Herbert Lee Stillman, M. D., was born on a farm on Chase Hill, town of Hopkinton Rhode Island, March 11, 1846, eighth of ten children of Ephraim and Pamela (Potter) Stillman. This farm was owned by grandfather's father before him and was occupied after him by his unmarried daughters. After my aunts died, it was sold out of the family. The house, which must be about 200 years old, has been admired for its setting and architectural features, especially the chimney and balustrade in the stair hall.

This family valued education; of the eight children who grew up, five entered learned professions. Their group picture, taken in middle life, appears above. Aunt Frances was teacher of voice and piano at Salem (West Virginia) College, graduate of New England Conservatory of Music. Aunt Mary Grace was a teacher, graduate of Alfred University. Aunt Phoebe was a teacher, graduate of Oswego (New York) College. Uncle William was a farmer. Uncle Horace was a clergyman, graduate of Alfred University and Theological Seminary. Aunt Eunice married John Conger and lived at Peninsula, Ohio. Herbert was a physician, graduate of Western Reserve University. Jennie, the youngest, remained at home with her parents and studied voice (part time) at New England Conservatory of Music.

After father graduated from Hopkinton Academy, he worked two years before he went to the University of Michigan Medical School. After one year there, he transferred to Western Reserve, near the home of his married sister. Among my valued possessions are his diploma from Western Reserve, conferring M.D. degree, nd a certificate showing he completed also the full course in Operative Surgery, both dated February 4, 1869. He was not quite 23. He did some post graduate study at Long Island Hospital College and attended some lectures at Harvard. He practiced mostly in southern Rhode Island. Twice he moved his family west for brief periods (Hot Springs, Arkansas, and North Loup, Nebraska) because of his poor health, especially asthma. Although they were well educated for their time, he always preferred country practice, and his brother took small country churches. They liked to live where they had a cow and chickens, fruit and vegetable gardens, and were near their relatives.

My father was fifty years old when I was born and was still practising medicine, but also concerning himself with transportation problems. A few years later he gave up medical practice and devoted himself to inventions and promotion of them. He had the first patent on dual tired wheels for automobiles, trucks, and trailers, which I believe is the only invention of his which came into widespread use. In his last years, he was working on airplanes.

My recollections of him are of a scholarly Christian gentleman, always courteous in manner and correct in speech and dress. He instructed his children in religion, including morals and ethics; also health, safety, and first aid; literature and science. He sang a great deal and spoke of attending singing school in his youth. Among the songs I learned from him were "The Sword of Bunker Hill," songs of the Civil War;, folk songs such as "Nicodernus," "Old Dog Tray;," and a gospel song which I haven't seen in print, so have written what I recall of it. He also liked to recite poetry and often entertained us with works of Oliver Wendell Holmes, He never used alcohol nor tobacco and was an ardent Prohibitionist.
His parents died before I was born. I have the impression they were strict observers of the Seventh Day Baptist doctrine and raised their children so that they did not depart from it. As far as I know, the beliefs and habits of his brothers and sisters were similar to his. Plain living and high thinking was the rule in this family.

My father's first wife, Lydia Frances Wilcox, died, leaving two children. His second wife, my mother, had eight children.

The preceding was written by Hannah Amelia Stillman Bradfield in FAMILY HISTORY OF HANNAH STILLMAN (MRS. RICHARD) BRADFIELD dated November 1, 1963 - edited for this page

Arthur Wallace Stillman
Born: 22 Apr 1870
Place:
Died: Apr 1905
Place:
Married: Gertrude Phetteplace
Born: Aug 1870
Place:
Died:
Place:
Date Married: 2 Jul 1892

Grace May Stillman
Born: 16 Aug 1872
Place:
Died: Dec 1940
Place:
Married:1) William H.H. Chappell
Born: circa 1870
Place:
Died:
Place:
Date Married: 15 Jul 1890
Married:2) Edward Swanson
Born:
Place:
Died:
Place:
Date Married:

Lenore Estelle Stillman
Born: 5 Aug 1880
Place:
Died: 4 Jul 1970
Place: Westerly, RI

Fanny Esther Stillman
Born: 14 Sep 1882
Place: South Kingston, RI
Died: 14 Oct 1964
Place: Westerly, RI
Married: Doctor Frank Irvin Payne
Born: 15 July 1875
Place: Norwich, CT
Died: 2 Jan 1927
Place: Westerly, RI
Date Married: 23 Jun 1904

Lillian Winifred Stillman
Born: 19 Nov 1884
Place: North Kingston, RI
Died: 21 May 1965
Place: Westerly, RI
Married: William Edgar Morgan
Born: 1870
Place:
Died: 28 Aug 1927
Place: Westerly
Date Married: 23 Mar 1909

George Herbert Stillman
Born: 12 Jun 1887
Place:
Died: 30 Jul 1976
Place: Buckingham, PA
Married: Evelyn Marie Smith
Born: 8 Apr 1894
Place: New York, NY
Died: 2 Nov 1971
Place: Queens Village, NY
Date Married: 20 Oct 1915

Ralph Browning Stillman
Born: 15 Apr 1890
Place:
Died: 23 Aug 1904
Place:

David Lee Stillman
Born: 1 Jun 1893
Place:
Died: 11 Dec 1974
Place: Sarasota, FL

David Lee Stillman was a member of the RI Legislature and wrote the book "House by Jack"

Hannah Amelia Stillman PhD
Born: 21 Nov 1895
Place: Charlestown, RI
Died: 15 Mar 1986
Place: Everett, PA
Married: Richard Bradfield PhD
Born: 29 Apr 1896
Place: West Jefferson, OH
Died: May 1981
Place: Everett, PA
Date Married: 6 Aug 1926

Elisabeth Stillman
Born: 12 Dec 1897
Place:
Died: 4 May 1973
Place:
Married: Ralph B. Sternberg
Born: circa 1895
Place:
Died:
Place:
Date Married: circa 1920

FAMILY HISTORY OF HANNAH STILLMAN (MRS. RICHARD) BRADFIELD dated November 1, 1963 has been provided by William M. Morgan of Washington, USA
Additional information and pictures have been provided by David Maurice Bradfield