A biosketch of Ezra Stauffer reported [1]:
Ezra Nelson Stauffer, born near North Lawrence, Stark Co, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1878; was united in marriage Nov. 25, 1002, to Lydia Reed, who was born near Wakarusa, Harrison Twp, Elkhart Co, Ind, Sept. 30. 1882, daughter of Aaron and Magdalena (Snyder) Reed. My parents lived on a small home in the country from the time I was born until nine years of age, when they moved on a farm. From that time until I was 22 I worked on the farm with the exception of one year, which I worked in a coal mine, as we lived in the midst of the mining regions, known as the Massillon district. The last six years of this time I worked as a farm hand away from home. I attended school during the winter until twenty years of age, seven years of this time was spent in the graded schools. At the age of twenty-two, in November of 1900, I came with my parents to Indiana, and the following summer began painting, at which trade I have continued ever since, later taking up paper hanging and decorating, having in this time done much work for Elkhart County, having four large contracts of painting, and involving some over a year's time at the County Infirmary. At present I own a farm of 37½ acres of land, well improved, located six miles west of Goshen, at which place we live and which I farm in connection with painting and paper-hanging. During the winter of 1905-1906. my cousin, Roy A. Stauffer, of California and myself undertook to get up a history of the Stauffer family, but being such a great distance apart we dissolved partnership, and in the spring of 1907 I began in earnest and have kept at it until complete or nine years, but have been many times discouraged, and disappointed with the work. Address: Goshen, Elkhart Co, Ind, R. F. D. No. 4. Mennonites.
[1] Ezra Stauffer, Stauffer Genealogy of America (1917), 110-111, family 244, [FHLCatalog].