Christian and the Intuitive Medium

A few years ago I went to an intuitive medium for the second time. When the session was over she asked if we had anything else to ask her. I simply said "What happened to Christian?" She closed her eyes, put her hands around her throat and said "He drowned. He's taking responsibility for his death, he was impaired." She asked if he was in a pool. I told her he drowned in the canal. She said, "that makes sense, I can only see 2 sides. Was he 16?" I said "No, he was 61." She then said to me "There are so many people coming through that want to talk to you. I would love to help you do your family tree." I never told her I was doing my family tree! I want to go see her again armed with questions about the family that I have.

Coming Back From Canada

Sometime before 1870 Christian and his family came back to the US from Canada and again, settled in Rome, NY. My great-grandfather Philip Jacob Stabel was born in 1870 in either Rome or Troy, NY, his brother Valentine was born in 1872 in Rome, and his sister Susan was born in 1875, also in Rome.  Valentine passed away on Sept. 14, 1877. The last child born in Canada appears to be Mary who was born in May 1868.

1861 Canadian Census

The 1861 Canadian census lists Christian and family in West Wentworth Co. (Image 1356)
Name Age born occupation
Christian Stable 30 Germany Carpenter
Jane Stable 25 Germany
George Frederick 8 US
Henry 5 Canada
James 3 Canada
Charles 2 Canada
They were listed also as being Weslyan Methodists.

The Hamilton City Directory   Ontario lists Christan Stabel as a carpenter living at a house on the corner of George and Lock St.

More on Christian and Dorothy's children

*Henry b. 1856 Canada

I have not found out much info on Henry. I know he was a canal driver when he was 14 according to the 1870 census. I also know he worked for the railroad. I found him enumerated with William Ingalshe as a farm laborer in 1880 in the town of Alabama, Genesee Co. NY in 1880. Henry was single. The 1890 census was destroyed by a fire and I could not find him on the 1900 census. The search continues.

*Charles b. 1860 Canada

Charles married Julia (last name unknown, place of marriage unknown) She was born in 1860 in New Jersey. On the 1920 census for Jersey City, NJ (Hudson Co.) they lived on North St. with their children and grandchildren. Charles and Julia's children were Stephen b. in 1884 in NJ and Johanna b. in 1895 in NJ. At the time of the census Stephen was a widower with 2 children, August, 4 yrs. old and Stephen 3 yrs. old, both born in NJ. Johanna was married to Harold Lundin (b. in NJ), and at the time of the 1920 census they had a son named John who was 1 3/12 old and was born in NJ. He died June 25, 1984 in Phoenix AZ. They later had a son named Raymond b. 1926 in NJ. Charles was a laborer aat the printing office, Stephen was a painter, and Harold was a clerk for Buller Bros.

*Isabelle H. b. Sept. 1861 Canada

Isabelle married John A. Stone (b. Jan. 1862) in 1881 and they lived on Bleeker Ave. in Troy. My father, Bernie Staple, remembers visiting them as a kid. He called her "Aunt Belle." My Aunt Dolores also talked about her. John and Isabelle had 3 sons,
John Abernathy b. June 11, 1885
Orin Merrick b. Aug 26, 1883, d. Nov. 1964 and was married to Margaret (b. Oct. 21, 1887 and died Dec. 1980 in Arvada, NY Jefferson Co.)
E. Royal b. Jan. 21, 1890

*James W. b. April 1862 in Canada, died Feb. 3, 1931

James m. Dora D. Liby (or Libby) on May 26, 1895 in Chicago, IL She was b. Feb. 1862 in TN. and died Feb. 21, 1940 in IL. They had 2 children, Minnie b. April 1887 in IL. and Susie b. Sept. 1898 in IL. James was a cooper. His sister Mary Stabel Bradley lived next door to him on the 1910 census.

