Harry Stahl, Former Mayor, Dies Monday
Harry H. Stahl, former mayor of Freeport, active in political and civic affiars for more than 50 years, died in a Freeport hospital about 1 p.m. Monday after a brief illness. He lived at 1567 W. Lincoln Blvd. He served as president and treasurer of Charles E. Meyer & Co., manufacturers of vinegar and importers and exporters of grocery specialties from 1907 through 1957.
He served as mayor of Freeport from 1915 through 1919 and was 2nd Ward alderman from 1911 through 1915. He had been a director and vice president of the Illinois Municipal League. He also served as a member of the Board of Supervisors. He was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1920.
Born in Lena
Harry Herbert Stahl was born in Lena Oct. 4, 1875, the son of John Luther and Sarah Elizabeth Gishwiller Stahl. He was educated in Lena Public Schools, graduated from Lena High School and took a special course in Brown's Business College in Freeport.
He moved to Freeport in 1895 and had resided here since that time.
His marriage to Miss Ethel May Cowell took place in Freeport Sept. 14, 1904. Survivors include his wife; one son, Luther Herbert, Peoria; three daughters, Mrs. A. H. (Dorothy May) Strunck, Wellesley, Mass; Mrs. E. N. (Helen Harriet) Braine, Birmingham, Mich.; and Miss Betty Lou, Rockford; and three grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. C. A. Pfeiffer, died previously.
Business Career
He entered the employ of the Charles E. Meyer Co. 1896, becoming secretary in 1903.
Stahl was one of the founders of the Pure Milk Assn. and served as secretary and director of the organization for many years. He served as secretary and director of the National Dairy and Food Bureau of Stephenson County for several terms.
He was a member of the advisory board of the King's Daughters Children's Home of Freeport and a director of Freeport Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. Also for 35 years he was a member of the board of directors of the YMCA. He was one of the founders of Deaconess Hospital, now known as Freeport Memorial Hospital, and chairman of the financial drive for the original building. He also was a member of the board of trustees of the hospital for 35 years.
For more than 60 years he had been a member of the Embury Methodist Church, a member of the church building committee and the board of trustees. He also was a member of Freeport Rotary Club.
Masonic Fraternity
He was affiliated with the Masonic Fraternity for many years. For more than 50 years he was a member of Excelsior Lodge, Freeport Chapter, Freeport Council, Freeport Commandery, a 50 year member of Tebala Temple, Rockford; member of Holy Trinity Conclave, Rockford; served as commander in chief of Freeport Consistory from 1940 to 1943; was a member of the building committee of Freeport Masonic Temple, Inc.; and served as a president and member of the board for a number of years.
He received the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Masonry Sept. 25, 1942.
Service will be in Embury Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Rev. Dr. Paul Bloomquist, pastor, will conduct the service. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call at the Walker Mortuary from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thusday and then at church.
Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, IL) 16 Nov 1960

Harry Stahl, Former Mayor, Dies Monday
Harry H. Stahl, former mayor of Freeport, active in political and civic affiars for more than 50 years, died in a Freeport hospital about 1 p.m. Monday after a brief illness. He lived at 1567 W. Lincoln Blvd. He served as president and treasurer of Charles E. Meyer & Co., manufacturers of vinegar and importers and exporters of grocery specialties from 1907 through 1957.
He served as mayor of Freeport from 1915 through 1919 and was 2nd Ward alderman from 1911 through 1915. He had been a director and vice president of the Illinois Municipal League. He also served as a member of the Board of Supervisors. He was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1920.
Born in Lena
Harry Herbert Stahl was born in Lena Oct. 4, 1875, the son of John Luther and Sarah Elizabeth Gishwiller Stahl. He was educated in Lena Public Schools, graduated from Lena High School and took a special course in Brown's Business College in Freeport.
He moved to Freeport in 1895 and had resided here since that time.
His marriage to Miss Ethel May Cowell took place in Freeport Sept. 14, 1904. Survivors include his wife; one son, Luther Herbert, Peoria; three daughters, Mrs. A. H. (Dorothy May) Strunck, Wellesley, Mass; Mrs. E. N. (Helen Harriet) Braine, Birmingham, Mich.; and Miss Betty Lou, Rockford; and three grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. C. A. Pfeiffer, died previously.
Business Career
He entered the employ of the Charles E. Meyer Co. 1896, becoming secretary in 1903.
Stahl was one of the founders of the Pure Milk Assn. and served as secretary and director of the organization for many years. He served as secretary and director of the National Dairy and Food Bureau of Stephenson County for several terms.
He was a member of the advisory board of the King's Daughters Children's Home of Freeport and a director of Freeport Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. Also for 35 years he was a member of the board of directors of the YMCA. He was one of the founders of Deaconess Hospital, now known as Freeport Memorial Hospital, and chairman of the financial drive for the original building. He also was a member of the board of trustees of the hospital for 35 years.
For more than 60 years he had been a member of the Embury Methodist Church, a member of the church building committee and the board of trustees. He also was a member of Freeport Rotary Club.
Masonic Fraternity
He was affiliated with the Masonic Fraternity for many years. For more than 50 years he was a member of Excelsior Lodge, Freeport Chapter, Freeport Council, Freeport Commandery, a 50 year member of Tebala Temple, Rockford; member of Holy Trinity Conclave, Rockford; served as commander in chief of Freeport Consistory from 1940 to 1943; was a member of the building committee of Freeport Masonic Temple, Inc.; and served as a president and member of the board for a number of years.
He received the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Masonry Sept. 25, 1942.
Service will be in Embury Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Rev. Dr. Paul Bloomquist, pastor, will conduct the service. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call at the Walker Mortuary from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thusday and then at church.
Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, IL) 16 Nov 1960