Individual Details
Baromeus "Romeo" Stuntebeck
(April 12, 1874 - November 24, 1929)
THE STORY OF BAROMEUS (ROMEO) MARY STUNTEBECK
Baromeus (known as Romeo) Mary Stuntebeck was born April 12, 1874 in Covington
Kenton County, Kentucky. He was the son of Charles H. and Maria Bernadina (Honkomp) Stuntebeck.
When he was age 15, Charles, along with his parents and several of his siblings, had immigrated from Steinfeld, Germany in 1854.
In 1878, when Romeo was 4 years old, his family moved to Doyle Twp., Marion County, Kansas, where they remained for 5 years. In 1884 the family again moved, this time to a farm in Millwood Twp, Stearns County, Minnesota. He grew up to be a tall and stout man with brown hair and blue eyes, a sturdy farm boy with an adventurous spirit.
At about age 20, he left the family home in Minnesota and traveled to San Antonio, Florida, where he worked for several years before joining the police force of nearby Tampa, Florida. The Charles Barthle family had left Stearns County around 1888 and moved to San Antonio, Florida; and it was here that Romeo met and wooed Mary Barthle.
On April 21, 1896, at age 22, he married Mary Gertrude Barthle in San Antonio, Florida.
Mary was born in Millwood Twp, Stearns County, Minnesota on January 24, 1879, the daughter of Charles and Mary (Ehlert) Barthle, who had immigrated from Alsace-Lorraine, France in 1861.
Romeo & Mary lived in St. Joseph, Pasco County, Florida during the early years of their marriage. Here their first two children, Richard and Hildegarde were born. About 1900, they moved to San Antonio, Florida for a short time where their third child, Romeo J., was born in 1902.
Pasco County is located just north of the Tampa area. Until the freeze of winter 1894-95 Pasco had an agrarian based economy, but the freeze all but ended the vibrant citrus and farming industry. Facing an uncertain economic future, hard rock phosphate was discovered and a new, highly prosperous phosphate boom was underway. Steam shovels replaced the hand pick and shovel. Cypress mills and turpentine stills sprang up throughout the county to tap into the plentiful giant cypress and southern pine forests for lumber and turpentine. Miners and loggers were sought from as far away as Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. The population soared and a large percentage of the newcomers were of African-American and Eastern European descent. This is about the time that Romeo left Minnesota and moved to Florida.
In 1904 Romeo and Mary left Florida and moved to a farm in Bluffton, Minnesota. Mary and Romeo had seven children: Richard, Hildegarde, Romeo J., Bruno, Marie, Barbara and Ellen.
Romeo purchased a farm in Bluffton, Minnesota and also served as the proprietor of the local saloon, which he purchased in 1905. Excerpts from the local newspaper, The Wadena Pioneer-Journal, are as follows:
September 15, 1905 The Bluffton saloon was robbed Tuesday night. Ten dollars in cash, a fine coat, some bottle beer and cigars, amounting in all to about $35 were taken. R. M. Stuntebeck, the proprietor, was in this city Wednesday and he thinks that he is hot on the track of the guilty parties. It is very evident that the parties who committed the theft were well acquainted with the place and Stuntebeck says those whom he suspects are well known both in Bluffton and Wadena, and he promises some startling developments...."
A year later the saloon was again robbed, resulting in the following news item:
October 4, 1906 "Saturday night robbers broke into the saloon of R. M. Stuntebeck at Bluffton and blew the safe, securing about $800. They made their escape and there is no clue. The robbers broke into the building by blowing off the door with nitroglycerine. Afterward they blew the safe open with the same explosive and made off with the cash... The people of Bluffton heard two explosions along about 3 oclock Sunday morning. They never suspected that a robbery was being committed and the noises were...(thought to be) a horse kicking in a barn..."
In 1908 Romeo was notified by Congressman Steenerson of his appointment as the new postmaster in Bluffton, a post he held for several years.
