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Biographical sketch of WILLIAM STEIN, SR. from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Logansport, Indiana.
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This bio spans two (2) pages: 388-389
WILLIAM STEIN, SR.
Germany has contributed quite liberally to the peopling and settlement of St. Clair county, Michigan. A very large per cent. of the present population can trace their origin to some sturdy German emigrant, who came out and settled in the woods of that locality fifty or more years ago, and much of the thrift and prosperity to be encountered on almost every hand is traceable to this German strain in the blood of the inhabitants. William Stein, the subject of this sketch, was born in Saxony, Germany, October 27, 1835, and is the son of Michael and Anna E. (Creek) Stein, natives of Saxony, who emigrated with their family of nine children to this country in 1853. In his home of Saxony Michael Stein was a man of much prominence, keeping the local tavern and conducting the principal meat market of his native town. When he was well along in life and the father of a large family, a desire for the future welfare of his progeny fired him with an ambition to see his children comfortably situated in homes of their own in that new and wonderfully prosperous land, America. Accordingly he disposed of his Saxon possessions and turned his face to the west. The steerage of a sailing vessel in those times was noted for almost anything other than cleanliness or comfort. It, however, was destined to be the home of the family for seven long weeks. If sea air was necessary to their health they certainly had abundance of it. Upon landing the family repaired immediately to St. Clair county, Michigan, where an investment was made in twenty acres of land in the woods, a log cabin was erected and the family settled down to life in an American forest. If the removal ever caused the sturdy Saxon tavern-keeper any regret he never gave utterance to it. Doubtless he sometimes thought, when the hardships were severest and the privations greatest, that he was foolish to have left the ease and comfort of his German tavern to take up the burden of an American pioneer. His children and children’s children today can commend his wisdom in making the move and bless his memory because he had the courage to make the move and the self-sacrifice to endure its consequent trials.
Mr. Stein was more fortunate than many other emigrants to the woods of Michigan. If it cost him more money to get his family across the water, he had by way of compensation valuable and necessary aid in his sons and daughters in their new American home. The subject of this sketch was at that time past eighteen years. Under the steady strokes of Michael Stein and his sons their little tract of twenty acres was soon cleared and rendered productive, and in addition was occasionally made to it until its acres numbered sixty. Of the nine children of Michael and Anna Stein three area dead, viz: George, John and Henry. The others are William, the subject; Fred, a farmer of Huron county, Michigan; Caroline, who was married twice, first to Fred Keeler and next to Fred Rahn, a successful farmer of Casco township; Elizabeth, the wife of John Lindsey; Anna Eliza, wife of Simon Kleim; Sophia, wife of Matthew Welsen. The latter three are all residents of St. Clair township. Mrs. Anna Stein departed this life in 1877. She was survived by her husband some twelve years, he passing away in 1889.
Only a very limited education was secured by William Stein in his native land of Saxony. After coming to this country, he worked for his father some three years, until he was twenty-one years of age, and for the next five years he worked out, by the day or month. By that time he had accumulated enough money to justify him in getting married and establishing a home of his own. On October 22, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mary Goodman, who has been born in Germany in 1838, the daughter of Otto and Maria (Lukenhaufer) Goodman. Her father had been the proprietor of a hotel in his native land, but emigrated to America with his family, arricing in St. Clair county December 9, 1853. Two of the family, Fred and John Goodman, are residents of Detroit, the first names being a carpenter, the second a baker. To Mr. and Mrs. Stein ten children have been born, viz: Sophia, who died February 26, 1901, married Frank Heideman, and to them seven children were born, Carl, Lotta, Lena, Ruby, Walkter, Ida and Theresa; Fredereka is a resident of St. Clair township; John W., a carpenter and undertaker at St. Clair, married Johanna Roff, and they are the parents of eight children, Clara, Adolph, Hulda, Lottie, Martin, John, Lena and Emma; Amelia died in 1892, aged twenty-two years; William, a farmer of Huron county, Michigan, married Bertha Mooma; Barbara, who resides in Detroit, married Paul Shubert, and they have one son, Fred; the four younger children, Christian, Henry, Augusta and Lizzia, all reside at home.
After his marriage William Stein purchased forty acres of land in the township of St. Clair, built a log cabin thereon and therein began housekeeping. He cleared his land, occasionally adding to it by the purchase of other land, until he is now the owner of one hundred and eighty acres in St. Clair township and eighty acres in Huron county. In his time and with his own hands he has cleared not less than one hundred acres of heavy timber land in St. Clair county. Those who have tried it can well appreciate the enormous amount of hard work that such a task requires. He has reared and educated a large family and has seen to it that each of those who have entered life’s battle for themselves have had a fair start. In his business of general farming, raising grain and feeding stock, he has been quite successful. He has not only provided for the immediate wants of his family, but has laid by something for the declining years of himself and wife. In religion he is a Lutheran and a liberal contributor to the support of that church. He is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, although he served two years as treasurer of his township. In his community he is a man of worth and influence whose opinions on questions of moment are often sought and always to good purpose.
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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the STEIN surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community. Therefore, please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above. Thank you.
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