Reinhart Stehle's Farm Becomes Gold Star Park

Ancestors of Teresa Weser * Paternal (P) Maternal (M)

Roman and Reinhard

Roman Weser was the father-in-law of Reinhard Stehle. Both were born and raised in Binsdorf, Wuertemburg, Germany.

Roman Weser (born 1822) immigrated to America first with his brother, Matthew, and settled in Wood County, Virginia. He married Nancy Joseph Wigal in 1842. His brother married Nancy's sister, Rebecca Wigal. Roman, Nancy, Matthew, and Rebecca are all buried in Wood County on the 100 acer Lee Creek farm just southeast of what is now Lubek, WV. The land was originally purchased by the Wigal girl's grandfather, Joseph Joseph in 1815. In a will probated 3 May 1838, Joseph Joseph left his granddaughter, Nancy Joseph Wigal, "aHorse Saddle and bridle a cow and calf bed and bedding bureau and table and the child of my slave Suckey called Elizabeth Amie." Her sister got only a "Horse Saddle and bridle."

Roman returned to Germany around the time of the Civil War. When he came back, western Virginia was the new state of West Virginia and Reinhard was with him. A ship's passenger list for the Saxonia, sailing in April of 1866 from Hamburg to New York lists a R. Weser (44) followed by a R. Stahle [sic] (24).

Reinhard Stehle (born 1841) married Roman's daughter Teresa M. Weser in 1868 and started his family in West Virginia. The 1870 WV Census lists Reinhard (28) as a shoemaker living in Lubek Township, Wood County, WV with his wife Teresa (21). His first four children, Roman, Josie, Nancy Josephine (Nan), and John R. Stehle were born in Wood County between 1871 and 1875. Roman and Josie each lived only a few hours. The family moved to Marietta, Washington County, Ohio between 1875 and 1879. The 1880 Ohio Census lists Reinhard (39) - dealer in shoes, Teresa (31), Nancy (9), John (5) and Francis (1) living at 351 Wooster Street.

12 January 2019

Reinhart Stehle's Farm Becomes Gold Star Park

View of Harmar Hill from the 1870s

Reinhard Stehle (Born:1841, Binsdorf, Germany - Immigrated 1866 - Died: 1913, Marietta, Ohio)

Reinhart Stehle bought land on top of Harmar Hill, then known as Fairview Heights, from Douglas Putnam around 1885. Reinhart said that he'd been trough one flood (1884) and he wasn't going through another - according to his grandson, Max Saik. He was a part-owner and cobbler at Fischer & Stehle Shoes on Front Street"On the Island" and his family lived in the 300 block of Scammel Street at that time.

Reinhart built his house on the hill where tennis court #1 now stands and worked at becoming a farmer. He raised and sold bees and bee frames, sold milk and cream to local firms, raised registered cows, and farmed the land. He had the land surveyed in 1889 and sold peripheral lots on Lancaster Street and Fairview Lane to help fund his enterprises and care for his family.

Reinhard's Registered Cows. (About 1913)

I believe the water tank now (2019) in the park would appear in the
background at the crest of the hill

Below: Reinhard and his youngest son, Lawrence Stehle, by the barn, with Shep.
The barn was very close to the house, just below where tennis court #1 now stands.

After Reinhart's accidental death in 1913, his son, Joseph K. Stehle Sr., saw to it that the farm continued as a single entity as long as he lived. Corn one year, straw the next.

Below: Jim Arnold leaving to harvest corn (about 1955). Barn and house visible in the background.

Reinhart's remaining descendants decided to sell the farm following J.K Stehle Sr.'s death in 1962. The city of Marietta bought the farm and created Lookout Park. A community building, two tennis courts, and a small playground were soon added to the park. The park remained much the same for over 50 years.

On November 17, 2017, Marietta's City Council renamed the park Gold Star Park. It is named to honor any relative who has sacrificed a loved one during service in any of the armed forces of the United States.