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Squire Hiram
Stamper
Lineage: Son of Nancy
Sebastian and Jesse Stamper.
Brothers: Nathaniel
Green. Sisters: ?
Married Sarah Cobb,
December 27, 1832
Born/Died: Born Owen
County, Kentucky April 8 1812
Died: Clifton Hill,
Missouri, May 8 1890
Cause of death: heart
disease
Mr Stamper was
the son of a man of English ancestry and a woman of French ancestry.
His father and mother were both originally from North Carolina.
Mr Stamper spent
his early years up until the age of 16 in Owen County, Kentucky.
His father was a farmer in this area. In 1828, his father established
a brick manufacturing and bricklaying business in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Hiram went to work with his father in Cincinnati to learn
the trade. He returned to Owen County in the winters until 1835.
Between 1835 and 1849 Hiram operated a farm in Owen County. Hiram
then started a mercantile and mill business while founding the
town of Lusby's Mill in Owen County in 1849. He then returned
to farming from 1852 until 1855.
Mr Stamper met
Miss Sarah 'Sally' Cobb about 1831 in Owen County, where they
were married in 1832. Miss Cobb was the daughter of Daniel Cobb
and Elizabeth Holbrook.
A son, Daniel
Jackson was born Owen County, November 24, 1834. A daughter,
Eliza was born Owen County, 1838. A son, James Louis was born
Owen County 1842. A son, Thomas H Benton was born Owen County,
1843. A son, Joseph Elgan was born Owen County, 1844. a daughter,
Elizabeth was born Owen County, 1852. A daughter, Nancy J was
born Owen County, 1854. A daughter, Sarah Lucian was born Owen
County, 1855. A daughter, Mary Francis was born Randolph County
1857. A son, Finis McLean was born Randolph County Nov 24, 1861.
(Note* original name was Jefferson Davis, changed due to the
Civil War.). Five children also died in infancy, including Taylor,
b 1848 and Victoria, b 1849.
The first son,
Daniel J Stamper, was crippled; and became a respected judge
in Randolph County. The second son, James Louis was a dwarf at
42" tall. Tha last son, Finis McLean Stamper owned a lumber
yard, hardware store and produce business in Clifton Hill. The
produce company survived many generations, starting in 1898;
being successively headed by Howard H Stamper, son of Finis McLean,
and Howard A Stamper, son of Howard H Stamper. This company relocated
to St Louis, Missouri and was one of the country's largest of
this type well into the 1970's.
While living
in Owen County, Mr Stamper held the office of the Justice of
the Peace and Constable. His name is sometimes seen in literature
as 'Esquire Stamper' or 'Squire Stamper'.
In 1855 or 1856
Mr Stamper and his wife moved to Randolph County, Missouri where
he bought a large farm of 300 acres in Clifton Township. He improved
the farm and lived there for 25 years. The Randolph County area
was predominantly settled by families from Kentucky. Clifton
Township was named after the first owner of the Clifton Hill
townsite, David Clifton, who came from Owen County, Kentucky
about 1850. Hiram and Sarah had a hand in the founding of the
Clifton Hills Baptist Church.
In 1879 the
couple sold the farm and bought a house near Clifton Hill, Missouri.
While living in Clifton Hill, his life story was described in
the 'History of Randolph and Macon Counties, Missouri'; published
by the National Historical Company, 1844. Therein, he is described
as 'a sociable, pleasant old gentleman, interesting to talk with
and always agreeable in his manners and conversation.
Mr Stamper's
obituary was published in the Huntsville Herald, May 12, 1890.
It indicates that he was popularly called 'Uncle Hiram Stamper'.
The article describes him as 'a man firm in his convictions,
genial in his manners and possessed a large amount of hospitatlity
which made a friend or stranger feel welcome at his home'. The
article also indicates "He professed faith in Christ in
1833 and united with the Baptist Church at Muscle Shoals in his
native county" (ed note* Owen County, Kentucky).
Mr Stamper's
wife Sarah died less than a year after him, March 27, 1891 in
Clifton Hill.
Mr Stamper is
buried in Clifton Hill Cemetery next to his wife, Sarah. |
