Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-30

DR.. Is. +. Stephenson, the founder OF
the order OF the Grand Army of the
Republic, was born in Illinois, Oct. 3,
1923. He received the ordinary cduca-
tion of country boys at that time. which
he followed up by reading medicine. and
in due time graduated from an Ohio
medical college. For IA brief period he
was one of the faculty of similar
institution in Iowa. Settling in Peters
burg, H., he pursued his medical
practice, in which he was highly sue
cessful, being generally recognized as
the head of his profession, both as
surgeon and physician. With the
beginning Of the war he became surgeon
in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and
on coming out of the service he located
in Springfield. ILL., About the close OF
the war DIR. Stephenson was wont to
talk to his friends as to the preservation
of these ties engendered in camp and
field in these trying times and suggested
on one Of those occasions that the SUR
vivors should form some order, league.
or association TO perpetuate the memory
of their field life, and above all TO be-
come the fountain-head, so TO speak, of
loyalty and devotion TO the country
Just saved by their efforts. The idea
being favorably received in the doctors
circle of friends he became active and
untiring in putting the proposal into
space, which, with the aid of friends
equally Jealous, soon took form, and
the first post was organized in Spring
field, Ill.
DIR. Stephenson died in 1871, and dur
ing his life he claimed TO be the origi-
nator Of the idea and bis claim was not
questioned. After his death claims
10. he - IaN IL att
but at recent National Encampment
the order, by vote. effectually settled
the question by declaring Stephenson TO
have been the originator Of the idea and
founder Of the order. Estill Post No. II
q. A. r. of Petersburg, ILL.,, bought a
circular block in Rosehill Cemetery, near
that place, TO be devoted solely as the
last resting place of Dr. Stephenson.
and, with the permission of his widow,
proceeded to remove his remains from
a country churchyard some miles dis
tant and consign them to the place thus
provided, which was done Aug. 30, 1882,
with appropriate ceremonies Of the
order. This cemetery is on high up
land, east of the Sangamon River and
almost in sight of old, historic Salem.
On each decoration Day the grave of
DIR. Stephenson receives atfectionate
remembrance at the hands OF the order,
Estill Post No. II, never failing to honor
their founder, often aided by members
Of other posts, notably by those of
Springfield. The widow Of DR.. Stephen
son resides in Petersburg with her two
daughters. An only son, a physician,
lives in Kilbourn, III. local commit
tee is in existence here to procure funds
for monument to Stephenson's memory;
and, in fact, fund has been started.
Estill Post of Petersburg will gladly aid
in this work both by voice and purse.
a Company of George washingtons.
During the year 1885 was sta toned
with my company at Danville, KY, and
pridcd myself on having one Of the
best-drilled and most moral companies
in General Hobson's Department. The
boys were always regular In their at
tendance at church and Sabbath-school,
and l would have been willing to make
affidavit that net one of them would
take anything that did not belong to
him. The citizens Of Danville all said
that il was the first com pany OF sol
diers they had ever seen who would not
steal.
But after having been stationed there
about six months, the complaint reached
my ears that my boys were stealing
milk from an old lady living two miles
from camp, known in that neighborhood
as 1.-THE Blue Goose" She first com
planned TO the Provost Marshal of the
city. He called my attention TO the
matter, but admitted that il was GER
tainIy mistake, as he did not believe
that any of the boys OF my company
would be gniIty Of anything Of the kind.
THE Blue Goose" next called at my
quarters, and in great wrath demanded
that make my boys quit milking her
cows. told her did not believe that
had a man in the company who would
be guilty of such an act; that they had
been reared by Christian parents and that
now, while out in defense Of their coun-
try, they were regular in attendance al
church, and that number OF them had
been appointed teachers in the NJ. +.
Sabbath school. She insisted that the
boys were guilty, and that she had seen