Alpheus's father, Clark Stillman, died when Alpheus was only 15 years old with seven younger siblings. Alpheus helped his mother Amelia Ann (Sperry) Stillman on the farm until she died in 1890 when Alphus was 38. There is no record of Alpheus ever being married.

The George b1880 and Sarah (Lord) Stillman family history includes Alpheus and Albert born twins in 1852 with Albert dying as a "young boy". Albert, age 8, is included in the household in the 1860 USA Census and Alpheus is not included. However, there is extensive history of Alpheus in Deer Creek Township, Otter Tail County, MN.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ALPHEUS STILLMAN
DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MN, USA

The image to the right is part of what appeared in the paper on November 29, 1932 following the death of Alpheus on November 28, 1932.

Note: The image to the right and the biography below have been obtained from the Otter Tail County Historical Society (www.otchs.org), which has further information available in its research library and on its web site. I have made some modifications for the sake of clarification.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The late Alpheus Stillman was the first settler in Deer Creek Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. He was born in Indian Creek Township, Mills County, Iowa, May 15, 1852, the son of Clark Stillman, who was born in Avon, New York, August 17, 1827, and of Amelia Ann (Sperry) Stillman, who was born in Monroe County, New York, February 7, 1831. Clark Stillman was the son of Dexter Stillman, who was born in Colebrook. Connecticut, March 23, 1804, and of Barbara (Redfield) Stillman, who was born in Lexington, Vermont, February 5, 1808. Dexter and Barbara Stillman, being the parents of four children: Clark, father of the subject of this sketch; Franklin, Elizabeth and Mary. Dexter Stillman was a carpenter and farmer of Mils County, Iowa, a trade which he followed until his death, during the year, 1852. Amelia Ann Sperry was the daughter of Charles Sperry and wife.

Charles Sperry, being a school teacher and later the first Probate Judge of Otter Tail County, Minnesota; dying in this county during the year, 1870. Charles Sperry and his family were members of the Latter Day Saint Church, a congregation in which they were actively engaged in the work.

Clark Stillman, father of the subject of this sketch, following his education in the common schools of New York state, went to the state of Iowa, with his parents, there becoming a farmer in Mills County, where he lived for some time and then moved to Fremont County, Iowa; later coming to Otter Tail County, Minnesota, in the year 1865, soon after which time, he died as the result of disease contracted while serving as a soldier in the various campaigns of the Mexican War in the years 1846-1847.

Clark and Amelia Ann Stillman were the parents of eight children:
1) Alpheus, the subject of this sketch;
2) Harriett L., who was born in Mills County, Iowa, February 1, 1854;
3) Bainbridge, who was born in Fremont County, Iowa, February 29, 1856;
4) Barbara, who was born in Fremont County, Iowa, July 26, 1857;
5) Ann, who was born on May 16, 1859 in Fremont County, Iowa;
6) Charles H., who was born on June 11, 1861, in Fremont County, Iowa;
7) Cynthia, who was born in Fremont County, Iowa, November 23, 1863 and;
8) Albert, who was born in Ottertail County, Minnesota, September 30, 1865. Mrs.

Amelia Stillman died on September 16, 1890, at Deer Creek, Otter Tail County, being fifty-nine years old at the time of her death.

The Clark Stillman family came from Iowa to Clitherall, Minnesota, with the first Otter Tail County settlers in 1865. Not being satisfied with the location there, Mr. Stillman had looked farther for a homestead and finally chose one,160 acres, (the SW1/4. Sec.14 of Deer Creek), a mile and a half north of the present village of Deer Creek. Before the family had ever occupied this homestead, Clark Stillman died, at Clitherall, his grave being the second one in the Old Clitherall Cemetery.

In the following spring, (1868), his wife and children moved to the new home, and while building a house, lived in the vacated cabin of a civilized Indian family. Mrs. Stillman was 35 years of age when she came to the wilderness, with eight children; the oldest Alpheus, being just 13 years old. This young boy bravely shouldered the responsibility of a man and was always the trusted confident of his mother.

They were the very first white settlers in what is now Deer Creek Township, and for two and a half years, lived there without a single white neighbor in the township. Roving bands of Indians and half-breeds constantly stopped at their home for salt or shelter.

The surrounding woods were the home of numerous wild animals; wolves sometimes being seen from the windows of the Stillman home, and when the children went out into the swamps for flowers or spruce gum; it was a common thing to see the startled deer, fleeing away among the tree. When fresh meat was needed for food, the boys could go out any time and bring in a deer, after a hunt of an hour or less.

One day one of them brought in a fawn, wrapped in his coat, which was kept as a pet for over a year. This fawn would come into the kitchen and go to the cupboard for bread, and at night, slept in the kitchen beside the dog. One night a wolf came to the door and the fawn, Nellie, getting the scent of what she knew to be her natural enemy, bounded up and tried first to get into the sleeping room, where the family were. Not being able to push the door open, she became so frightened that she bounded out of the window, taking the sash and all. The children spent some anxious hours the next day fearing that Nellie was hurt and would never return. She did come back, however, but disappeared some time later, and so days went on and she did not come home. Inquiries were made, and Alpheus heard while in Otter Tail City, that an Indian had shot a fawn, with a bell on its neck, which the children knew, was their pet.

There was no school for several years, and some of the children, Anna and Barbara, were sent to Brainerd to attend school, and later to Detroit.

Alpheus Stillman received his education in the common schools of Fremont County, Iowa. He came to Otter Tail County with his parents, when he was a boy of 13 years of age, staying with his mother until he was 21. His younger brother, being old enough, at that time, to shoulder the responsibilities, Alpheus homesteaded 80 acres in section 26, adjoining, what is now Deer Creek village, on the east and about a mile and a half south of his mother’s homestead. In 1882, he bought the W1/2 SW1/4 of Sec. 14 from his mother for $900 which he sold again in 1896, to Minnie Kruger, for $1450, then he moved back to his 80 acres adjoining Deer Creek, where he lived until his death, which occurred on November 28, 1932, being eighty years of age.

When Mr. Stillman took possession of his land, it was covered with heavy timber and brush, but he proceeded to care for his place in such a manner that it became one of the most desirable farms in the township.

Alpheus Stillman was one of the twenty-five men who signed the petition to organize the township of Deer Creek.

Mr. Stillman was never married. Because of his success in the material world and his worthy character as a man, the records of Alpheus Stillman have a place among those of the prominent men of this locality. He was noted for his unflinching loyalty to duty, his rugged honesty and his steadfastness of purpose.

Note:
Above information was obtained by Otter Tail County Historical Society as the result of an interview:

Interviewed: Mrs. Emily Soule
Date: November 9, 1938
Interviewed by: Clarence M. Meyer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~