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. Religion: Married in Episcopal Church both times Narrative:  She was raised in York, York County and lived there each census in which she is found, the first of which she is called Mary E.  being found in the 1850 census where she is a girl of 16 in residence with her parents,  older brothers Peter ,  Michael [Cabinet maker ] and William [Painter]  , (Michael and Williams were both  deaf mute)  her younger sister and  William's wife and two year old daughter. She died in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, where dtr Annie lived. Mary married her first husband William Henry STAIR at 19 years of age, but was tragically widowed when she was 21 and pregnant with her second child, my great grandmother Annie. It is unknown if she ever had her own home with her first husband. Mary is found in the York 1860 census living with her mother , also now 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 LEBER and by the 1870 census had born him a son and they were living next to Annie's brother Peter and his own family above mentioned, in York, York, Penna.   She later bore Reuben  a daughter. Mary's brother  Peter died in 1884 and Mary was again widowed when 76/7 and in 1911.  At the time of her 2nd husband's death, they were residing "Dula" Street [looks like in 1910  census]  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

Spouse #1 [First Spouse] : William Henry STAIR and Progeny Spouse # 2 [2nd Husband] : Reuben M. LEBER 17, 18 Alias: P M Leber. Notes from D M Swope1 indicated Mary's  2nd  husband was "P M Leber" [citing the Keller family bible5 , 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 . That this is incorrect  is backed up by the lack of evidence of dtr Mary in the 1860  and 1870 census where the mother Mary is found. ]  Birth: 26 Jan 1832 Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pa17, 18 Baptized: 24 Jun 1832 Lower Windsor Tsp, York Co, Pa :Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed 18 Occupation: Tanner and Courier Death: 11/24/1911   [19114]  York County Archives, Affadavit of Death LEBER, REUBEN M. date  11/24/1911  Book   16-012 Father: David LEBER18 (1806-) Mother: Anna Mary18 (Forename Secure)  Reuben Leber's mother is  said to be Anna Maria BECKER footnote 1 (1806-) See link for her details. Marr: 26 May 1868, Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania19 Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] BENTZ STAIR &  Reuben LEBER [surnamed LEBER]  : David BENTZ (1869-after 1910 when he appears in census) Mary Florence (1873-1944) Spouse #1 [First Spouse] : William Henry STAIR SEE  DEDICATED PAGE TO THIS DIRECT ANCESTOR 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 &  William Henry STAIR [Surnamed STAIR]  Edward Philip (E Philip/Edward P) (1854-1937) Anna Kate ("Annie")   (1856-1932) [Seen in picture to right with her mother, writer's direct line] 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

footnote 1 : Reuben Leber's mother is mentioned inhis baptismal records as Anna Mary, and online persons purport without source that she is Anna Mary BECKER born 1806.
She may in fact be the Anna Mary Becker found in the baptism records herself being baptized at Canadochly (from Records York County, Pennsylvania, 1801-73: Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed Congregations) where her children were baptized.
Name: Becker, Anna Maria
Description: Born 14 August 1806
Description: Baptized 12 October 1806
Father    Becker, Matthias
Mother   Becker, Hester
Sponsor: Gilbert, John
Sponsor: Gilbert, Anna Maria

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

To Top of Page

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

• Edward Philip STAIR (1854-1937)
• Anna Kate "Annie" STAIR (1856-1932) 

• David Bentz (1869-)
• Mary Florence (1873-1944)

This may reflect the PENTZ spelling of the BENTZ name in previous generations, persisting by transcriber?

• Birth: 1868/9 Pennsylvania²¹
• Death: After 1910 census
• Father: Charles B. ALLEN⁴
• Mother: Rebecca PATTON⁴

• Application Date Marriage Date  Man's Name       Woman's Name    Application #  Book and Page [York County Archives, Marriage Licenses]
• 6/7/1904         6/7/1904      LEBER, DAVID B.  ALLEN, EMMA E.  16532            X-092

• Marion Rebecca (1905-)^{21, 4}
• Emily⁴

Back  To Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] Bentz and 2nd husband Reuben Leber
To Children of Mary [Maria Elizabeth] Bentz and first husband William Henry Stair
To Top of Page

As per  D M Swope's¹  entry based on the Keller Bible⁵ in part, this daughter was full sibling to Anna Kate Stair I Have Not Yet Been Able To Find Her Christening Record At St Johns (Where Her Siblings Were Bapt) She is NOT in the 1860 census with her mother, grandmother and two siblings after William Henry Stair's death and before her mother's remarriage indicating that full sister status was incorrect.  The relevant portion of the transcript of  John Bentz Hamme⁴, shows this Mary not as a full sister, but as a half sister to Annie Kate Stair. See link for the short text relevant.
Spouse: Alfred T G [in marriage license, see below [Alfred  L. G.⁴ ] [Alfred F G²²] HODNETT^{22, 4}

