Henry Stemen

     Henry was born on Friday, 26 May 1775 in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Christian Steman & Hannah Bear. Henry married Mary Beery, daughter of Nicholas Beery II and Mary Elizabeth Keller, circa 1795 at Rockingham County. Henry & Mary had children: John [10/25/1796-1/16/1861][m. Catharine Mericle, Isaac [11/28/1798-1/22/1884][m. Mary "Polly" Mericle], Elizabeth [6/10/1800], Nicholas [5/11/1802-12/28/1878][m. Catharine Beery], Mary [8/26/1806-6/12/1883][m. George Hunsaker, Henry S. [7/12/1808-9/12/1891][m. Rachel Beery], Magdalene [5/14/1810-1834][ m. Henry Sherrick], Susannah [10/15/181211/19/1892][m. Christian Miller], Barbara [4/14/1814-5/06/1903][m. Samuel Sherrick], Margaret [3/09/1818-11/02/1901][m. Henry Sherrick] & Samuel [9/21/1821-4/07/1898][m. Martha Magdalene Hilyard]. In 1803, the family moved from Virginia to their new home in the woods near Bremen, Ohio. The family were Mennonites. In 1809, Henry became a minster in the church and & 1820, he was ordained bishop, a position he held until he gave it up in the later years of his life. In 1841, Henry led a group of Mennonites to Allen County, Ohio [located on the west side of the state] and founded the Salem Monnonite settlement there in Sugar Creek Township. Henry's wife, Mary, died on 23 August 1844 in Elida, Sugar Creek Township leaving him a widower. Henry departed this life on Sunday, 19 August 1855 in Elida, Sugar Creek Township at age 80 years, 2 months and 24 days. He was buried there in the Salem Mennonite Cemetery.