The Stillwagon Family
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Clarence and Emma Stillwagon, early settlers of Lovells, were both hard working and fun loving people. They had four children, Martha, Ruth, Jake and Lewis and the following is daughter, Ruth Stillwagon Caid's, memories of her parents as told to Irene Pettyjohn.
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"Father was a kind man who enjoyed his work, whatever it happened to be at the time," said Ruth. Clarence worked for T. E. Douglas from 1906 until the early l 930's when the sawmill closed. During that time he worked as farm boss, drove truck for the sawmill, and was a blacksmith. "My father was looking for a job when his sister-in law, who told fortunes with tea leaves, told him that a man with a goatee would offer him a job," said Ruth. "Not long after her prediction, a man with a goatee came to my parent's house and said he needed caretakers for his camp on the North Branch," remembered Ruth. "He offered Father and Mother the job." "The man's name was Boutell."
The Stillwagons accepted the job and spent many happy years working summers at the North Branch camp and winters in Alabama, taking care of the Boutell's quail farm.
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Emma & Clarence
Emma, Lewis, Clarence, Ruth & Jake
"Dad was very interested in his community and was a member of the Frederic Rural Agricultural School Board after the Lovells schools consolidated. When Lovells Township was organized, he was appointed and worked for many years as the overseer, a job similar to working for the road commission. "Lovells took care of their own roads until the county took over the job," she recalled. "Dad helped to build many roads and bridges in our area."
During his leisure, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. "I don't think Dad ever killed a deer in his life," Ruth said, "but he loved to go duck hunting in the fall."
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Ruth remembers her mother as a happy person who loved to dance and entertained her family and friends by putting on skits and plays. "Mother and a group of friends were always rehearsing for an upcoming play," laughed Ruth. "Once she directed the play, 'The Ladies of Bangville,' for the Cheerful Givers Club." Emma's sister, Martha Douglas, refused to be in Emma's plays and Ruth remembered that during one production, to get even, her mother put a large picture of her sister on an easel and set it on the stage. Emma also gave readings of lengthy poems or pieces of literature that she had memorized. One of these selections was, "When You Chew Tobacco, Swallow All the Juice," which Emma always dedicated to her husband.
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"In the evenings, Mother would read to us, remembered Ruth, "and Dad would listen too. Oh, he could read," she added quickly, "he just liked to listen to Mother. Sometimes she would sing songs for us and Dad would join and they would sing together. The songs were always sad songs." Birthdays and Christmases were special to Emma, who told her children birthdays were their "special day" and should be celebrated. Ruth said they always had birthday parties. Christmas was just as special. "Mother would put tiny candles on the Christmas tree and then light them," recalled Ruth. "Then we children would have to sit very still as we admired the tree." Ruth said her mother was afraid the candles would set the tree ablaze so she would light the candles for only a few minutes at a time. Christmas dinner was always at the Douglas home.
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Ruth said her mother never had any formal training as a nurse; her father had forbidden it. But her desire to help the sick led her to read many books about nursing and she was usually on hand to help the community's sick. "later she became a midwife," said Ruth, "and helped whenever a baby was born."
Emma was instrumental in the organization of the Cheerful Givers Club, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, and was an active member of the Eastern Stars, where she served as chaplain for many years. When Clarence and Emma's work for Boutells was over, they built a home on Lovells Rood and enjoyed their last years near their family and friends. Clarence raised chickens and tended his vegetable garden. Emma continued to entertain her family and friends with her quick wit and grew beautiful flower gardens.
