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Uncle Charles Truman Stillman (1834-1905) is in fact my double uncle, in two distinct generations: As brother to my great-grandmother, Frances Mariah Stillman, he’s a great-great uncle by blood, in our Stillman line.1 As husband to (3G) Aunt Elizabeth Neff, youngest daughter of 3rd great grandparents John and Mary Barr Neff, Charles is also my 3rd great-uncle by marriage.

A Stillman family web-site summarizes his life as follows: “Charles Truman Stillman was a Pony Express Rider, a Scout for Johnston’s Army,2 and helped haul the first stone used to build the Salt Lake Temple.

“…born in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut June 1, 1834, the only son of my second great-grandparents Jason Stillman and Harriet Elizabeth Seymour Stillman He was first baptized in the Missouri River at the age of 8, then December 28, 1856 in Utah and was again baptized September 23, 1877 in Utah.
“He crossed the plains when only 14 years of age, bringing his mother — his father having died when Charles was only 4 years old. When part way here, he was asked to turn back so he would not slow the company down. But with a determination that only the Gospel instills, he continued. They reached Salt Lake City in September 1848. He was ordained a Seventy by [Uncle] Julian Moses February 23, 1857, and was senior president of the 122nd quorum of Seventy for many years…”3
1From which I’m only now (2008) starting to harvest uncles for this collection. It includes some rare characters. The same goes for our East Mill Creek Fishers. And bunches of others. My eventual agenda clearly dwarfs my life expectancy.
2Surely they mean that he scouted for the Mormon resistance to Johnston’s invading Army. In the company of such luminaries as Uncle Orrin Porter Rockwell, Uncle Amos Herr Neff, Uncle Ephraim Knowlton Hanks, and Joseph F Smith.
3Quoted from reminiscences written by granddaughter Harriet I Curtis Nielson. Emphasis mine.
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