Charles Stillman, oldest son of David R. and Martha Greene Stillman, was born at the old Stillman homestead in Alfred, August 17, 1851. In youth he availed himself of the school advantages at Alfred University and in 1870 at nineteen years of age began teaching district school during the winter months of the year, while working upon. his father's farm in the summer. This he continued for eleven years.
At eleven years of age, during a revival which occurred in the winter of 1862-3, he with many others in the community professed faith in Christ and was baptized by Eld. N. V. Hull and united with the First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Alfred.
In 1874 he was united in marriage to Jennie A., daughter of Alvin and Ruth Sherman Place. To this happy marriage three daughters were born: Vida Rose, now Mrs. Paul E. Titsworth of Alfred; Ruth, now Mrs. George L. Babcock of Plainfield, N. J., and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Langford C. Whitford of Albany.
From 1883 to 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Stillman made their home in Richburg, N. Y and in Belmont, N. Y. Since that time they have resided in Alfred. From 1890 to 1905 they owned and occupied the homestead which Mr. Stillman sold in 1905 to the State School of Agriculture for a demonstration farm.
During the twenty-four years since Stillman returned to Alfred, he has made himself an inseparable part of the life of the community, in church and college as well as of the business, political and social life.
In 1892 Mr. Stillman was elected a member of the board of trustees of Alfred University, which position he continued to hold until his death. Five years later he was made a member of the executive committee and secretary of the board of trustees, which positions he has filled since that time. He has also served the University on many special committees, including the board of managers of the State School of Agriculture since 1909, and has been, during all these years, one of the University’s most valuable, active and faithful supporters. He has given generously to the needs of the University and has spared himself no time or pains that were necessary in order to render any service within his power.
For more than twenty years Mr. Stillman has been a justice of the peace in Alfred and during much of that time he has been a member of the board of directors of the Alfred Mutual Loan Association. For some years he has also been a director of the University Bank and for the past four years has been vice-president of the bank.
Mr. Stillman’s services have also been sought and freely given to the county as well as the local village and town. He has been for years the secretary of the Farmers’ Co-operative Insurance Company of Allegany County and has rendered much service to that institution, but his most notable service to the county has been in the capacity of clerk of the board of supervisors, a position which he held for over forty years, seven years as assistant clerk and thirty-three years as clerk. Previous to his appointment as assistant clerk, his father had for many years been clerk of the board of supervisors. This period of consecutive service, covering two-score years, has been one of the most notable services of its kind in the history of the State. It has demonstrated Mr. Stillman's ability as well as his trustworthiness in this, as in all other services which he has rendered to the community. His fidelity, integrity and his strict justice have won the respect and esteem of all who have known him.
A biographical sketch of Mr. Stillman’s life would not be complete without further mention of his connection with the church and his devotion to it as a representative of all that is best and noblest in life. Mr. Stillman has been constantly identified with the activities of the church and has filled many of its offices, including those of trustee, treasurer, and Sabbath-school superintendent. All that pertained to the prosperity of the church and the furtherance of the religious life of the community was of paramount importance to him and shared his zeal and his devotion. Mr. Stillman was a fine type of the citizen and business man whose manifold interests and activities are crowned by deep spirituality and a strong, practical expression of religious faith and practice.
Aside from his wife and children, a brother, Roger Stillman of Garden City, L. I., and a sister, Mrs. Thomas Rogers of New London, Conn., survive him.
Interment was made at the cemetery at Alfred, N. Y., Thursday, February I9, 1914.
