Corsville Edmunds Stille (1876-1963)

                                                         Portrait from the Philadelphia Enquirer,June 3, 1909.

   The following write-up takes us to New Jersey and Corsville Edmunds Stille, one of the youngest men ever to serve in the New Jersey legislature. The son of William and Zella Stille, Corsville Edmunds Stille was born in Millville, New Jersey on December 15, 1876. His early life was spent on his family's farm in Tuckahoe in that state, and he attended the public schools of that town. At age fourteen he entered into work as a machinist at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, remaining here for a decade. 

   Following his leaving the Baldwin Locomotive Works Stille found employment as the manager for the American Bicycle Company, located in Washington, D.C. The 1908 Manual of the New Jersey Legislature notes that "after the failure of that firm" Stille became affiliated with a wholesale hardware business in New Jersey, but was forced to leave on account of ill health. This same work relates that Still purchased a farm in his native Tuckahoe and in the succeeding years became a "proficient and studious agriculturalist."

   In the early 1900s, Stille married Laura Morrison (born 1879), about whom little is known. As a member of a "staunch Republican family" with its roots in Cape May County, Corsville Stille became the Secretary of the County Republican Executive Committee at just twenty-two years of age. In November 1906 he was elected to his first term in the New Jersey State Assembly. Just twenty-nine years old at the time of his election, Stille would serve one more term in the state assembly in the legislative session of 1909-1910 and held seats on the following committees: Claims and Revolutionary Pensions, and Towns and Townships. 

   During his final term in the state assembly, Corsville Stille announced his candidacy for the New Jersey State Senate. Known as an "enthusiastic champion of inland waterways and good roads", Stille was unsuccessful in his candidacy but wasn't out of the political spotlight for long. In November 1916 he won another term in the state assembly as a representative from Cape May County, subsequently serving on the committees on Federal Relations and Stationery. Little else could be found on Stille's life following his last assembly term, excepting notice of his death, which occurred sometime in November 1963. A burial location for him is also unknown at this time.