• Birth: 22 Jun 1871⁴, Maryland^{23, 4}
• Death: 12 Mar 1943⁴

• Mary O (Died as Infant) (1896-1897)⁴
• Alfred G. (1897-1898)⁴
• Walter Reuben (1901-)⁴

Alexander Peter (ca1901-)⁴

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,  Email correspondance from Jane [oliver1250@hotmail.com ] , researcher of Bentz line, relying on data from her grandmother citing generally research by John Bentz Hamme. It states within the text  ì To him we are indebted for this long and interesting family history.î . [Letter filed under Bentz Family in Reunion Folder in author's possesion. ] Janeís email [oliver1250@hotmail.com ] . Please note many comments through text indicate this research was done in about 1944 so, as approaches later generations, could indicate contact with then living progeny and relatives of those detailed in the text. In addition the original information shows living status for several entries born as late as the 1870s. The original work  then seems to be by John Bentz Hamme in entirity, and the Hamme lines might then be considered most secure. However, No source citations, are provided in source, and I found several minor errors in my direct lines, so Caveat Emptor.
First letter recíd before text in relation to info:
Hi Cynthia, Thanks for all your information. I am just beginning this. The information I have is taken from my Grandmother's  research, whom she states
was compiled by John Bentz Hamme. The line I am interested in is the Bentz line. Mary Elizabeth was a sister of my direct descendant. The information
Gram has is that Mary Married William Stair, b. Jan. 3,1830, d. Aug,22,1855. He is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetary, York, Pa. She lists only an Edward
Philip Stair b. July 4,1854, d. July 25,1937. He married Annie Sutton b. March, 26,1856, d. March 20,1912. He was a real estate dealer in York, Pa.
Their issue: D. Philip Stair, an attorney in York, William Stair and Hubert Stiar. As I said, I am interested in the Bentz line. Gram has information
back to John Bentz and Maria Magdelena. Would love to know what you have and would be glad to share. Thanks Jane
----- Original Message -----
From: <Alfonsa@aol.com>
To: <STAUCHistory@aol.com>; <oliver1250@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 12:08 AM
Subject: Re: William Stair
 

5. ìOld Family Bible (Keller Family Bible),î Info provided to DM Swope by Amy Swope Wing from source cited, "Mrs Keller of York", Unclear if Mrs Keller pertained to York County or York  [the town], York County, Penna
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

17.  census listing Windsor Township, York Co.,  Penna 19 sept, 1850 census.
David Leber is clearly enumerated in Windsor Township, York Co.,  Penna 19 sept, 1850 census, real estate valued 6,000$ born Penna, a tanner and 43 years old, living with:
Anna female 43
Reuben 17 no occupation             Reuben Bapt 24 June 1932
charlotte 11                              Charlotte Anne Baptized  5 January 1840
Meary  9                                   Mary Esther Bapt 15 August 1841
Mealinda 5                                 Melinda Elizabeth Baptized 26 June 1845
Sarah  3                                     Sarah Jane Baptized 13 June 1847
Catharine Shultz 23 no occupation
william Shultz, 17  laboror
William Michelman (looks like Michelman)   34 tanner born Germany
Henry Waltemeyer    21 tanner  born Penna
Charlotte, Meary and Mealinda all attended school within year, and all individuals born Penna minus Michelman
This census clearly enumerates the children of David and Anna Mary Leber found in the  Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed Congregations  with only one child missing ( David Renner, Baptism 27 July 1838) perhaps died before this census.
18.  Reuben LEBERís and Anna Mary BECKER's Baptismal Record in Lower Windsor Twp, York County [Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed Congregations] From  York County, Pennsylvania, 1801-73: Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed Congregations. Lineages, Inc., comp. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Records transcribed from Family History Library microfilm copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) for #0387949.
ìYork County lies along the southern border of Pennsylvania, with the Mason-Dixon Line serving as its southern boundary. This database contains records from the Canadochly Lutheran and Reformed Congregations located in Lower Windsor Township, which lies in York County.î
19. This marriage is found in IGI Records in LDS search (Ancestor Search online)
Mary E. STAIR
Sex:Ý F Marriage(s):
Spouse:Ý Reuben M. LEBER
Marriage:Ý 26 May 1868
Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania
Source Information:
Batch number: Dates Source Call No. Type Printout Call No. Type
M506891 1811-1878 Q974.841 Y1 V2YR  Book 1002621

20. IGI match at Mormon Ancestor Search
 David Bentz LEBER
Sex:Ý M Event(s):
Christening:Ý 5 Dec 1869
Saint Johns Episcopal Church, York, York, Pennsylvania Parents:
Father:Ý Reuben M. LEBER
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

21. census listing emma e, listed with husband.

22.  ì1920 Fed Census,î York City[District 124]  York Co, Penna District 124, Ancestry.com scanned image page 29 of 35, Alfred F G Hodnett.

23. ì1920 Fed Census,î York City[District 124]  York Co, Penna District 124, Ancestry.com scanned image page 29 of 35, Maryland.

Top of Page To Our American Immigrants

Within The Vines Homepage