During the years that he lived in Bluffton, Romeo was a man of many trades. He was an auto mechanic, farmer, saloon keeper, supervised the local dance hall (part of the saloon business), became a licensed auctioneer, sold gasoline engines for use on local farms, and was part owner of the Bluffton Elevator (grain storage). He also had a hand in establishing the Bluffton State Bank.
In October of 1914, his elevator was destroyed by fire. According to newspaper reports, the insurance investigator tried to place the blame for the fire on Romeo, but failed to do so. The newspaper reported that Mr. Stuntebeck has been in business in this section of Minnesota for many years and has an excellent reputation for integrity and upright business dealings .He never before has had a fire and his net loss in the fire at Bluffton was somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. In the course of the negotiations the insurance adjuster tried to compromise on 75 percent (of the amount) called for in the policies, later raising his offer to 90 percent..."
In December 1914, when the Model T had been on the market for only six years, Romeo rented space at Calkins Garage in Wadena, and became an agent for the Ford Motor Company, selling and repairing cars
Three years earlier, in 1911, C. W. Miller and Frank Calkins acquired the Ford agency and built the original garage, which retained much of its original appearance until it was demolished in 1964. In 1914, Romeo rented 4 stalls and a small office inside this building, and a year later moved to the location at the rear of the First National Bank Building, which is across the street from where the Kochs Meat Market and other businesses now stand (in 1964). In the meantime, Miller and Calkins sold out to Herron and Gould Dodge Agency, and Romeo bought out Herron and Gould. Automobiles were still a comparatively new commodity. All this took place during World War I and the Stuntebecks prospered. Rich (Stuntebeck) bought out his fathers interests in 1919 and continued the business. (Refer to Richard A. Stuntebeck Story on page ___).
When Romeo acquired the Ford Agency, he also acquired the distributorships for Chevrolet and Cadillac. He quickly became known by the nickname, Henry (for Henry Ford). He was a very successful salesman, and in the first year of doing business, he sold 84 Fords, 22 Chevrolets and 2 Cadillacs, along with operating his repair shop and parts division. At the beginning of his third year in business, Romeo bought out the Herron-Gould Dodge Dealership and acquired their garage for his expanding business. He now sold Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Dodge cars. `````
Mary Barthle Stuntebeck was a hard-working and conscientious mother. She was active in the Catholic Church, and when she moved to Wadena in 1915, became a member of St. Anns Church, where she was a member of the Christian Mothers, and continued raising her children. She was a respected citizen of the community.
Around 1919, Romeo and Mary were divorced. Romeo then married Wilhelmina K. "Minnie" Giefer-Menten, a young woman of 22 years, and moved to Des Moines, Iowa. The 1920 U.S. Census lists two children, Helen (from Minnie's first marriage) and Sabella. He was proprietor of a movie theater.
In 1919, his son, Richard, was 21 years old and carried on with the Stuntebeck Ford Garage, developing it into a very successful business. It remained in the family through his son Kenneth, until Ken died in 2003, at which time the dealership was sold.
A few years later (early 1920s) Romeo moved to Texas. In 1929 he died at the age of 55 years, 7 months and 12 days, in San Benito, Cameron County, Texas. Minnie was then 33 years old and went on to remarry three more times. She died July 3, 1988 in North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina.
Mary G. Barthle-Stuntebeck died on May 26, 1948 at Wesley Hospital in Wadena, Minnesota. She was 69 years, 4 months and 4 days of age. The cause of her death was progressive bulbar palsy which she had for 3 years. After a funeral mass at St. Anns Catholic Church, she was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Wadena.
Baromeus (known as Romeo) Mary Stuntebeck was born April 12, 1874 in Covington
Kenton County, Kentucky. He was the son of Charles H. and Maria Bernadina (Honkomp) Stuntebeck.
When he was age 15, Charles, along with his parents and several of his siblings, had immigrated from Steinfeld, Germany in 1854.
In 1878, when Romeo was 4 years old, his family moved to Doyle Twp., Marion County, Kansas, where they remained for 5 years. In 1884 the family again moved, this time to a farm in Millwood Twp, Stearns County, Minnesota. He grew up to be a tall and stout man with brown hair and blue eyes, a sturdy farm boy with an adventurous spirit.
