Edward Alvin Stehle was the seventh child of Francis Xavier Stehle and Sarah Day. Though he grew up around his father's Franklin, Michigan sawmill, Edward was more interested in farming. On March 6, 1889, Edward (or "Eddie") married Rosa Anna Lamphere in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Rev. Charles T. Allen performed the ceremony at the First Methodist Episcopal Church while Mrs. C. T. Allen and Henry Hoffman, both of Pontiac, served as witnesses. Rosa's grandparents lived in Franklin, so that is probably how the two originally met. After their marriage, the young couple moved to Shiawassee County, Michigan around the village of Byron. Here they lived in a rented house while Edward probably worked as a farmhand. It was also here where their two children were born, Winifred "Winnie" Lucille in 1893 and Erwin in 1895. Edward and Rosa purchased their first home along the southern end of Byron's millpond on June 8, 1896. This may have been the home they were renting previously. They lived here for two years, then leased the 90-acre Moses Hipp farm in Burns Township, Shiawassee County. According to the lease agreement, Edward could cut down as many trees as he wished, but he had to provide room and board for Mr. Hipp and his family. By 1910, the lease had expired, so Edward and Rosa rented another farm in the very southwest corner of Vernon Township in Shiawassee County. Finally, around 1914/15, they purchased a 200-acre piece of property on Miller Road in northern Burns Township known locally as the "Lone Pine Farm". Edward grew crops, but he also raised pigs. There have been several stories handed down about Edward living on this farm. One involved a billy goat he purchased for his grandchildren. One day while he was bent over feeding the pigs, the mischievous goat charged and butted Edward from behind, sending him sprawling into the pigpen. Covered in mud and filth, an angry Edward grabbed a hammer and chased that goat around the farm. It was only through the intervention of his wife Rosa and son Erwin that the life of the creature was spared. There was also a pet crow named "Old Sam" that would join Edward out in the field as he applied a toxic pesticide known as parrish green onto the crops. "Old Sam" would drink from the bucket of parrish green and never suffered any ill effects. In September of 1919, Edward Stehle suffered the first of many crippling strokes that left him confined to his bedroom. He would have to be propped up in bed so that he could see his pigs being shipped off to the market. On March 6, 1920, the day of his 31st wedding anniversary, Edward experienced yet another stroke and died at the farmhouse. He was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Vernon, Shiawassee County, Michigan.
Biography compiled by great-grandson Jeff Stehle. Please credit appropriately.