Person:William Stahr (1)

== Research Notes ==\

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 William P. Stahr, in History of Wayne County, Indiana: together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, history of Indiana and the Northwest Territory, embracing accounts of the prehistoric races, aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk Wars, and a brief review of its civil, political and military history (1884). (Chicago : Inter-state Pub., , 1884).

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   == Stahr, William P. - p 600 ==
   William P. Stahr. - Few men, with the limited advantages for attaining success in life that have fallen to the lot of the subject of this notice, have made better use of their opportunities, or displayed greater energy, persistence, and courage than Mr. Stahr. He was born in Germany, Dec. 2, 1839. His father was a schoolmaster, who, after pursuing his avocation faithfully for fifty years, was pensioned and honorably discharged by the Government; he died in 1863. William P. passed his boyhood at home, caring for a few acres of land owned by his father, until March 10, 1858, when he left his native country for America, contrary to the wishes of his father, though favored in his ambition by his mother. Arriving in New York April 26, 1858, a few days later he left the city for La Crosse, Wis., where he wa engaged as a farm laborer for one year. Beocming weary of the hardships of life in the "wild west" in May, 1859, he left for Indiana, arriving in Cambridge City on the 13th. Thence he proceeded to Jacksonburg, where his cousing lived, walking and carrying about seventy-five pounds of baggage upon his back. He soon after entered the employ of John Kepler, a leading farmer, with whom he remained until 1862. His wages were $10 per month during the first year, $12 the next, and $14 the third. He next worked a year for Wm. Black. While working for Kepler and Black he gained a thorough knowledge of farm work, acquired the English language almost unconsciously and found time to attend school about three months. He was next engaged in November, 1863, as a driver for H. Ingerman, brewer, of Cambridge City, at $28 per month. Proving his aptitude for business by his diligence and quickness, he was soon promoted by his employer to a better position and his salary was advanced until he received $60 per month. He remained in the brewery until 1866, then purchased a small grocery for $750. A few months later he was robbed of two watches and a considerable sum of money. He next formed a partnership with J. Wise, baker and grocer, which did not long continue. In 1867 an 1868 he was again employed by the owners of the brewery, the property having changed hands. In March, 1868, he bought a lot of ground with a story and a half house and a one story back building upon it and engaged in the business of baker and confectioner. In 1869, April 30, he was robbed of $225. In 1871, having prospered in business, he removed the old building on his lot and erected a two-story brick structure. To this building he added a third story in 1875, then beginning the hotel business. He has since been making additions and improvements almost constantly, building an addition to the east end of the house in 1880, and to the west end in 1883. Stahr's Central Hotel is now one of the largest and best business buildings in the town, and its enterprising proprietor has the satisfaction of having earned and reared it himself, little by little. Mr. Stahr was married Dec. 2, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Michael. They have a family of children whose names are - Francis G., Maggie, Berthie and J. Paul.

2.   Mr. Stahr, in Manufacturing and mercantile resources and industries of the principal places in Wayne, Henry, Delaware and Randolph counties, Indiana:: with a review of their manufacturing, mercantile and general business interests, advantageous location, &c, including a brief historical and statistical sketch of their rise and progress. (Indiana: Historical and Statistical Publishing Co., 1884).

   Hyperlinked Transcript
   STAHR'S CENTRAL HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. - Commercial travelers and business men generally having occasion to visit Cambridge City, will find at Stahr's Central Hotel and Restaurant all the comforts, conveniences and appointments of a first class modern metropolitan hotel, including commodious sample rooms, well stocked bar and a handsomely furnished billiard room, yet the transient rates of which have been reduced to the popular prices of $2 per day. The "Central" is as its name implies, centrally and eligibly located on the main thoroughfare of the city, directly opposite the First National Bank, and occupies a handsome and commodious structure, three stories in height and 75x120 feet in dimensions, erected by Mr. Stahr expressly for hotel purposes. The first floor, with a graceful and substantial front of iron and plate glass, contains a spacious office, with gentlemen's reading, writing and smoking rooms, a handsomely arranged dining room, with a seating capacity for 50 guests, a restaurant, where first class meals or lunches are served on the European plan, the kitchen and culinary departments and two commodious sample rooms for the use of commercial travelers. On the second floor are located the parlors and reception rooms, with a number of sleeping apartments, and the third floor is devoted to guest chambers, bed rooms, etc. Mr. Stahr, the popular proprietor of this house, established as early as 1869 a first class restaurant in this city, and the reputation it acquired and its rapidly increasing patronage necessitated the erection of his present commodious building to accommodate his numerous patrons. He accordingly, in 1875, erected the building and opened the hotel, which has under his judicious management become the leading hotel in the city and especially recognized as the headquarters ot commercial travelers and the better class of trade.

3.   1860 census.
4.   1870 census.
5.   1880 census.
6.   1900 census.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} William Paul Stahr , in Find A Grave.

   [Note: lists middle name as "Paul" - need primary source for this info]

8.   William "Billy" Stahr, in Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana).

   21 Aug 1873, p3 - Billy Stahr intends getting on a big oyster "bum" when he gets his new building completed. The boys must whet up their apetites for this occasion. ... When finished, (which it will be in about a week,) Billy Stahr will have the neatest and most commodious restaurant and hotel in town, and will be enabled to accommodate his entire custom in the best manner.