1 ìMaryî [Maria Elizabeth] BENTZ^{1,2, 16}

Birth:18 May 18341 , 16 [16 years old in 1850 census York, York Penna,2] York, Pennsylvania1, 16 Death: 20 Oct 1916, Gettysburg, Adams Co.,Pa 5(Maybe In Home Of Daughter Anna on Baltimore Street)  York County Death Affadavit: LEBER, MARY E. 10/20/1916  book  18-360 Father: Michael BENTZ (1790-1858)16, 2, 1 Mother: Anna (twin) ìAnnieî QUICKEL (1802-1882)16 Alias: Mary E Bentz In Her Marriage Record, Mary E In The Christening Record For Her Daughter , aaaaaaAnd Mary Eliz In Christening Record For Her Son. Spouse #1: William Henry Stair  Children of Mary Eliz Bentz and WIlliam Henry Stair Spouse # 2 Reuben Leber  and Children with Reuben Leber   Narrative:  She was raised in York, York County and is found there in the 1850 census living with her family, a girl of 16. lived there her entire adult life,  but died in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, where dtr Annie lived. Mary married her first husband at 19 years of age, but was tragically widowed when she was 21 and pregnant with her second child. She then went to live with her mother , also a widow, and Mary's brother Peter Bentz, an organist at St John's and future music store owner  and music teacher who no doubt served as surrogate father to Mary's two young children and with whom she must have remained close throughout her life. She had just turned 34 when she married her second husband Reuben.  She bore him two more children, and they lived next to Annie's brother Peter and his own family above mentioned, in York, York, Penna. Peter died in 1884 was again widowed when 76/7 and in 1911.  At the time of her 2nd husband's death, they were residing "Dula" [looks like in census] Street in York.  Census Entries for Mary BENTZ Spouse #1 : William Henry STAIR and Children of Union. Spouse # 2  : Reuben M. LEBER (1832-1911) and Children of Union Notes from D M Swope indicated her 2nd  husband was "P M Leber" [citing the Keller family bible 1, reading P either as it was given (most likely) or  incorrectly for the R standing for Reuben Leber, and where a daughter Mary of union is incorrectly assigned to Henry Stair and not Reuben Leber which is backed up by the lack of evidence of her in the 1860  and 1870 census where the mother is found. ]

Spouse #1 [First Spouse] :William Henry STAIR   SEE HIS DEDICATED PAGE Birth: 3 Jan 18304 Death: 22 Aug 18554 Marr: 13 Oct 1853, St Johns Episcopal Church, York, York Penna Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] BENTZ STAIR & 1st Husband William Henry STAIR [Surnamed STAIR]  Edward Philip (E Philip/Edward P) (1854-1937) Anna Kate (Annie)  ìNanaî (1856-1932) [Seen in picture to right with her mother] Spouse # 2 [2nd Husband] : Reuben M. LEBER (1832-1911) SEE HIS DEDICATED PAGE Birth: 26 Jan 1832 Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pa Death: 1911 [York, York County, Penna assumed]  Married: 26 May 1868 Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] BENTZ STAIR & 2nd Husband Reuben LEBER [surnamed LEBER]  : David BENTZ (1869-after 1910 when he appears in census) Mary Florence (1873-1944) Census Entries for Mary [Maria Elizabeth] Bentz Stair Leber: 1850 child residing with father's family pre-marriage To William Henry STAIR 1860 residing with her mother and some siblings including Peter BENTZ [She was widowed by this time  and with two children found in this census surnamed STAIR] 1870 census, with her mother, 2nd husband Reuben LEBER, new child to that union, and two children from 1st marriage. Her brother Peter BENTZ is next door with his family 1910 census, in home of 2nd husband Reuben LEBER. Reuben would die in 1911.

Photo taken at Devil's Den ca 1894 with her dtr Annie [nee Stair] Swope,   Annie's husband S M Swope and  Annie and Sam's children- closeup below

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Found in 1850 census with fatherís family: There is a Michael Bentz York Borough, South Ward for 1850 in the Federal 1850 census.  Michael (setz?) 3 Oct enumerator
Michael 58
Anna 45
Peter 20
Mary E 16
14 yo female name hard to read, should be Anna, looks like Celia.
William (middle initial illegible, looks like H -supporting the middle name Hanna for this entry) 30 years Painter [appears to show Deaf and some other qualifier illegible]
Michael 28   cabinet maker [appears to show Deaf and some other qualifier illegible]
Erranda? Amanda? right after Michael...wife of William?  illegible female 26
Anna C? Illegible female 2 years old...dtr to Michael????

