Riverside
County
Biographies
HENRY KELLER STAHL
A lawyer of broad experience and
marked ability, Henry Keller Stahl is engaged in practice at Corona, with
offices in the city hall, and ranks with the leading representatives of his
profession in Riverside County. He was
born in Center County, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1851, a son of Adam Stahl,
who was also a native of the Keystone state and of Dutch descent. The father, a merchant and harnessmaker was
six feet, two inches in height and strongly resembled Abraham Lincoln. Adam Stahl attained the ripe age of
eighty-four years, passing away in 1922.
His life was governed by the teachings of the Methodist Episcopalian
Church, in which he long had membership.
The mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Sankey,
was also a member of an old family of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Adam Stahl were born nine
children, of whom two survive, Henry Keller and Charles Wesley, a prominent
member of the Los Angeles bar.
Henry K. Stahl acquired a high
school education in Pennsylvania, remaining in that state until 1871, when he
traveled westward to Newton, Iowa, and was later a student at the University of
Iowa, which awarded him the degree of LL. B. in 1876. Admitted to the bar at Iowa City in the same
year, he began his legal career in Newton, later removing to Des Moines, and
followed his profession in Iowa for thirteen years. In search of health he journeyed to San Jose,
California, in 1889 and for a period of five years was
a traveling freight agent and adjuster for the Union Pacific Railway
Company. In June, 1905, Mr. Stahl came
to Corona. His legal acumen was soon
recognized and his prestige continued to increase as he had opportunity to
demonstrate his powers as an attorney and counselor. Elected justice of the peace, he served
acceptably for eight years, and has since given his attention to his
remunerative practice.
In 1881 Mr. Stahl was married in
Iowa to Miss Eva Chapman, by whom he had four daughters: Edith, who became Mrs. George Green and at
her death left three children, Garner, Elton and Catherine; and Katherine,
Marguerite and Florence, who live in San Jose, where the last named has charge
of fifteen hundred school children. For
his second wife Mr. Stahl chose Mrs. Laura Ryon, to
whom he was in Santa Ana on the 19th of September, 1919.
Time has dealt kindly with Mr.
Stahl, whose physical and mental powers are so well
preserved that he is able to continue in active practice at the age of
eighty-one years, and he may well be proud of his vigorous constitution and
youthful appearance. With a nature that
could never be content with a life of indolence or inactivity, he has ever been
a tireless, conscientious worker and the exercise of effort has kept him
alert. He adheres to the religious faith
of his father and is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His fraternal affiliations are with Riverside
Lodge, No. 643, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he was
esteemed lecturing knight; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights
of Pythias. In 1932 he was made
president of the Riverside Pythian’s and district
deputy. He is a member of the Citrus
Belt Association, the Riverside County Bar Association and the California State
Bar Association. He is devoted to the
interests of his clients and has ever conformed his
practice to the highest ethical standards of the legal profession. Mrs. Stahl figures prominently in the
activities of the Daughters of Rebekah and district deputy, meeting every
requirement of that important office. A
woman of culture and refinement, she possesses those qualities which grace her
sex and has won the affection and high regard of all who have been brought
within the sphere of her influence.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 195-197, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S RIVERSIDE BIOGRAPIES