THOMPSON B. STELLE

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 741-742.

          Thompson B. Stelle, attorney at law, McLeansboro, was born in Hamilton county, January 23, 1845, the son of Jacob and Judith (Farmer) Stelle, natives respectively of New Jersey and Tennessee.  Our subject’s grandfather, Thompson Stelle, Sr., was of the old French Huguenot stock, and came to Illinois Territory from New Jersey in 1816.  He located near Knight’s Prairie, and later on the “Ennis Maulding Farm,” four miles west of McLeansboro, where he died in 1864.  His wife, Elizabeth Lawyer, died in 1873.  They had fifteen children, eleven raised to maturity, three of whom were sons.  Jacob was a successful farmer, as was also his father, and he served in Company A, Eighty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, through the war.  His two brothers were also soldiers.  Jacob’s family of nine children has only five living: Thompson B., William c., Milton C., Eliza (wife of W. Smith) and Alice (wife of John L. Cross).  Jacob and his wife live five miles west of McLeansboro.  Our subject received a good common-school education, and at sixteen began teaching.  After five years as pedagogue he attended Asbury University (Ind.), and later McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., where he graduated as L.L.B. and B.S. in 1868.  He was licensed in June of the same year, since which time he has had a lucrative practice.  In 1869 he was elected county judge, and served four years.  He has been identified with most of the enterprises of the city and county, and especially the schools.  He is president of the school board, and mayor of McLeansboro.  He is a Democrat.  February 11, 1873, he married Laura E. Blades, of this county.  Their children are Edith E., Eleanor M., Cyrus B., Raleigh B. and William H.  He is an Odd Fellow, and a recognized leader and lawyer of ability.  He has a farm of 800 acres adjoining McLeansboro on the west.  He is warmly attached to the interests of the agriculturist and stock raiser, and devotes much attention to these important issues.