Lyman P. Stivers
Lyman P. Stivers was born in Bentonville, Adams County, on July 25, 1839. His father was William Stivers, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Downey. She was born at East Liberty, Pennsylvania. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and killed at Sandusky, Ohio. She was brought to Adams County, Ohio, when she was but two years old, in a flatboat on the Ohio River, in a party with the Rev. John Meek, the celebrated Methodist minister. The party landed at Manchester, Ohio, and Aaron Pence reared her. She made her home with him until she was married. She died in 1878 and her husband in 1884. Our subject received a common school education.
He was married September 10, 1861, to Mary I. Fitch, daughter of the Hon. E. M. Fitch, of Brown County, who was a member of the Legislature from that county for four years. Mrs. Fitch was a daughter of Col. Mills Stephenson, of Brown County, Ohio. He was killed in the War of 1812 at Fort Stephenson, which was named for him. Our subject is the father of five children, four daughters and one son. His daughter, Ida B. Stivers, born September 17, 1862, is the widow of Frank Gaffin. Cora B. Stivers, his second daughter, was born and died in 1868. Icie W. Stivers, his third daughter, born November 13, 1866, is the wife of E. W. Erdbrink, formerly of Baltimore, Md., now a resident of Manchester, Ohio. Our subject's son, Joseph Randolph Stivers, born July 23, 1874, who received his Christian names in honor of the late Col. Joseph Cockerill, graduated in the Manchester schools, and is now a traveling salesman.
His daughter, Sallie B. Stivers, was born October 6, 1878. She is married to Samuel A. Walker, formerly of Point Pleasant, W. Va., but now foreman of the Ohio Valley Furniture Company at Manchester. Our subject was reared at Bentonville, Ohio. When quite young he engaged in the mercantile business at that place, where he remained till he was elected Sheriff in 1871. He served as Sheriff one term after which he moved back to Bentonville, where he kept hotel till 1880. He then removed to Manchester, Ohio, and engaged as agent for buggies and farm implements. He has been the salesman for the S. P. Tucker Buggy Co., of Manchester, Ohio, for several years and is at present employed by the Piano Manufacturing Company of Pullman, Illinois.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900