*Frances I. b. Sept. 1864 in Canada

She married John E. Owens (b. May 1857) in 1880. They had a son Gordon G. who was b. in Michigan Jan. 1884. They lived in Buffalo, NY in 1900.

*Christian Jacob b. May 1865 in Canada

Christian married Bertha Campbell of Taberg on Feb. 21. 1888 according to the Rome Sentinel date 2/25/1888 pg. 2 under "married." It states that they were married in Rome on Tues. Feb. 21, 1888 by Rev. G.E. Purocher.
On Friday, Sept. 15, 1893 pg. 2 of the Rome Sentinel under "Personal"
Mr. and Mrs. Christian Stabel mourn the loss of their infant son Christian who died on Thurs.

Under "Deaths" in the Rome Sentinel
In Rome, Sept. 14, 1893, Christian Stabel, youngest son of Christian J. and Bertha Stabel age 1 yr., 5 mos. and 15 days.
He was born 05/31/1892 according to my calculations.
He is buried in the Rome Cemetary on Thomas St. in Rome, NY Plot G-77
It is unclear what happened to Bertha or if they did have other children as I have not found anything. Christian is listed on the 1900 census as being 35, single, living with his mother and sister Mary Bradley and her children in Rome, NY at the family homestead, 139 W. North St.
In 1910 Christian was listed a 48 yrs. old and widowed living with his brother Philip and his family.
In 1920 Christian was listed on the census as being widowed, living with his brother Philip and family. He was listed as Chris on the census.
In 1930 age 65 Christian was listed on the census in Floyd NY with his brother-in-law and sister Frank and Susie Smith. He was listed as widowed and his occupation was a carpenter.
I do not know when he died or where he is buried.

*Mary b. May 1868 Canada
She married Milton Bradley (b. Feb. 14, 1863 in Vassar, Tuscola, MI) date and place unknown. He was the son of Sylvester and Martha Bradley. They had 2 boys:
Milton Edward Bradley b. Feb. 6, 1893 Troy, NY
Gordon Bradley b. 1897
She lived with her mother, brother Christian and her boys in 1900 in Rome NY and was working as an operator at the knitting mill. It states on the 1900 census she is married and has been for 9 yrs. It also states that she is the mother of 4 children with only 2 living. On the 1910 census for Chicago IL. Mary is living next door to her brother James. She is 38 yrs. old, widowed and her 2 sons live with her. Milton is 17 and is a machinist's helper, Gordon is 13 and attends school.
In 1920 Mary is 52 and living with her son Gordon and his wife Tessie on Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL She is working for a private family according to the census but I cannot tell if it says housekeeper or not. By the time the 1930 census comes out, Mary is no longer listed with her son and family. I do not have a date of death for her.

