MRS. CELESTIA A. STAVER, widow of Jonathan M. Staver, and daughter of Thomas and Louisa (Granis) Bowen, is a native of Vermont, where her birth took place Feb. 18, 1836. Thomas Bowen was one of the early settlers of Green County, Wis., to which he removed when a young man from his native place, Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., after his marriage. In November, 1835, he started for the West and spent the winter in Michigan, whence he proceeded in March of the following year to Wisconsin. There he selected a claim in what is now Clarno Township, Green County, and drew lumber from Galena, Ill., with which to build a house. He had made the journey by himself. In the spring he was joined by his wife and her brother, John Granis. The journey was made overland, through a country but sparsely settled. Monroe, Wis., now a flourishing city, was not then started, and at Freeport there was but one building, a store, which supplied the few settlers around with the necessaries which they could not well do without. The Indians had but just vacated the land upon which Mr. Bowen settled. After being joined by his family he proceeded with renewed courage to the establishment of a permanent home, and in time, having improved a fine farm of 309 acres, he put up substantial buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and added everything required for the comfort of himself and family. He thus lived and labored until past the age of threescore years and ten, his death taking place in October, 1883, when he was seventy-three years old. His wife, Louisa, also a native of New York, died at the homestead in 1854. They were people who exercised a decided influence upon the community around them, and were noted for their honesty of purpose and kindness of heart.

After the death of her mother Mrs. C. Staver remained with her father until her marriage, March 24, 1861. Her husband, Jonathan M., was born in Centre County, Pa., Sept. 21, 1834, and was the son of Frederick Staver, a native of the same county. When eighteen years of age he left home and located in Green County, the same State, where he purchased a farm of 250 acres in Cady Township, upon which he located with his wife after their marriage, and which they occupied until 1875. In the spring of that year they sold out and purchased the present homestead of Mrs. C. A. Staver. Mr. Staver lived only a little over a year after taking possession of this later purchase, closing his eyes to the scenes of earth, April 4, 1876, after an illness of seven months. The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. S. are all living but one, and are residents of Winslow Township. Oscar and George B. are married and engaged in farming; Mary B. is a teacher in the public schools; James B., Perry B. and Alma L. are at home with their mother.

When Mrs. Staver was left a widow her eldest child was but fourteen years old. For a time it seemed as if the care involved in looking after the large estate and the interests of her children was a task greater than she could accomplish, but she bravely rallied from her bereavement, and proved herself equal to the emergency. In her management of the farm and the training and education of her children, she has exhibited a discretion and forethought truly admirable. The estate includes 426 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with two sets of farm buildings. The stock and machinery are of first-class description, and the immediate surroundings of the residence give evidence of the refined tastes and ample means pertaining thereto. The homestead, in all its appointments, comprises one of the most attractive features in Winslow Town-ship, and one upon which the eye of the passing traveler dwells with attentive admiration.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 312