Charles Lee Stauffer was born December 31, 1883 in Pine Creek, Ogle County, Illinois. The son of George Washington Stauffer. In his younger years he helped on his fathers farm and taught school. The schoolhouse stood at the corners of Pines and Anterier Roads just outside of White Pines State Park. He married Goldie Mae Bovey, born May of 1886, on December 7, 1904. They were married in the home of the brides parents at Pennsylvania Corners in Ogle County, Illinois. Charles school teaching ended when he took up religious studies. He became a minister sometime after.
Federal Census records of 1910 show Charles, age 25 and Goldie age 23 living in Hancock Illinois. In 1916 at the age of 33 there is a record of his World War I draft registration in Ogle County. Federal Census records of 1930 show Charles, Goldie, Bernice 18 and Farnwell 8, living in Hoisington Kansas. When the depression of 1933 came, churches were no longer able to afford a ministers salary and Charles and his family returned to Dixon, Illinois. His brother-in-law, Dave Bovey, sold him the house he owned on Summit drive where Goldie’s parents were currently living. They lived together with them in the house. To supplement his income, Charles became a groundskeeper at the Chapel Hill Cemetery, and a truck farmer, selling his fresh vegetables to the local grocery stores. Goldie sold her pies and cakes.
He was at one time the minister of the Christian church in Dixon, but at some point he and the church parted ways. During the time he was preaching, he and his wife Goldie became good friends with the mother of Ronald Reagan. She was a devout member of his parish. He and Goldie visited Mrs. Reagan while she was living near her son in California.
Charles enjoyed cigars, and kept them in a round silver humidor by his favorite chair. Goldie was always busy washing clothes and hanging them on the line, canning, cleaning or baking. She made some of the best apple and cherry pies, and always kept a glass cookie jar of fig newtons on the kitchen table. This is Goldie driving the family car at that time.
Charles and Goldie had three children. Francis Bernice Stauffer was born February 9, 1912 in Dallas City, Illinois where Charles was preaching at the time. Elwin Ernst was born September 6, 1919 in Dixon, IL and passed the following day. Farnwell Elsmere Stauffer was born June 24, 1922 in Dixon, IL. While living in Hoisington, Kansas they took care of the son of a travelling salesman, because he was on the road trying to make a living. Pictured below bottom row left to right the young man that lived with them and Farnwell Stauffer. Second row left to right Francis Bernice Stauffer, Anna Bovey and Goldie Bovey Stauffer. Back row left to right Ralph Edward Cox, William Bovey and Charles Lee Stauffer. Francis Bernice married Ralph Cox in 1933 in Hoisington, Kansas.
Charles Lee died after a stroke on March 19, 1966 and was laid to rest at Chapel Hill. Goldie Mae passed away December 29, 1967 and was laid to rest beside her husband of 61 years.
Stauffer Family Genealogy 