"The founder of this family in America was Christian Stöckly, who landed at Philadelphia on September 1, 1736. He was from the Palatinate, and arrived on the ship Harle, of which Ralph Harle was Captain. This ship brought to America many people who had been expelled from Switzerland by religious persecution. Because of conditions, Mennonites fled from Bern, Zürich, and Schaffhausen about 1672 and took up their abode in Alsace until they emigrated to America. Family tradition tells us that our family ancestor was among this group of "Switzers."

Sailing lists of the time include the following: "Sept. 1, 1736 Palatines imported in the ship Harle, of London, Ralph Harle, Master, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. 156 men, 65 women, 167 boys and girls, in all 388." Among the names in this list is that of Christian Stöckley (Rupp – "30,000 Names of Immigrants," p. 102.)

That these people were desirable immigrants is clearly shown by a statement from Governor Thomas of Pennsylvania in 1738, who said, "This province has for some years been the asylum of the distressed Protestants of the Palatinate and other parts of Germany; and, I believe, it may be truthfully said, that the present flourishing condition of it is in a great measure owing to the industry of the people. It is not altogether the fertility of the soil but the number and industry of the people that makes a country flourish." (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, p. 315.)

"The will of Christian Steckle, of the township of Derry, County of Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsylvania," dated Oct. 3, 1767, mentions his wife, Catherine, and six children: John, Barbara, Christie, Mary, Abraham, and Catherine.

John Steckle or Stakely, as he Americanized the name, married Nancy Groves, daughter of Jacob Groves, of Pennsylvania. Their children were John and Christian. John, born in Lancaster County on Oct. 9, 1784, was the older.

After the death of her husband, John Stakely, the widow Nancy Groves Stakely married William Maulsbee, in Pennsylvania. About 1794 they moved to Tennessee.

John Stakely, Jr. married Mary Myres, and showed his respect for his step-father by naming his first son William Maulsbee Stakely. John and Mary Myers Stakely had in all ten children, eight sons and two daughters. During the latter part of their lives, John and Mary Stakely lived with their oldest son, William M. at Madisonville, TN. When [William] left for Alabama in 1863, his daughter, Martha Ann (who had married Judge E. T. Hall of Knoxville, TN) remained in Madisonville to care for her Grandparents. Mary Myers Stakely died Oct. 6, 1867. The following year, Martha Hall moved to her home in Knoxville, and John Stakely went to the home of his son Abraham where he lived till his death, Feb. 25, 1873.

William Maulsbee Stakely, oldest child of John and Mary Myres Stakely (and brother to John Chrisly Stakely,) was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1804. In this year Thomas Jefferson was elected for his second term as President of the United States, the third man to hold the office. William Maulsbee Stakely was to have the distinction of living during the presidencies of 23 men , whose combined terms extended from 1801 to 1901, the entire nineteenth century.

We do not know exactly when William changed the spelling of his names, but letters and documents show the spelling ‘Maulsby’ and ‘Stakely’ at some period of his early manhood. His childhood was spent in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Boys became men at an early age in those pioneer days, so we find William Maulsby Stakely sworn in as Assistant Postmaster at Knoxville, TN in 1821 during the administration of President Monroe. He was trained in the mercantile business by Nicholas Fain of Rogersville, with whom he later became partner.