Henry Sturm Sr. was born in Virginia (Colony) in 1757. His people would have been farmers, perhaps having immigrated a few years before Henry was born. In Undaunted Courage Stephen E. Ambrose has a handy paragraph concerning the difference between English and German farmers in eighteenth-century Virginia:

"German immigrants, farming in the Shenandoah Valley, had a much different relationship with the land from that of the planters of English stock. The Germans had not received huge grants of land from the English king or the royal governor; they had bought their land, in relatively small holdings. Coming from a country with a tradition of keeping the farm in the same family for generations, even centuries, they were in it for the long haul, not for quick profit. They cleared their fields of all trees and stumps, plowed deep to arrest erosion, housed their cattle in great barns, used manure as fertilizer, and practiced a precise scheme of crop rotating. They worked with their own hands, and their help came from their sons and relatives. No overseer, indentured servant or slave--men with little interest in the precious undertaking of making a family farm, was allowed near their fields." (Ambrose p. 33, footnote to John Hammond Moore, Albemarle: Jefferson's County, 1727-1926 Univ. Press of Virginia, 1976.)

Notes in the History of Shelby County, Ohio report that "The first family who attempted to establish a home in the dense forest of Green Township were Henry Sturm and family," (p. 178). At that time, Henry was 57 and Elizabeth would have been 47. Henry soon became central to the early settlement, served as Justice of the Peace in 1820, having been a trustee of the town. There is an anecdote of the travails of one Allen S. Forsyth and his quest to find his real father. Having been living as a runaway child, "He stopped at a house, and asked to stay over night. The man asked him his name, and where he was going. He told him his name, and that he was goijng to find his father in Sidney. The man told him hsi father did not live in Sidney, but had moved on to a farm. this man was Henry Sturm, of Green Township. He took the boy in, kept him all night, and the next day (as it was rainy). The following day Mr. Sturm took his horse, and told the boy he would go with him, as there was no rroad and was woods all the way. Mr. Sturm went with the boy to within sight of home, when he left him." The concentration of Sturms in Ohio has left a mark, aside from the numberous descendants. There is a Sturms Creek, and even a Sturm Cemetery near the land of Henry and his descendants.

Henry Sturm Jr. was born in Mason Co., Kentucky in 1791, while his father and Henry Weaver were working land there. Kentucky became the fifteenth state in the Union June 1, 1792. They moved shortly after 1796, back to Shelby County, Ohio. Henry married Catherine Dalrymple in 1814 when he was twenty three and she was twenty. She was born in South Carolina Feb. 5, 1795, daughter of George Dalrymple and Ann Miller. Henry Jr. was appointed Constable of Perry Township in Shelby County, Ohio on April 6, 1818 by the trustees of the town, a group which included his father, Henry Sr. The pair had eleven children: George Dalrymple Sturm (1816); Peter Sturm (1817); Rebecca Sturm (1818); William Henry Sturm (who died, killed in battle in 1862) soon after moving to Shelby, Co. Ohio in 1822 where father Henry and mother had lived since 1807); Isaac Sturm (1824); Elizabeth Sturm (1827); Abner J. Sturm (1830); Catherine Sturm (1832) the same year grandfather Henry Sturm died; Nancy Sturm (1834); Margaret J. Sturm (1838, Ohio); and finally Rachel Sturm born (1841) in Stark Co. Illinois where the family had moved around 1836, Henry at the age of 45, Catherine 41. The move of the Sturms to Illinois went in phases, and since Matthias Nicholas and Henry all fought in the war of 1812, they were eligible for federal land in Stark County, Ill. The federal land records show several purchases of land by Henry (2); his son Isaac, John T (Ephraim's son); Joseph (Nicholas' son); Lervis (Lewis?, Nicholas' son); Mathias and Matthias (5) and Nicholas (6) as well as Nicholas II (1) who bought a school in 1836. The election there in August of 1834 saw the name of one Lewis Sturm(s) added to this lists, since he seems to be the first of the Sturm men to settle in Stark County, Illinois. He was about twenty two years old, and he is probably responsible for bringning the rest of the family. By by the county election in August of 1836, of the fifty four votes polled, thirty one were new, including the names of Henry Sturm(s), Mathias Sturm(s) and Henry Seeley among others. Lewis Sturm is assumed to be Henry's nephew, son of Nicholas. The Stark County Illinois census for 1850 lists Henry Sturm, age 58, a farmer, his wife Catharine, age 55, daughter Nancy, 16, Margaret age 12, Rachel age 9 and Lydia P. Phenix age six. His son George D. Sturm is also listed with his family, as well as brother Matthias Sturm Sr. (age 65), Henry Seeley Sturm, age 41, Samuel Sturm (37) Peter, Simon, Abner, and Matthias Sturm Jr. are also listed as heads of families. In Stark County and its Pioneers the Sturms are remembered, many had for a time recorded their last name with an 's':