*Philip Jacob b. Aug. 7, 1870 in either Rome or Troy, NY d. July 26,1951 in Rome, NY
He married Elizabeth Coppersmith on 08/10/1891 in the Verona Methodist Church according to my grandmother Mildred Staple. I think she even showed me a marriage certificate. There was a newspaper article written in the Rome Semi-Weekly Citizen that reads "Sat. August 12, 1893,Acquaintance Ripens into Friendship and Marriage Follows: At 8 pm Wednesday at the home of Mrs. C. Stabel, 139 West North St. occured the wedding of Philip Stabel and Miss Bessie Coppersmith. The best man was Timothy Coppersmith, brother of the bride, and Miss Susie Stabel, sister of the groom acted as bridesmaid. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. M. Hayman in the presence of about 40 guests, after which an excellent supper was enjoyed. Many gifts were received by the bride. The groom is an employee of Selden and Van Wagenen. The couple have the best wishes of all.
Philip and "Bessie" had many children, not all lived.
Phillip b. 09/07/1894 d. 09/08/1894 he is buried in Rome Cemetery Plot G-77
Phil J. b. 11/01/1895 d. 11/02/1895 He is also buried in Rome Cemetery, same plot
Charles Christian b. 10/26/1897 (or 11/26/97). d. 12/23/1968. He was married to Anna Mae Schrefer.
Francis Lester b. 06/03/1900, d. 09/10/1980. He was married to Mildred Miner on 01/22/1922 in Syracuse NY.
Timothy J. b. 11/29/1902 d. 10/29/89. He was married to Daisy Stimpson
Phillip Merrick b. 03/11/1908. d. 09/18/2000. He was married to Evelyn Waller.
Marie Inez b. 12/01/1905 d. 1980. She was married to Albert Klubens.
Norean b. 11/03/1910 d. 04/1986. She was married to Leslie Frieberger.
Paul Carlton b. 02/01/1914 d. 01/1974. He was married to Thelma ?
Beatrice b. 10/30/1912 d. 11/21/1912
Isabel Margaret b. 11/24/1896 Troy NY d. 01/04/1897 Troy NY
The Church of Ascension in Troy NY listed under Baptisms Isabel Margaret Stabel, baptized 01/02/1897, sponsor was Mrs. Stone (Isabella, Philip's aunt)
Isabel died 01/04/1897. She was only 7 wks old. Her place of burial was Rome cemetery Plot G-77.
*Valentine b. 1872 d. 09/14/1877. He is buried in Rome Cemetery Plot G-77
*Susan A. b. 1875 d. 03/06/1944 and is buried in Wright's Settlement Cemetery. She married Frank Smith on 11/24/1897 in Rome NY. They had 4 children, Royal Merton Smith b. in 1899 or 1900, d. 04/13/1966 or 1969. He married Francis Russell in 1920, Ida D. Smith b. 1901, d. 01/28/70, Isabella F. Smith b. 02/14/1911, d. 11/03/1995. She was married to Arthur Hertel and lived in Millbrook, NY. Frances G. Smith b. 10/26/1916 d. 11/18/2001 She was married to Charles DeForest Shaler.

Christian and Dorothy

Christian Stabel married Dorothy Jane Stockinger in this country, date and place unknown. Dorothy was born in Wurtemberg, Germany 11/29/1830 (other sources list her as being born on the 30th, 31st, and even in the yr. 1835.) She came to this country with her parents and her brothers when she was 9 yrs. old. The family arrived in New York on July 31, 1845. Their port of departure was Rotterdam. Place of origin Deutschland. The ship was named the Edwina. Her parents were Fredrich age 35 and Louise age 40. Her brothers were Frederich age 12 and Philip age 2.
Dorothy's father Fredrich was a butcher in Rome, NY. He died 11/28/1880 and is buried in Rome Cemetary, plot 168 I. Her mother Louise (or Louisa) died 03/15/1878 and is also buried in Rome Cemetarty, plot 168 I. Louisa's maiden name is supposedly Staple but I have found nothing to back that up as of yet.
Christian and Dorothy's children are:
George F. b. 1853, New York State d. April 17, 1877 New York State buried Rome Cemetary
Henry A. b. 1856 Canada
Charles b. 1860 Canada
Isabelle H. b. Sept. 1861 Canada
James W. b. Apr. 1862 Canada, d. Feb. 3, 1931
Frances b. 1864 Canada
Christian Jacob b. May 1865 Canada
Mary b. May 1868 Canada
Phillip Jacob b. Aug. 8, 1870 Rome, NY d. July 26, 1951 Rome, NY
Valentine b. 1872, Rome, NY d. Sept. 14, 1877 buried Rome Cemetary, Rome, NY
Susan b. 1875 Rome, NY

Chris Stabel's Death

Rome Sentinel May 18, 1891

CHRIS STABEL'S DEATH

The inquest in the case of Christian Stabel whose body was found in the Erie Canal on Thursday was concluded on Saturday afternoon.