Appears in 1860 census residing York, York County, Penna

William Henry Stair is absent. His Widow is living with her mother, her brother [Peter Bentz (shown as 28 but he should be 30 based on baptism AND the 1850 census) ] and Mary's  two STAIR children. Mary, stated to be a STAIR in the Keller Family Bible is missing. She was born later to Mary Elizabeth Bentz Stair's second husband, Reuben Leber.
"Annie Bentz    58
Peter   "      28
Mary E Stair   25
Edward P  "     6
Annie Kate "    4 "¹⁴

Mary's brother is found residing next door [but on page 541].
This is the Peter Bentz with whom she was living along with her mother and other siblings in the 1860 census]
Next to this family but on page 541 is
Peter Bentz  39  Prof  Music [Mary E Bentz Stair Leber's Brother]
Ellen G  29  born MD
William S   7
Harry    4
Mary S   2
Mary Griffith  60 born MD
Elliza Jackson 45 born MD
William Kenny 15 born MD

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Children of William Henry Stair and Mary [Maria Elizabeth] BENTZ:

• Edward Philip STAIR
• Anna Kate "Annie" STAIR

• Edward P had 3 named children according to passed down family notes ⁵and his wife's Name was Unknown in those same notes. But in the 1910 census, his wife is found as  Anne L. In the passed down family notes, The three children were named as E Philip Stair,  William Stair, and  Hubert Stair  (long shot but Hubert Stair could have his grandmotherís surname as his christian name). This family is Found in census of 1910 residing in York, York Co., Penna. Family notes called him Edward P. Stair, while the census shows him clearly as E Philip Stair.
• Census of 1910 for York Borough, York Co., Penna

Pennsylvania 1910 Census Miracode
E Philip StairÝ Age: 55 State: PA
Color: W Enumeration District: 0126
Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0041
County:  York, York
Relation:  Head of Household
Other Residents: Wife Anne L 54, Pennsylvania
Son E Philip, Jr 26, Pennsylvania
Son Hubert 20, Pennsylvania  ¹⁵
• Census for 1920

HOH Stair, Edward P, [Mother and Father BOTH born Penna], employed in Bank with some detail associated unreadable
Wife Elizabeth E 47
Son Phillip Single 36, Lawyer¹⁵

Spouse # 1 [1st Wife] :  Anna  [Anne L.⁹] LUTTMAN^,6,Also seen as Annie Sutton⁴

In 1910 census she is found as Annie L, substantiating but not proving a Luttman surname

• Birth: 26 Mar 1856⁴ /  54 In 1910 Census And Born Penna⁸
• Death: 20 Mar 1912^6,4
• Census of 1910 for York Borough, York Co., Penna

Pennsylvania 1910 Census Miracode
E Philip StairÝ Age: 55 State: PA
Color: W Enumeration District: 0126
Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0041
County:  York, York
Relation:  Head of Household
Other Residents: Wife Anne L 54, Pennsylvania
Son E Philip, Jr 26, Pennsylvania
• Son Hubert 20, Pennsylvania  ¹⁵Children of Union

• Born: 1882/3 [47 in census of 1920]
• No children of union known
• Census for 1920

HOH Stair, Edward P, [Mother and Father BOTH born Penna], employed in Bank with some detail associated unreadable
Wife Elizabeth E 47
Son Phillip Single 36, Lawyer [child of Edward P's first marriage] ¹⁵

Marr: Nov 12 1915
[[12/4/1915 [Application Date]   12/11/1915  [ Marriage Date] STAIR, EDWARD P. WURTS, ELIZABETH E.    29074 [Application #] [York County Archives]] ]

Children of Edward Philip STAIR and 1st Wife Anna LUTTMAN:

• Jeannie Louise (1881-)⁶
• E. Philip^{5, 8} (1883-⁶)[Attorney in York⁴]
• William Stuart ⁵(1885--⁶)
• Hubert ^{5, 8}(1889--⁶) married 1st to Unknown⁶ [marriage ended 13 Dec 1915⁶] 2nd married Margaret Marie FREED⁶

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1.2 Anna Kate (Annie) STAIR [SEE DEDICATED PAGE TO THIS DIRECT ANCESTOR] 

• Birth: 4 Oct 1850, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Death: 25 Jun 1931, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Father: ìJohnî [John Adam]  SWOPE (1815-1880)
• Mother: Nancy Moore McCURDY (<1820-1904)

Children:

• Marion (died in Infancy)
• James Donald îDeweyî "Don" "JD" (1881-1950)
• Mary Stair (1885-1966)

Amy McCurdy (1893-1980)

