Person:Zebulon Stillman (1)

Note: "The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis.", 1889, p 438, 439. Zebulon and Eunice (Wells) Stillman were natives of Rhode Island; and became the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters, five of whom grew to mature years. Of that number but three are now living, in 1889. Sanford P., the eldest, is a resident of Westerly, R.I.; Henry W., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; and Thomas L., the youngest, is also a resident of Edgerton. The deceased members of the family are Clarissa, Caroline, Thompson W., and Amos Russell. The father died March 30, 1852, surviving his wife for a number of years, her death having occurred on the 17th day of October, 1841.

1. ↑ Westerly Births and Deaths, in Arnold, James N. Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636–1850: First series, births, marriages and deaths. A family register for the people. (Narragansett Hist. Publ. Co., 1891)
   136.

   STILLMAN, Zebulon, of Dea. Joseph and Eunice, [born] June 21, 1784.

2.   Seaman's Protection Certificates
   [1].

   Name: Zebulon Stillman
   Declaration Date: 12 May 1807
   Declaration Port: New London
   Age: 22
   Birth Year: abt 1785
   Birthplace: Westerly, Rhode Island
   Certificate Number: 4187
   Height: 5' 10"

3. ↑ The Sabbath Recorder . (New York City, New York; later Plainfield, N. J.)
   8:43:171, April 8, 1852.

   In Westerly. R I, March 30, 1852, Mr. Zebulon Stillman in his 68th year. He was born in Westerly, June 21st, 1784. In early life, he learned the trade of a house carpenter of his father, Deacon Joseph Stillman, with whom he made it his home until he was married in Nov., 1810. Soon after this he became crippled, and for a time not able to do much. Being naturally very industrious, and not willing to be idle, after he partially recovered from the effects of a broken limb, he built (it is believed) the first one-horse wagon ever built in Washington County. Not being able to pursue his former occupation, he subsequently followed his new business of wagon-making most of the time; and about 1825, in connection with that, he introduced the first cast-iron plow ever used in the counties of Washington, R. I., and New London, Ct. Some of those plows are still in use and are generally known as Stillman’s Plows. This business he followed until 1839, when, in consequence of his infirmities, he relinquished it. Since that time one of his sons has succeeded him in the same occupations, with whom he has made it his home since the death of his wife in 1841.
   
   Mr. Stillman was a man generally known and highly esteemed in this section of the country. During his life, he has been laid up with broken bones and has suffered very much from sores on one of his legs for the last thirty years or more. For the last eight years, in addition to his other infirmities, he has suffered much from a cancer on one of his lips. He was able to be about until two or three days before his death; and while he and his friends were looking forward with apprehensions that his sufferings would be both increased and protracted, he was unexpectedly and peacefully removed by a disease of the heart, combined with paralysis, which produced a state of unconscious helplessness.
   
   It should be added that the subject of this notice made a profession of religion bot far from 20 years since, and united with the 1st Seventh-day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, R. I. The vital principle of the religion he professed was exhibited in his subsequent life, and particularly in the fortitude and resignation with which he bore his multiplied afflictions; from which he has doubtless been released to inherit the rest of the people of God.