Eugene Campbell testified: I live at West Rome; am 27 years old and a laborer. I know Nora and Martha Williams, and Mr. Letter; have known them two or three years they are neighbors of mine. Was at their home in the forenoon of Sun. May 9, stayed nearly all day. Tom Pendergast and Will Sherman were there, there was no one else there, left there at five and came down street, went back, did not stay there Sun. night, stayed in Arch Farr's barn, on the hill, back of our house that night; saw no one there that night or in the morning; came downstreet at daylight, stayed down about an hour and then went to Letter's, stayed there till about four, walked up the towpath as far as Baulig's, did not go into Baulig's, went away from Letter's about dusk, came down street in the evening;' slept in Farr's barn that night, went home in the morning I kept away from home because I did not want the old man to see the scratches on my face that Pendergast made. I generally stay at home, was home every night last week, board at home, am single, had beer at Letter's Monday night, don't know who got it, don't know what it was in, they gave me mine in a glass. they poured it out in a pail; I was in the bedroom asleep, only saw one pail of beer; did not see Plato at Letter's, saw Button and his wife. They came before 7 . It could not have been 9 or 10 when I went away. Don't carry a watch, I took my meals at Letter's on Sun. and Mon., do not board there, go there to see Nora Williams, on Monday night I went to the barn to sleep between 9 and 11 o'clock; never knew Stabel; have not been to Baulig's in two weeks, told a man I had a fight there Monday night but it was not true.

William R. Button testified: I live at West Rome, my house is located between the railroad and the canal, nearly one-half mile west of Baulig's, am married, am a laborer, was at Letter's between 10 am and 8 pm Monday, not there again that day, did not drink beer or see beer at Letter's house that night; did not know Stabel; don't know what time it was when I got home.

The jury found that Christian Stabel came to his death between Monday May 11, 1891 and Thursday May 14, 1891, but the cause of his death was to the jury unknown.

* This is a good place to note that in 1896, Thomas Pendergast was tried for murder and sentenced to prison in Auburn. It was widely believed that Eugene Campbell and Thomas Pendergast stole Christian Stabel's money and murdered him on Monday May 11, 1891. The family tomb stone lists his death as May 14th. There is no death record for this. The cause of death listed on the Rome Cemetary record is drowning.

Christian Stabel

To clear up any confusion, our family last name used to be Stabel. Even though the newspapers refer to Christian as Christopher and Chris, his given name was Christian. Now on to the coroner's inquest.

Rome Sentinel May 16, 1891 pg. 2

CHRISTIAN STABEL'S DEATH

The inquest in the case of Christian Stabel whose lifeless body was found in the Erie Canal, was continued yesterday afternoon.

Andrew Bellinger testified: I reside in Rome, am 56 years old; am a carpenter, knew Chris Stabel for the past three or four weeks. worked with him at Oehm's in West Rome; both of us worked on Monday; Chris worked from 6:30 till noon; he was there in the afternoon; about two in the afternoon I noticed he had been drinking; at three he was incompetent to work; he quit at 4:30 or 5; between 2:30 and 3 he got some cider. Fred Schultz and I drank some, the cider was sour, more like vinegar than cider, not strong enough for vinegar. Stabel did not say he would drown himself, he left about 5, wanted me to go with him; I said no; he said it wouldn't cost me a cent and we would have a good time, he said he had $10. He staggered and almost fell; he started east; he had not spoken of having trouble with anyone; he usually walked on the towpath when he went home; when I first went to Oehm's Stabel and I had words but were on friendly terms Monday; had no fight with him.

Fred Schultz testified: I live with Chris Oehm; do all kinds of work for him; was lathing his new house on Monday; know Stabel; had a couple of drinks of the cider he brought to the house on Monday; the cider was two years old; saw no bottle that day; felt no effects from the cider; Stabel was happy and staggered when he left for home at 5. I did not leave the farm that night, don't know of his having trouble with anyone.

