Individual 258: Staheli, Franklin

Individual Record 258

Name} Staheli, Franklin

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Exa 3 May 1874

Place} Santa Clara, Washington, Utah

Marr.: Date} Exa 17 Sep 1895

Place} Santa Clara, Washington, Utah (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 28 Jul 1967

Place} Washington, Washington, Utah

Burial: Date} Aft 28 Jul 1967

Place} Washington City Cemetery, Washington, Washington, Utah

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	75 = Geog history
Source 2}	81 = Genealogy
Source 3}	356 = Church record
Source 4}	83 = 1880 USA cen
Source 5}	722 = Marriage rec
Source 6}	176 = 1900 USA cen
Source 7}	170 = 1910 USA cen
Source 8}	845 = Military rec
Source 9}	761 = 1920 USA cen
Source 10}	762 = 1930 USA cen
Source 11}	542 = S.S. record
Source 12}	759 = Cemetery rec
Source 13}	963 = Cemetery rec

Parents: } Johann George Staheli & Rosina Reber
Relationship No.} 10

1st Household No.} 28 = Santa Clara, Washington, Utah

Occupation 1} Farmer
Occupation 2} Carpenter

Religion/Church} Latter-day Saints

Spouses: Prime} Reber, Paula Wilhelmina (Polly)
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Franklin Staheli was born 3 May 1874 in Santa Clara, Washington County, Utah. He was the second son of George Staheli and Rosina Reber and was known as Frank. His brother Karl, born in 1872 had died in 1873, before Frank was born. His sister Rosina Sophia was born in 1876. A sister Georgiana was born in 1878 and died in 1880. In the 1880 U.S. census, the family was living in Santa Clara. It included two older half-brothers, George and John, from his father's first marriage. The family was farming. Franklin was baptised 4 May 1882 in the Santa Clara Ward, LDS, by Sam Reber.

Franklin married Paula (Polly) Wilhelmina Reber on 17 Sep 1895 in Santa Clara. Of interest is that Frank's sister Rosina married Paula's brother Ernest Reber. Frank and Polly made their home in Washington, a little town just north-east of Santa Clara. They had at least 13 children, most of whom died early or as infants.

In the 1900 U.S. census, Frank was listed as a day laborer. In the 1910 U.S census, the family was living on Chidester Street, Washington, and Frank was a carpenter. When Frank registered for the World War I draft, he listed himself as a farmer, working for himself. He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and gray hair. By the 1930 U.S. census, Frank's occupation was truckfarmer, and his son Woodrow was listed as a truck driver.

In the chapter on Washington in Under Dixie Sun, A History of Washington County, the accomplishments of Frank are ones of many firsts. Around 1900, he, along with Myron Chidester and Joseph Cooper, organized the first brass band in Washington. This band won first place at the Washington County Fair at St. George about ten years later.

About 1910, Frank became the owner of the first steam powered threshing machine in Southern Utah. The Case machine weighed 11,000 pounds, which caused its own problems. "Mr. Staheli says that he had to put in many bridges to compensate for the ones his iron horse had destroyed." The machine was powered by wood, which was provided by the farmers who were using his services. Later, coal became available. This engine was also used to power the machinery in the factory that made cotton batting. Frank also obtained the first straw blower and the first self-feeder, which eliminated the necessity for two of the men on the threshing machine. He later brought the first combine harvester and thresher into the area. With some experimenting,, he worked out a method of threshing sugar beets with his grain thresher.

Firsts, extended beyond farming. Frank's family had the first player piano and the first orthophonic phonograph in town. And when the telephone came to town, Frank had one of the only two.

Frank was involved with the community, and was the mayor of Washington from 1930 to 1931. It was during this time that the water system was installed, and the city irrigation ditches were lined with rock and cement.

Frank died 28 Jul 1967, and is buried in the Washington City Cemetery, Washington, Utah. His wife Polly died 20 Feb 1968, and they share a headstone.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death}

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date} Exa 4 May 1882

Place} Santa Clara Ward, LDS

Confirm. Date}

Photos} None

Immigr'n Date} N/A

Port} N/A

Education: Grade} or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition}
Cause of Death}