At about age 20, he left the family home in Minnesota and traveled to San Antonio, Florida, where he worked for several years before joining the police force of nearby Tampa, Florida. The Charles Barthle family had left Stearns County around 1888 and moved to San Antonio, Florida; and it was here that Romeo met and wooed Mary Barthle.
On April 21, 1896, at age 22, he married Mary Gertrude Barthle in San Antonio, Florida.
Mary was born in Millwood Twp, Stearns County, Minnesota on January 24, 1879, the daughter of Charles and Mary (Ehlert) Barthle, who had immigrated from Alsace-Lorraine, France in 1861.
Romeo & Mary lived in St. Joseph, Pasco County, Florida during the early years of their marriage. Here their first two children, Richard and Hildegarde were born. About 1900, they moved to San Antonio, Florida for a short time where their third child, Romeo J., was born in 1902.
Pasco County is located just north of the Tampa area. Until the freeze of winter 1894-95 Pasco had an agrarian based economy, but the freeze all but ended the vibrant citrus and farming industry. Facing an uncertain economic future, hard rock phosphate was discovered and a new, highly prosperous phosphate boom was underway. Steam shovels replaced the hand pick and shovel. Cypress mills and turpentine stills sprang up throughout the county to tap into the plentiful giant cypress and southern pine forests for lumber and turpentine. Miners and loggers were sought from as far away as Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. The population soared and a large percentage of the newcomers were of African-American and Eastern European descent. This is about the time that Romeo left Minnesota and moved to Florida.
In 1904 Romeo and Mary left Florida and moved to a farm in Bluffton, Minnesota. Mary and Romeo had seven children: Richard, Hildegarde, Romeo J., Bruno, Marie, Barbara and Ellen.
Romeo purchased a farm in Bluffton, Minnesota and also served as the proprietor of the local saloon, which he purchased in 1905. Excerpts from the local newspaper, The Wadena Pioneer-Journal, are as follows:
September 15, 1905 The Bluffton saloon was robbed Tuesday night. Ten dollars in cash, a fine coat, some bottle beer and cigars, amounting in all to about $35 were taken. R. M. Stuntebeck, the proprietor, was in this city Wednesday and he thinks that he is hot on the track of the guilty parties. It is very evident that the parties who committed the theft were well acquainted with the place and Stuntebeck says those whom he suspects are well known both in Bluffton and Wadena, and he promises some startling developments...."
A year later the saloon was again robbed, resulting in the following news item:
October 4, 1906 "Saturday night robbers broke into the saloon of R. M. Stuntebeck at Bluffton and blew the safe, securing about $800. They made their escape and there is no clue. The robbers broke into the building by blowing off the door with nitroglycerine. Afterward they blew the safe open with the same explosive and made off with the cash... The people of Bluffton heard two explosions along about 3 oclock Sunday morning. They never suspected that a robbery was being committed and the noises were...(thought to be) a horse kicking in a barn..."
In 1908 Romeo was notified by Congressman Steenerson of his appointment as the new postmaster in Bluffton, a post he held for several years.
During the years that he lived in Bluffton, Romeo was a man of many trades. He was an auto mechanic, farmer, saloon keeper, supervised the local dance hall (part of the saloon business), became a licensed auctioneer, sold gasoline engines for use on local farms, and was part owner of the Bluffton Elevator (grain storage). He also had a hand in establishing the Bluffton State Bank.
In October of 1914, his elevator was destroyed by fire. According to newspaper reports, the insurance investigator tried to place the blame for the fire on Romeo, but failed to do so. The newspaper reported that Mr. Stuntebeck has been in business in this section of Minnesota for many years and has an excellent reputation for integrity and upright business dealings .He never before has had a fire and his net loss in the fire at Bluffton was somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. In the course of the negotiations the insurance adjuster tried to compromise on 75 percent (of the amount) called for in the policies, later raising his offer to 90 percent..."
