Christopher C. Stith

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From Wright County History, 1915

A respected and influential citizen of Victor Township, veteran of the Civil War, born in Lawrence County Kentucky July 6th 1845, son of Jesse and Elizabeth Hatton Stith, of ancient Kentucky and Virginia families.  Jesse Stith was born in what is now Wayne County, West Va., son of John and Anna (Neuman) Stith, natives of North Carolina, who came as young people to what is now West Va.  Jesse was the oldest of a family of five boys and one girl.  He was married on the border of Virginia and Ky., to Eliza J. Hatton.  During the war he served as a river pilot on the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers, operating big log and lumber fleets.  After the war he determined to bring his family north.  Accordingly on Apr 26th, 1866 he reached St. Paul on the maiden trip of the steamer "Phil Sheridan".  With him was his family and his brother Perry Stith.  They went by boat up the river past Ft. Snelling and Shakopee to Carver County.  From there, with seven horses, they went overland by way of Young America to Glencoe. 

In the fall of 1866 they moved to eighty acres on Sec. 24, Stockholm Township, Wright County.  The tract was covered with woods, and no roads had been built to it.   they bought a yoke of oxen for $175. The oxen were much better than horses in breaking the land.  A log house sheltered the family while a log barn of the most primitive sort protected the cattle from the elements.  In after years a hewn log dwelling took the place of the original login cabin.  Jesse Stith was a man of probity and worth, and served many years as Justice of Peace.  He was also school officer for many years.  In the family there were seven children, Christopher C., Commodore Perry, Frances Susan, Johnson Damascus, Samuel, Oliver and John.  John was born in what is now West Va. and the rest were born and reared in Kentucky. 

Christopher was born in Kentucky and was reared there.  At the age of 18 years he joined Co. 13, 68th Infantry Kentucky Volunteers, a company was formed for the protection of government property.  Christopher C. was a Sergeant of the Co. The members of the company were assigned for duty at the county seat of Lawrence County, Kentucky.   After three months and the danger was past they disbanded without the formality of a discharge or a muster out.  Mr. Stith thought no more of the matter.   However in 1912 when he visited his old home he met Capt.  Hatton, who was also a cousin of his, and Capt. Hatton informed him that on account of the informality of the disbanding of the company that he (Mr. Stith) had no standing as a veteran.   Congressman C. A. Lindberg interested himself in the case and in 1912 Mr. Stith received his long-delayed honorable discharge.  After the war Mr. Stith came to Minnesota with his parents and the rest of the family, and made his home with his father for several years.

In 1869 he homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Sec. 18 Victor Township.  He married the same year to Louise Caldwell, daughter of Wm. T. and Martha Caldwell, who came to Minnesota from west Va. on the same boat with the Stith family, and located on the south branch of the Crow River in McCleod County.  After the marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stith lived in a log cabin on their claim in Victor Township.  About a year and a half later Mrs. Louise (Caldwell) Stith died leaving one son, George P. Stith now residing in Wisconsin (1915).  Mr. Stith later married Louise J. Martin, Born in Logansport, Ind., daughter of Grabel and Barbara (Brubaker) Martin and a step daughter of Geo. Custer, who brought the family to Minnesota.

Mrs. Louise Stith lived to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of her marriage then died.  She and Mr. Stith had no children.  By her former marriage to John Martin she had one daughter, Jennie who married C. H. Corey of Medford, Oregon.   After her death Mr. Stith married Sarah Precious Turman Powell, a widow of James Turman.  She was born in Boyd County, Kentucky, daughter of Burwell Powell.  By her marriage to Mr. Turman she had five children.  Mr. Stith is a member of the A.F.A. M. Lodge 82 at Howard Lake and was also a member of the Eastern Star before the chapter was relinquished.  He belongs to the Farm Shipping Assoc.  He has been assessor and Justice of Peace and has served on the school board for many years.