Gottlieb D. Stadel is a leading and successful farmer of Thompson Township, where he owns 160 acres of land on section 30. He is of German birth, born in Wittenberg Dec. 8, 1841, as were also his father and mother. In 1857 his parents determined to emigrate to the New World, and, on arriving here, came direct to Galena, Ill., in June of that year and took up a claim of eighty acres in that Township. On that they lived, and with the aid of his good wife and sons the father became very prosperous, and died in 1885, at the good old age of eighty-two years. The mother still survives her husband, and is now in her seventy-eighth year. The senior Stadel was a prominent man in the Presbyterian Church, of which he had long been a member, and was highly respected as an upright and God-fearing man. He and his wife were the parents of six children, as follows: Rosina, who died in 1872, leaving four children; Frederick, who is now a resident of Kansas; our subject was next in order of birth; then William, who lives in Thompson Township; John died at the age of twenty-eight years, and Paul also lives in Kansas. Our subject was brought up in the Protestant Church in Germany, in which he was confirmed at the age of fourteen years, and after arriving here became a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has ever since been a consistent member. He was but sixteen years of age when his parents brought him to this country. He vividly remembers the scenes of his childhood days around the old home, and retrospection evolves many pleasant memories. When the parents left their German home to found for themselves and family a new home in the land of freedom, they little imagined that their son Gottlieb was soon to take part in one of the bloodiest wars that was ever waged, and which was to perpetuate that freedom for which they sought. The emigrants landed at the city of New York, and they came direct by rail to Chicago, and thence to Galena, where they arrived June 10, 1857.

Our subject grew to a young and vigorous manhood in Jo Daviess County, and in August, 1862, enlisted, and the same day was mustered into service at Galena, in Company F, 96th Illinois Infantry, to fight the battles of his adopted country. The company were drilled for about three weeks, on the fair-grounds at Galena, and then went into camp at Rockford, Ill. From this place they were sent to Covington, Ky., and for some time were engaged in skirmishing with the guerrillas and other irregular bands of marauders, as well as squads of regular rebel troops which then infested that region. This service was arduous, and at times their losses were heavy. The first general engagement in which our subject participated was the battle of Chickamauga, which was followed by that of Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, and the battle and siege of Atlanta. Thence the regiment was sent back to check the advance of Hood, and there Mr. Stadel was wounded by a musket ball through the left thigh, and was first sent to the field hospital, but was afterward transferred to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and from there sent home to recover his health and strength. He rejoined his regiment in Tennessee in January, 1864, and did brave and gallant service until the close of the war. He was discharged in Tennessee, and was mustered out and received his final pay at Chicago in June, 1865, returning home after an honorable service of almost three years, during which time he had served faithfully and well, and except the time he was off duty by reason of his wound he never lost a roll call.

In January, 1866, our subject was married to Miss Mary Winter, (for whose family history see the sketch of Conrad Winter on another page in this volume.) She was born in Germany, and was a girl of six years when brought to this country. Of the union of our subject and wife nine children have been born - Conrad, William, John, Ernest, Katie, Christian, Gottlieb, Jr., Lena, and Fred.

Mr. Stadel has occupied a very prominent place in the community, and is highly respected. In politics he is a Republican, and has held several Township offices - as School Director, Assessor, and Collector, and has served on both the Grand and Pettit Juries. In the Presbyterian Church he fills an equally prominent place with that held by his honored father, and was one of the building committee that erected the church at Schapville, of which he has been an elder for several years past. His great success, socially and financially, is due solely to his industry and thrift, combined with an irreproachable character

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg. 376