CHARLES B. STILLMAN, M.D.

Doctor Charles B. Stillman, first physician, surgeon and druggist in Columbus, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1831. In 1834, he moved with his parents to Illinois. He received his early education in the schools there, and was graduated from the Iowa State University Medical School in 1856. He went to Omaha that year, remaining there until March of 1857, when he walked to Columbus through deep snow to engage in the practice of medicine.

For nine years after his arrival, he was the only physician in Platte County, and its vicinity. In 1866, he opened a drug store in Columbus which he operated successfully, having a large wholesale and retail trade.

He held the office of Registrar of Deeds of Platte County from 1858 to 1867. During his term, the offices of Registrar of Deeds and County Clerk were consolidated. Doctor Stillman held both offices until the end of the term. He was a contract surgeon of the United States Army for two years; served as Coroner and as Mayor of the City of Columbus.

In 1871, at Columbus, Doctor Charles B. Stillman married Celia L. Edwards and had three children: Charles L., Albert E., known here as "Bert," and Lela.

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The Platte Journal, August 23, 1871
MARRIED
STILLMAN-EDWARDS--On Tuesday evening, Aug. 16th, at Grace Church, by the Rev. H.C. Shaw, Dr. Charles B. Stillman, to Miss Celia Edwards.
The Doctor was one of the earliest settlers of this community and almost the last of the old stock of Bachelors who have braved, single-handed, comfortless and companionless the trials of frontier life; and it is with pride that we here announce that he has taken upon himself those responsibilities which it is the duty of all men to assume, and that he has entered upon that sphere of earthly existence which is generally believed to be productive of the highest human happiness or woe according as one's star of destiny is good or evil.
The wedding was intended to be made a quiet matter-of-fact affair, without any display or excitement, except that the marriage ceremony itself was to be public. Accordingly, the church was thrown open at eight o'clock, and the monotonous old bell was made to sound to a merrier measure than was ever heard from it before. In a few minutes the seats were all filled by spectators full of the impatience and expectancy peculiar to such occasions. After a few minutes, the attendants entered the church, and passed to their places, followed, after an unexpected delay, by the principals themselves.
Miss Josephine Bremer, who presided at the organ, played the Wedding March as they advanced up the aisle, Miss Edwards, leaning upon the arm of her father, and Dr. Stillman with Mrs. Edwards. In a moment and with the few words of the impressive, Episcopalian ceremony the matrimonial tie was made fast. We heard the responses of the bridal pair in low, but firm voices; no one could fail to notice that the Bride was beautiful and richly dressed, and that the Bridegroom was calm and dignified as is usual with him anywhere. Being unused to such a task as this we will attempt no further description of the ceremony, the decorations of the church and the appearance of the bridal party, but will dismiss them while Miss Bremer plays the last of that march and they pass out, and, with their attendants, repair to the residence of Mrs. Whaley. As was expected, the quiet social chat and supper with which the small party at Mrs. Whaley's intended to pass away the evening, was ere long disturbed by the inevitable charivari, which has been the dread of every newly-wedded pair since the first marriage was solemnized in this country. The Doctor had been taking his own time so comfortably, had been so slow that they had to "hoop it up" for him lively, when the time did come at last. The leader of that band deserves the choicest compliments for the precision with which he directed the music. Indeed all the members of the troupe exhibited unusual native talent for music (except the two who manipulated the horse fiddle--their forte was cow bells,) and no doubt their parents both on this side of the grave and in eternity, will ever mourn that they did not provide them better instruments and opportunities with which to immortalize themselves in "that line." It was somewhat annoying to the old folks sitting at the table, but a source of infinite amusement to the younger members of the company.
On Thursday morning the Doctor and his wife started east on their tour. Our good wishes go with them and we are ready to welcome them, the romance of life being all over, to the sober realities of the world.

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Published in The Columbus Journal, April 18, 1894
DIED
STILLMAN--April 14th, after an illness of five days, of pneumonia, Dr. Charles B. Stillman. He was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1831; when three years old his parents moved to Illinois. In 1856 he graduated from the Iowa Medical University and came to Omaha, remaining until the following spring, when he came to Columbus, where he has since resided. He and George W. Hewett came from Omaha, on foot, through the snow, which is recorded as being three feet deep, in the month of March. In August the county was organized, and Dr. Stillman was chosen the first justice of the peace; he was the second county clerk, following F.G. Becher, and preceding H.J. Hudson; he was the first recorder; in the line of coroners he was the fifth; he was the first doctor and for nine years the only physician in this vicinity. He has been mayor of the city, and in many ways have the people shown their confidence in him as a citizen. In 1871 he was married to Miss Celia L. Edwards, who, with their children, Charles L., Albert E. and Lela, survive him. The funeral services are being held at the residence of the family as we go to press, 2 o'clock Tuesday, Rev. Joudon of the Episcopal church officiating. The Masonic fraternity (of whose four organizations here he was a member), furnish the escort to the cemetery. The good doctor's long life among us deserves a more extended account than our space affords this week. One of our first and best citizens has passed to the spirit world, leaving his best memento in the hearts of hosts of friends who knew him and loved him for his intelligent interest in the affairs of life.

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ALBERT E. STILLMAN

Albert E. "Bert" Stillman, son of Doctor Charles B. and Celia Edwards Stillman, prominent early residents of Columbus and Platte County, was born in Columbus, in March, 1879, and died August 21, 1947, in San Diego, California. His father figured largely in the early history of Platte County. After receiving his degree as Doctor of Medicine, from the University of Iowa, in 1856, he came west to Omaha, and in March, following the severe winter of 1856-1857, Doctor Stiliman and George E. Hewitt walked to Columbus, through snow three feet deep on the level.

Doctor Stillman was the first doctor and pharmacist in Platte County. He served as the first Registrar of Deeds, and was an early mayor of Columbus. His first office and apothecary shop was a small "lean-to" on the log cabin home of the Catholic priest. His next location was a log cabin built by Charles A. Speice. In 1866, Doctor Stiliman built an office and opened the first drug store in the county between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Avenues, on the south side of Eleventh Street. His son, Charles L. Stillman, took over this store in 1886, and later built the store now known as the Miessler Drug Store, at 2509 Thirteenth Street.

For several years, "Bert" Stiliman was associated with his brother, Charles, in the operation of the Stillman Drug Store. Charles H. Dack purchased the store from Charles Stiliman in 1903, and Bert remained with the Dack Drug Store for a short time, before going to California to make his home.

Due to ill health, he was unable to carry on his profession in California, and became a noted naturalist. He often contributed natural history to a children's magazine, edited by Grace Sorensen, in Omaha. He also organized boys groups for the study of nature. Bert Stillman was the originator of "Wild Flower Day," which is now observed by the State of California.

He attended the Columbus grammar schools, the Columbus High School, and was later graduated from the School of Pharmacy, in Omaha. On August 21, 1947, Bert Stillman died in San Diego, California. His father died in Columbus in 1894. His brother, Charles, bought a store in Lead, South Dakota, in 1903, and died there in 1912. His mother, Celia Edwards Stillman, died in San Diego, in 1912. His sister, Lela, the last of this Stillman family, lives in San Diego, California.

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