"The Sturms family had some of them reached Seele's Point in 1834 and detachments continued to arrive from time to time, making claims near the south part of Osceola Grove, till they had a settlement of their own. They were regular frontier's men, every one "mighty hunters:" of tall stature, combining strength and activity in an unusual degree. Wearing an Indian garb of fringed bucksins, their feet encased in mocasins, with bowie knife at the belt and rifle on the shoulder; no wonder many a new comer started from them in affright, supposing they had encountered genuine "scalpers." But these men were by no means as savage as they seemed, but had hearts to which friend or stranger never appealed in vain. Very many old settlers yet remember they got their first slice of meat from a Sturm's pork barrel, their first meal of corn or potatoes from their fields. An as early as 1836 they had horses, cows, and hogs to sell, and in this way aided others not so well provided." (p. 32-33).

George was born in Shelby Co, Ohio Sept. 11, 1816 and married Francis Marion Jordan (b. New York or Vermont, Feb. 9, 1828) in 1844 in Stark County, Illinois. (There is a record of a land purchase on April 8, 1850 in Stark, Co. Illinois.) Their first child Henry E. Sturm was born in Black Hawk Co., Iowa in 1845. They then moved to Missouri where their second child was born, Eldridge George Sturm in 1848. The family returned to Stark Co, Illinois where he was listed as a resident in October 1850, while his sister Catherine lived with them. Born that year was Alonza S. (1850). In the 1850 Stark County census the household listing for George D. Sturm, age 28, a farmer, includes Marion age 21, Henry E age 5, Elbridge G age 2 and Catharine Sturm age 18.George and his son Isaac both record federal land purchases on April 8, 1850. They then moved back to Iowa (Ringgold Co.) where son Abner DeForest Sturm was born (Jan. 22, 1853); Elemial Harvey "Lem" Sturm was born in 1857; Octava Minerva Sturm (Mar., 5, 1861 Vandalia, IA). William Rufus Sturm was born in Maines Grove, Iowa (May 26, 1864). George and Francis moved after that to Osage Co., Kansas where they were recorded in the 1870 census, then to Republic Co., KS for the 1875 census and finally to Long Island, Phillips Co., Kansas in 1893 where George dies.

Oather Amos Sturm was born in Concordia, Kansas in 1871. He married Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Turner on Jan. 15, 1891. Oather was 21 years old, Lizzie was 32. Witnesses to the wedding ceremony were Luther Sturm and Emma Sturm, both were residents of Finchford, IA. Sarah Elizabeth (1857-1940) was a school teacher originally from Wisconsin, Oather was her student. She is listed in the 1880 census as a teacher and boarder, 18 yrs. old in Union Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa. She was eleven years older than Oather was (Lloyd Sturm). Their first child, Max was born in 1891 while they lived in Finchford, IA followed by Porter Leroy, Irvin Noble, and Kenneth who was born in nearby Shell Rock, IA (Woodbury County). Oather owned and operated a butchershop in Shellrock IA, near Finchford with Ed Ralya (AAB). Shortly after 1900, the family moved to Hillsboro, N.D. where the twins (Cle and Lee) were born. Hillsboro was settled after 1869 by German settlers who found it after its discovery by a survey team, then by Norwegians who came at the recommendation of a native American guide. In Hillsboro, Oather farmed, and at one point owned a pool hall (FDS says combination fruit stand and pool hall, LS says beer and pool hall). AAB reports that Max helped farm the Sturm land as a young boy and has a story about a ruined crop due to a hailstorm. The Sturms could not have stayed in Hillsboro long, since Duane reports that Oather and Max fought the big fire near Libby, MT in 1910. The twins' school record shows them to have moved during the summer of 1909 from Hillsboro to Kalispell, MT. After North Dakota, they moved to Valley View Montana (near Polson) where they homesteaded. CCL reports Oather, Lizzie and three sons (Cleon, Leland [both 18], and Ken age 23) in the 1920 census in Tacoma WA. Both Ken and Oather worked for public transportation in Tacoma.

At one point they moved to Nisqually WA where Oather once again owned a butcher shop (and kept cattle on an island in the river--FDS), later to return to Montana--Kalispell (where he built a house) then to Polson. Oather was the Sheriff (or night watchman) at the Polson Dam while it was under construction, later moving in with Cle in Polson. LS reports that Lizzie had a stroke in her 60's which left her without the use of one leg an arm, but she managed by using a high stool around. FDS lived with Oather and Lizzie in Polson MT for a year. LS reports Oather to be a "very big" man, about 6-3 or 4 and about 300 lbs. AAB calls him "little guy" in gest. LS reports that Oather sang some German songs, but would only smile when asked what they meant. Lizzie's brother Henry who also homesteaded in Valley View. (Uncle Henry Turner to both FDS and LS). Henry's son Alvin (never married) had several original paintings of Bill Russell. Alvin, Henry, and Henry's wife were buried on their ranch. HS remembers Oather in Libby in the 40's. Oather died in 1946 visiting son Cle in Spokane, WA. Lizzie died in Polson, MT in 1941.