E.J. Lawton testified: I reside in Rome; am a practicing physician and surgeon with Dr.'s Nook and West. I made an examination of Christian Stabel on May 14. The top of the head was entirely gone from just above the ears; the contents of the skull were missing; the left eye and about one third of the nose from the top were gone; the cut was very smooth, almost like a knife cut, on the left side it was considerably more ragged; there was a clean cut one half or one third of an inch on the right side of the under lip extending toward the chin. There was a clean cut over the center of the chin 2 1/2 inches long and half an inch deep under the whiskers which was not observed at first; there was a fracture of the left arm between the shoulder and the elbow; over this was a cut 2 1/2 inches long; both legs were broken; skin on left leg was broken; the chest was broken into a pulpy mass ; the sternum was broken; the collar bones were dislocated; the heart was natural as to its size, there was no blood in either cavity; the lungs were congested or collapsed; they were pressed into a small place and were dark colored, not a normal color; the length of time the body had been in the water would not change the color greatly; there seemed to be no water or sand in the bronchial tubes; the windpipe was dry. In a drowned person the lungs are usually of a red color and spongy, not a solidified as these; there is usually more of less water in the lungs and bronchial tubes; sometimes froth tinged with blood is found; we found none in this case, no froth or water issued from the mouth, the heart was on the right side of the body instead of the left. The lung tissue wasn't punctured, was pressed to the right side of the body; there was a tremendous pressure on the chest, downward and backward; usually blood is found in the right cavity of the heart of a drowned person as soon as the lungs stop, the heart fills with blood. We did not observe that the lung tissue was punctured. The abdominal walls were apparently gone. There was almost a clean cut across the abdomen from one hip to another in a downward semi-circle, the integuement was forced up under the ribs.

At first it appeared to be gone. We examined the liver and kidneys; the kidneys were exposed on the front part of the intestines there was about a pint of fluid, an unusual quantity in the stomach. It looked like roily water and had substances in it looking like sliced lemon peel; the strongest evidence of drowning was the unusual quantity of water; the muscles were not rigid, saw no goose pimples on the skin; the evidences of drowning were considerably lacking, there was more evidence that death might have resulted from other means. No water was found in the lung tissues of dead bodies put into the water usually. The taking off of the head might account for the absence of blood in the right cavity of the heart. I think it is hardly fair to look for the usual symptoms of drowning in this case on account of the great pressure the body must have had; such a pressure might change the ordinary nature of things very much. None of the important injuries could have been made by human agency. The smaller cuts might have been so produced they were only superficial. I will not say I'm fully satisfied as to the cause of death; taking the case outside the attending circumstances and assuming that the injuries to the body were produced after death, the post mortem would not reveal the cause of death.
(NOTE: It was believed that the large cuts and massive damage to the body was caused by the canal boats.)

Chris Oehm testified: Stabel worked for me three weeks; gave him a dollar, all I owed him Monday morning; last saw him 5 pm on Monday; I did not go away from the farm that night.

Dr. T.G. Nook corroborated the testimony of Dr. Lawton.

Theresa Baulig testified: I live at 206 S. Charles St., knew Stabel, he was at my house at 5 am Monday and got a glass of beer; then he took a drink of whiskey from a bottle of his own. Saw him again at 7:30 pm at my house. He did not act as though tired, did not think him intoxicated; he had two glasses of beer and went away about 8:30; there was no one in the house but our family and Stabel.

Minnie and Lena Baulig testified to having seen Stabel at their home on Monday evening.

Jane Stabel testified: Christian Stabel was my husband; he was strong and healthy; he had good sight and good hearing. He left home at 4:50 am Monday; he did not intend to come home till Saturday night, it is not customary with him to stay away from home nights, don't know how much money he had; Oehm owed my husband $21 Sat. night, he had paid him $10.

William H. Roberts testified to taking the body from the water and washing it; noticed blood on the whiskers, the pants were torn; the other clothing was not torn.

The inquest will be concluded this afternoon.