Shelby  County  Indiana
Biographies

George  Stephan(s)
29 Sep 1823 - 7 Aug 1898

             George Stephan(s) was born in Neu Friestad, 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 a 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 an 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 apparently with his father,  John George Stephan (mother, Elizabeth Winter was thought to have died in Germany) and with four brothers and one sister. Apparently 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 (Lena) (1858-1943) George Stephan's second marriage was to Mary A. (Emma) Kupp (b Nov 6, 1839 - d Sept 29 1872).  To their Union was born Minnie and Marvitt (boy) who died at birth about 1862. On March 21,1865, George Stephan was enrolled at Lafayette, Indiana, for one year of service in the Union army. He was a private in Company B., 156th Regiment, Indiana Infantry Volunteers. At this time his 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 5 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 Indiana- polis on April 12, 1865 with Charles H. Smith as LCol. On the 27th April it left Indpls. And pro- ceeded to Harper's Ferry and during its term of service, it was engaged in performing guard duty in the Shenandoah Valley. On the 4th August 1865 it was mustered out of service at Winchester, VA and returned home, arriving at Indpls. On the 7th, with 17 officers and 380 men for final discharge. After attending a public reception in the capital grounds, on the 8th, it was marched to Camp Carrington where it was paid off and finally discharged.
George Stephan was mustered out at Stevenson Station, Virginia, on August 4, 1865. On 23 July 1890 he was granted a war pension by the reason of chronic diarrhea at age 66. He reported that he received $12 month pension.  Since his second wife died in 1872, he seemed to have lived with his daughters after that.  He was a member of Dumont Post No 18, G.A.R. of Shelbyville, Ind.
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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.
For additional information on this family, please contact George Young

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