the big switch that was kept handy to use in the place of other persuasion when the pupils were unruly. In those days the teacher gladly accepted corn, wheat, oats or other commodities as pay, money being very scarce. The school sessions covered about six weeks during the winter seasons, and Mr. Stickle attended until he was about eighteen years of age. On August 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, in a regiment known as the Roundheads, for three years, but on account of injuries received at the engagement on James Island, he was discharged December 22, 1862. He participated in a number of engagements and his disablement was caused when he assisted in moving a large gun. For a whole year after his return home he was unable to do anything, but after recovering slowly he resumed his ordinary employments. He purchased his farm at an administrator's sale and has made all the improvements on the place and has engaged in agricultural pursuits here ever since as his many official duties permit. In 1853 he went to California and remained there engaged in mining for nine months and then came home, on account of homesickness, and old Pennsylvania has ever since been his chosen place of residence. In this section he has long been a prominent citizen and has efficiently filled every township office. For four years he was also a notary public, and in his official capacity as justice of the peace has married fifteen happy couples. Formerly he was an active member of the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of American Mechanics, but in late years he takes less interest in secret organizations. Politically, he has always been identified with the Republican party.
Judge Stickle was married (first) in 1850, to Samantha Tompkins, who was a daughter of Richard and Enople Tompkins, of Princeton. She was born in 1834 and died in 1873, leaving two children, Mary and Katherine. Mary was born July 10, 1851, married Harry Kline, a contractor at New Castle, and they have two children: John H. and May. Katherine was born December 4, 1852, and died in 1896. His second marriage took place in 1876, to Sarah J. Kelley, who was born in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1844, a daughter of Joseph Kelley. They had two children: Dickie Wallace, who was born in 1877 and died aged nine months, and Harriet M., who was born March 23, 1878, and resides at home. She is a graduate of the class of 1902, Slippery Rock Normal School, and has taught for several years. In 1872, Mr. Stickle took a child, William J. Rohrer, to raise as his own and Mr. Rohrer was reared to manhood in this home. He was born at New Castle in 1870, and in February, 1908, he was elected constable of Slippery Rock Township on the Republican ticket.
Since 1862 Mr. Stickle has been a member of the Presbyterian Church at Princeton, in which he is now a ruling elder. He has taken a deep interest in church work and has held many official positions where his judgment and zeal have been exercised for the benefit of others. He owns a picture of the first church of Slippery Rock Township, which is one of great interest, as under its roof once gathered the larger number of the old and representative people of this community.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 22 Oct 2001