Information on the family
Peter
Peter Stuhr
Peter Stuhr was born 11 March 1828 at Barsbek, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was married twice, first to Catherine "Trin" Scheel 1833 - 1866, and second, to Trin's sister, Anna Julia Scheel.
Peter departed from Hamburg, Germany. He arrived in this country at the Port of New Orleans 30 October 1856 aboard the Washington. His final destination was Iowa. He joined a group of German's from Davenport, Iowa that made their way to what would become Hall county Nebraska in 1857. He built a cabin on the claim he made - property that would stay in the family for over 100 years. The family remained on the farm until 1887 when they moved into Grand Island in order for the children to attend public school there, but retained ownership of the farm, renting it out. He is the namesake of the house.
He died 18 March 1889 at Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.
Findagrave: Peter Stuhr
Anna
Anna Julia Scheel Stuhr
Anna Julia Scheel was born 14 May 1841 in Ropsdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Peter Stuhr went to Germany to bring her back in 1867 after his first wife, Anna's sister Catherine, had died. They arrived in New York 26 August 1867 aboard the Saxonia. They were married just five days later in Omaha, Nebraska on 31 August 1867. She was the mother of three children - Arthur, who was born 31 July 1868 and died at the age of 6 in April of 1875, Arthalie and Leo, both of whom died without children of their own.
She died 5 August 1916 at Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.
Findagrave: Anna Julia Scheel Stuhr
Arthalie
Arthalie Stuhr Benninghoven
Arthalie Stuhr Benninghoven, the only daughter of Peter and Anna, was born in Hall county, Nebraska 29 March 1875 on the original family homestead. She was married to Leo Benninghoven 14 March 1894 at Grand Island, Nebraska, but they later divorced.
Mrs. Benninghoven was very active in the Grand Island City Improvement Association during the time when the organization was instrumental in development of several parks in the city prior to the parks being taken over by the city government.
In later years, as a member of the Grand Island City Improvement Association, she had taken a leading part in managing the annual flower shows. She was an avid gardener at her home and often grew very rare varieties.
She died died 23 June 1946 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.
Findagrave: Arthalie Stuhr Benninghoven
Leo
Leo Byron Stuhr
Leo Byron Stuhr was born 17 March 1878 at Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. His family had relatives there and must have been on a visit at the time of his arrival. He was raised on the farm that his parents had built. In 1887 the family moved to Grand Island, and he attended school there, graduating from the high school in 1897. He went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a degree in chemistry.
He worked for the American Crystal Sugar Company in three states. He was elected as a member of the Nebraska House of Representatives, serving in 1917 and 1918. In 1918 he helped to organize the Nebraska Department of Agriculture when he became the state deputy of the Food, Drug, Dairy and Oil Commission. In 1930, he was appointed by President Hoover to the Federal Farm Board.
He had an active interest in history, helping to form the Hall County Historical Society, and serving as the president of the Descendants of Hall County Pioneers.
He married Mae Dahlstrom Meyer, widow of Ernest John Meyer, on 1 February 1955 at Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska.
In 1961 he offered both land and money to Hall County to build a museum. A fundraiser garnered more money, and a tax levy was put to a vote of the citizens and passed to fund the museum. He was elected as board chairman of the newly formed museum in May of 1961, but he would die just a few days after the first meeting. Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer was named in his honor.
He died 18 May 1961 at Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.
Findagrave: Leo Byron Stuhr
All Pictures are Property of the Stuhr Museum.