Today is the 170th anniversary of Amanda Stadden’s death. Her tombstone in the Dayton Cemetery gives her death date, Feb. 25, 1856, and her age, 39 years, 1 month,  4 days, which implies a birth date of January 21, 1817. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, the sixth child and third daughter of John Stadden and his wife, Elizabeth “Betsey” Green.

Her father moved the family to La Salle County by 1840, where he purchased land in Dayton township. Amanda never married; she lived with her parents in Dayton until she died.

John Stadden wrote his will May 17, 1853. Since all of his children except Amanda were already established, he left the residue of his estate, after paying his debts and funeral expenses, to his beloved wife, Elizabeth, for her support during her lifetime, with the proviso that at her death, it would all pass to his daughter, Amanda, absolutely. If Amanda should predecease his wife, then Elizabeth could dispose of any of his effects in whatever way she chose.

John died January 26, 1855 and his estate was probated in March. Unfortunately, Amanda did not outlive her mother, and in October 1857 Elizabeth sold the land to her son Richard.