Note: F. Duane Sturm lived with Oather and Lizzie for a year or year and a half (1932-3), in Polson. (A junior in high school. (He graduated in 1934). He describes her as "small, very English. "Could never understand a joke. Easy going, grandpa could do no wrong. She was a teacher, born in Wisconsin."

Job Garner was born in Tennessee on April 8, 1795. His father Henry Garner and wife Nancy lived in North Carolina until just before Job was born, when they moved to Tennessee with at least three children (Enoch, Vincent and Elizabeth). Born after Job in Tennessee was Nancy and James.) Some of the Garner clan moved to Wayne Co. Indiana where all of Nancy Garner and Issac Adamson's children were born. Job had moved to Clinton County, Ohio, about 1811, where he fought in the war of 1812 (until March 4, 1814) and where he eventually married Rebecca Jones (Sept. 26, 1815). Five of their children were born in Clinton Co, Ohio: John (1816); Henry (1818); Eleanore "Linny" (1821); Samuel (1823). Jobe's father died probably in 1819. The family moved to Wayne Co. Indiana in 1825, where Nancy was born (1826)and on Feb. 8,1828 son Mathias was born, followed by Sarah (1830); James (1835), Allen (1837) and finally Margaret "Mag" (1839), although James, Allen and Margaret were born in Delaware Co rather than Wayne, Co. In 1834 Jobe bought land in Delaware Co. Indiana, near his brother Enoch, both known to be the earliest settlers there.

Samuel Garner (1823-1903) married Charity Moon (d. 1911), daughter of Richard Moon and Sarah Hockett in Howard County, Indiana on June 28, 1845. Moon is probably one of the variant spellings of the German Mohen or Moen. At the time of his marriage he was 21. The family moved, with Jobe Garner, to a farm near Waverly Junction, Iowa then in about 1871 moved to just west of Finchford, Iowa. Apparently, a large group moved to that section of Iowa and spent the first winter in what is now known as Maynes Grove. AAB reports that the group came with teams of horses and covered wagons, with his father, the patriarch of the family, Job Garner and his wife Rebecca Jones. Samuel and Charity's first four children (Winnie, Amos, Thomas and James Mathias were all born in Howard Co. Indiana. After the birth of James Mathias Garner (March, 1853) they moved to Iowa. Isaac was born in January of 1855 in Hampton, Franklin Co. Iowa as were Mary Ellen and Justice ("Jet" b. 1859). Isaac is reported by some to be the first "white" child born in this county. Their last child, Lucinda Jane was born in December of 1864, during the Civil War, in Stringtown, IA. LB reports that Sam Garner was a shoemaker and that he owned 80 acres in IA. Sam Garner was 80 when he died, and he is buried in Finchford, Iowa. Here is an account from 1886 (thanks to Linda Bowser):

"Samuel Garner was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 27, 1823 and when a child his parents moved to Indiana where he was reared to manhood in Delaware County. When he was nineteen years old his parents removed to Howard County, Indiana and in 1853 he came with them to Franklin County, Iowa. The parents a few years later removed to Missouri, but subsequently returned to Iowa, where the father died in Bremer County, the mother dying at Shell Rock, Butler County, this state. Samuel commenced life for himself in Howard County, working at the shoemakers trade which he had previously learned. He has made farming his principal avocation through life, his first purchase of land being eighty acres which he obtained from the government. He worked at his trade day and night till he had his land paid for, when he commenced to improve his land on which he built a log house.

He was married in Howard County in June 1845, to Charity Moon, her parents Richard and Sarah (Hockett) Moon dying when she was very young. Her father was a native of Tennessee, but was reared and married in Clinton County, Ohio, where Mrs. Garner was born December 22, 1829, her mother being a native of South Carolina. Her parents finally settled in Howard County, Indiana, where they lived till their death. To Mr and Mrs. Garner have been born eight children- Winnie married Henry Sturm of Finchford, Black Hawk County. Amos married Esther Sevell and is living in Waverly, Bremer County: Thomas married Mary A. Gonis and is living in Mills County, Iowa: James M. married Phila Foster, living in Finchford: Isaac F., at home: Mary E. wife of Enoch Boyd, of Finchford: Justus M. married Rachel Sharp and is living in Finchford and Lucy J., wife of William J. Ballentine, of Union township.

Samuel Garner was born in the same house as his father and is of English descent. His grandfather, John Jones, immigrated to New York from England in an early day and was a Quartermaster in the Revolutionary War. Samuel Garner was a son of Job Garner and a grandson of Henry Garner. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the Christian church. He is now engaged in farming in Union township, Black Hawk County, where he is the owner of 130 acres of land on sections 8 and 9."

The previous is from the History of Black Hawk County written in 1886.