Back To Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] Bentz and first husband William Henry Stair
To Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] Bentz and 2nd husband Reuben Leber
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1. Family Notes from DM Swope-research and interviews [DM was a toddler when grandmother Maria Elizabeth died (probably in the Swope home) , and an adult on  the death of Mary's dtr Lydia Stair Swope and Maria Elizabeth's  son in law, Samuel McCurdy Swope-  "Annie" Stair Swope and Sam Swope were deeply  involved in the lives of their SWOPE grandchildren ]
2. ì1850 federal census,î "Mary E 16" living in home of father and mother under HOH Michael Bentz York Borough, South Ward for 1850 in the Federal 1850 census.
3. Laura Morrison, Sources apparant but link doesnít work, ìQuickel Descendants,î http://www.laura.morrison.net/pafg12.htm#1536, date only http://www.laura.morrison.net/pafg12.htm#1536. Laura is a frequent contributor to Quickel forums. Her site is extensive.
4, The John Bentz Descendants as Compiled by John Bentz Hamme  written ca 1944 and recieved in Email correspondance from Jane [oliver1250@hotmail.com ]
 

5. ìOld Family Bible (Keller Family Bible),î Info provided to DM Swope by Amy Swope Wing from source cited, belonging to "Mrs Keller of York"
6. Email from Blake M. Stough   recíd 020202, reads:
Hello
I believe I may have corresponded with one or both of you at some point in time, but I am not sure. In any case, I hope we can help each other solve the mystery of William's ancestry.
I began researching the descendants of George Christopher Stoehr several years ago, and traced many lines of descent. In my research, I have come across this mysterious William Stair. While I have not connected William to my research, I live in York, PA and have easy access to records that can help us. Here is what I know.
William Henry Stair married Maria Elizabeth Bentz on 13 Oct 1853, as recorded in church records from St. John's Church in York, PA. The marriage is also recorded in the Democratic Press, 18 Oct. 1853, but this shows the date as 14 Oct 1853. Rev. C. W. Thompson was the man that married them.
William and Mary had a son, Edward Phillip Stair on 4 Jul 1854, and he was baptized on 30 Aug 1854.
Edward first married Anna Luttman on 28 Oct 1880. She died on 20 Mar 1912, but they had 4 children, Jeannie Louise (b. 3 Sep 1881), Edward Philip (b. 18 May 1883), William Stuart (b. 10 Mar 1885), and Hubert Luttman (b. 14 May 1889).
Edward's second wife was Elizabeth Electa Wurtz, marrying her on 12 Dec 1915.
Hubert was possibly married 3 times, but the first wife's name is unknown. The first marriage ended on 13 Dec 1915. His second wife was Margaret Marie Freed, the third was possibly Mary Wolf.
Now, I can narrow down who this William is if I knew a little more about him. Do we know when he was born and died? Do we know where he is buried? Do we know any siblings of him? How about his wife. Where was she from, and who were her parents? I am interested in any and all information that can help us figure this out.
Thanks for your time. Look at my info and see if you can add anything to it. I will probably be able to go to the library this week and do some research, so anything is useful.
Blake M. Stough
List Admin. (STAUCH, LENHART, AMREV-CAMP-SECURITY, BEHLER)
Researching Stough-Stauch-Stouch families originating in York County, Penna. Visit the Stough-Stauch-Stouch Genealogy and Family Resource Website at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~stauch
7. IGI:
Edward Philip STAIR
Sex:Ý M Event(s):
Christening:Ý 30 Aug 1854
Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania Parents:
Father:Ý William Henry STAIR
Mother:Ý Mary Eliz.
Source Information:
Batch number: Dates Source Call No. Type Printout Call No. Type
C506891 1785-1875 Q974.841 Y1 V2YR  Book 1002430  Film
Sheet:

8. Census of 1910 for York Borough, York Co., Penna
Pennsylvania 1910 Census Miracode
E Philip StairÝ Age: 55 State: PA
Color: W Enumeration District: 0126
Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0041
County:  York, York
Relation:  Head of Household
Other Residents: Wife Anne L 54, Pennsylvania
Son E Philip, Jr 26, Pennsylvania
Son Hubert 20, Pennsylvania
9.. Ibid. Anne L. Stair in 1910 census.

10. Void

11. Gilbert Ernest Swope, The Swope Family 1676-1896, T.B. & H.B Cochran, Publishers, 1898;  page 123-124.
12. IGI Hit:
Ý Anna Kate STAIR
Sex:Ý F Event(s):
Christening:Ý 11 Jul 1856
Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania Parents:
Father:Ý William H. STAIR
Mother:Ý Mary E.
Source Information:
Batch number: Dates Source Call No. Type Printout Call No. Type
C506891 1785-1875 Q974.841 Y1 V2YR  Book 1002430
13. Census Entries, see same
14. Email in response to census assist for 1850 Stairs in York County from Ed Morril [Return-Path: <edmorrill@home.com>; "After the 15th I will be edmorrill@comcast.net."]

15. 1920 census, York, York Penna. HOH Edward P Stair. Roll T625_1669 page 2A, ED 133. Ancestry.com image 728.

16. Report of Dtr Anna Kate [STAIR] Swope to her grandchildren. Grandchildren known intimately by author.
 
 

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