In December 1914, when the Model T had been on the market for only six years, Romeo rented space at Calkins Garage in Wadena, and became an agent for the Ford Motor Company, selling and repairing cars
Three years earlier, in 1911, C. W. Miller and Frank Calkins acquired the Ford agency and built the original garage, which retained much of its original appearance until it was demolished in 1964. In 1914, Romeo rented 4 stalls and a small office inside this building, and a year later moved to the location at the rear of the First National Bank Building, which is across the street from where the Kochs Meat Market and other businesses now stand (in 1964). In the meantime, Miller and Calkins sold out to Herron and Gould Dodge Agency, and Romeo bought out Herron and Gould. Automobiles were still a comparatively new commodity. All this took place during World War I and the Stuntebecks prospered. Rich (Stuntebeck) bought out his fathers interests in 1919 and continued the business. (Refer to Richard A. Stuntebeck Story on page ___).
When Romeo acquired the Ford Agency, he also acquired the distributorships for Chevrolet and Cadillac. He quickly became known by the nickname, Henry (for Henry Ford). He was a very successful salesman, and in the first year of doing business, he sold 84 Fords, 22 Chevrolets and 2 Cadillacs, along with operating his repair shop and parts division. At the beginning of his third year in business, Romeo bought out the Herron-Gould Dodge Dealership and acquired their garage for his expanding business. He now sold Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Dodge cars. `````
Mary Barthle Stuntebeck was a hard-working and conscientious mother. She was active in the Catholic Church, and when she moved to Wadena in 1915, became a member of St. Anns Church, where she was a member of the Christian Mothers, and continued raising her children. She was a respected citizen of the community.
Around 1919, Romeo and Mary were divorced. Romeo then married Wilhelmina K. "Minnie" Giefer-Menten, a young woman of 22 years, and moved to Des Moines, Iowa. The 1920 U.S. Census lists two children, Helen (from Minnie's first marriage) and Sabella. He was proprietor of a movie theater.
In 1919, his son, Richard, was 21 years old and carried on with the Stuntebeck Ford Garage, developing it into a very successful business. It remained in the family through his son Kenneth, until Ken died in 2003, at which time the dealership was sold.
A few years later (early 1920s) Romeo moved to Texas. In 1929 he died at the age of 55 years, 7 months and 12 days, in San Benito, Cameron County, Texas. Minnie was then 33 years old and went on to remarry three more times. She died July 3, 1988 in North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina.
Mary G. Barthle-Stuntebeck died on May 26, 1948 at Wesley Hospital in Wadena, Minnesota. She was 69 years, 4 months and 4 days of age. The cause of her death was progressive bulbar palsy which she had for 3 years. After a funeral mass at St. Anns Catholic Church, she was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Wadena.
Events
| Birth | April 12, 1874 | Covington, Kenton Co., KY | |||
| Marriage | April 21, 1896 | San Antonio, Pasco Co., FL - Mary Gertrude Barthle | |||
| Marriage | Abt, 1919 | Wilhelmina K. Giefer-Menten | |||
| Death | November 24, 1929 | San Benito, Cameron Co., TX |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Gertrude Barthle (1879 - 1948) |
| Child | Richard Albert Stuntebeck (1898 - 1985) |
| Child | Hildegard Stuntebeck (1900 - 1985) |
| Child | Romeo Joseph Stuntebeck (1902 - 1975) |
| Child | Bruno Edward Stuntebeck (1904 - 1981) |
| Child | Marie Bernadine Stuntebeck (1906 - 2002) |
| Child | Barbara Veronica Stuntebeck (1907 - 2000) |
| Child | Ellen Philomena Stuntebeck (1909 - 2001) |
| Spouse | Wilhelmina K. Giefer-Menten (1897 - 1988) |
| Child | Sabella Stuntebeck |
| Father | Charles Stuntebeck Sr. (1839 - 1907) |
| Mother | Maria Bernadina Honkomp (1845 - ) |
| Sibling | Charles M. Stuntebeck Jr. (1876 - 1940) |