George Stephan (Sept. 29 1823 - August 7 1898)
George Stephan(s) was born in Neu Friestadt, Baden, Strasburg, Germany. During the 1840's he was a soldier in the German (or Prussian) army for five years. The history of that period records that about 1830, the outbreak of revolution in France caused similar revolts in the Germanies and several small states obtained constitutions. The revolutionary outbreaks of 1848 had more significant consequences. Riots occurred in Berlin, several citizens were killed, and the Prussian king was forced to pay his respects to these martyrs in public and to promise a constitution. The promising liberal movement in Prussia and other German states failed, however. In Prussia, this was largely because the army proved loyal to the king and the aristocracy. Thousands of liberals fled the country, many of whom became citizens of the United States. In 1850 the Prussian king granted a Constitution, but it did little to reduce his powers.
In 1849 George Stephan, at age 26, came to the United States with his father, John George Stephan. His mother, Elizabeth Winter is thought to have died in Germany. With father and son were George's four brothers and one sister. Supposedly, one brother died shortly after arrival in the U.S.
George's brothers were John, Frederick, Karl, and Lewis. His sister was Elizabeth Hauss.
George married Rose Lint (also seen as Sink & Lent) in Dec 1852. Rose died in 1861. To George and Rose were born three girls, Rosa (1854 - 1916) Lise (Elizabeth) (1856 -1930) and Lene or Lena (1858 - 1943).
George Stephan's second marriage was to Mary A. (Emma) Kupp (b. Nov 6, 1839; d. Sept 29, 1872). This second marriage produced a daughter Minnie and son Marvitt. Marvitt died at birth about 1862.
On March 21, 1865, George Stephan enlisted in the Union Army at Lafayette, Indiana for one year of service. He was a Private in Company B, 156th Regiment, Indiana Infantry Volunteers. His service record showed that he was: age 41; eyes, hazel; hair, brown; height, 5' 4"; complexion, dark; nativity, Germany; occupation, cooper (barrelmaker)
Record of 156 Regiment Indiana Volunteers
The 156th Regiment was composed of five companies, two of which were recruited in the Seventh District and one each in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth districts. The Battalion was organized at Indianapolis on April 12, 1865 with Charles H. Smith as Lt. Colonel. On April 27, 1865, it left Indianapolis and proceeded to Harper's Ferry; during its term of service, it was engaged in performing guard duty in the Shenandoah Valley. On August 4, 1865 it was mustered out of service at Winchester, VA. Its members returned home, arriving at Indianapolis on August 7, 1865 with 17 officers and 380 men for final discharge. After attending a public reception on the Indiana State Capital grounds on August 8, the unit marched to Camp Carrington where it was paid off and finally discharged.
George Stephan was mustered out at Stevenson Station at Winchester, Virginia on August 4, 1865. On July 23, 1890, he was granted a war pension by reason of chronic diarrhea at age 66. He received a stipend of $12 per month. After his second wife died in 1872, he apparently lived with his daughters after that. He was a member of Dumont Post No 18, G.A.R. of Shelbyville, IN.
Betty Lou Thralls Randall gave this biography to me. She believes her mother, Lena Oldham Fox Thralls wrote it. George Stephan's brother Frederick owned the Stephan shoe store in Shelbyville for many years.
Transcribed from the original with no changes in syntax