Evening star., 1934-04-11

MAI. GEN. ANTON STEPHAN.
Company A. 372d Infantry, COM
manded by Capt. Arthur c. Newman.
Col. John A. Cutchine, Richmond,
chief of staff Of the division today
requested all officers on the staff of
Gen. Stephan tt attend the funeral.
Brig. Gen. Milton A. Record, adjutant
general Of Maryland; and Brig. Gen.
s. Gardner Waller, adjutant general
of Virginia, already have indicated
they would attend with their full
stats.
Active Pallbearers List.
Active paIlbearers will be Maj.
Burns, Maj. Roy, Maj. Stewart M.
Grayson, M. c.; Maj. Clarence S.
Shields, 12lst engineers; Maj. Joseph
J. Greenlaw, M. c.; and Capt. Fretcher
F.. Bernsdorff, Quartermaste- Corps,
29th division staff.
Gen. Stephan Is survived by his
widow, the former Miss Cecilia Ship
ley; daughter, Mrs. Thelma Millican,
and son Harold Stephan.
Began Career at 16.
Anton Stephan began the military
career which intimately brought him
command of National Guard units in
| the District, Maryland, Virginia and
| Pennsylvania as boy Of is, when
he enlisted in the old Ordway rifles
He paid 81 a week for the privilege
Of drilling with a broomstick in a
cast-of Civil War uniform. That
was back in July, 1887, when Co. B,
Fourth Battalion, District National
Guard, was known as the Ordway
Rifles.
In honor of IS years continuous
service with the militia, President
Hoover on September 20. 1882, pinned
a gold medal on Gen. Stephan's breast
and congratulated him with these
words:
Il consider it a great honor to con-
fer this medal upon you. I congratu-
late you upon your long, faithful and
valuable service as a soldier"
The presentation took place on the
south grounds of the White House
where a distinguished assemblage had
gathered, including Secretary Of War
Hurley. Assistant Secretary Payne,
Maj Gen. Van Horn Mosely, acting
chief OF staff, and Maj. Gen. George
E. Leach, chief of the militia bureau.
The next night, at banquet In his
honor, Gen. Stephan was presented
with a saber. the gift Of the officers
and men of the 29th Division, which
he commanded.
Was Born at Sea,
Stephan was born at sea January
g. 1871. the son of Engelbert and
Emma Ehlers Stephan. Receiving his
early education in Baltimore and
Washington schools, he studied law
at Georgetown University and received
the degrees of bachelor and master.
He was II years old when his family
moved to Washington and four years
later he began his National Guard
service
| Combining his military proficiency
with an adeptness in business, Stephan
rose to general manager of Dulin &
Martin, from which he resigned to
become treasurer Of the Real Estate
Mortgage g. Guaranty Co. An able
and popular executive, he became
president of the Merchants & Manu-
facturers' Association, in which post
he served five terms; member Of the
Board of Trade, a director of the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce
president of the Kiwanis Club. presi-
dent Of the now defunct City Club,
director Of the Better Business Bu-
reau, vice president of the Washington
Auditorium Co.. and a member of the
Chevy Chase Citizens Association. He
also was q member of the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants.
He also was afflliated with a num-
Der Of veterans organizations and at
one time served as commander Of
| Spengler Post, American Legion; ma
tional senior vice commander in chief
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
president of the D. c. Infantry Vet
erans' Association.
Had Rapid Rise.
Meanwhile, he had been rising rap
idly in the National Guard. Four
years after his enlistment, Stephan
had been commissioned first lieu
tenant In Co. D, and on February 3.
1898, was promoted to first lieutenant
and adjutant of the 4th Battalion. A
year later he was boosted to the rank
OF major, and on September 80, 1910,
he became lieutenant colonel in the
End Infantry. After five years in that
rank, he took command Of the .2nd
Infantry Regiment, but held it only
Two months, being reduced to the rank
OF lieutenant colonel August 3, 1915,
when the 1st and End Regiments were
cnnSnIidaf0d ha haf
colonel.
Upon the outbreak of trouble on the
Mexican border Stephan was mus
tered into Regular Army service June
20, 1916. Nine months afterward he
was mustered out, but only for a
month, due to America declaring war
on Germany. In October, 1917, he
was ordered to duty with the 1880
Infantry at Camp Greene, N. c., and
two months later left for France.
Led Gondrecourt School.
Graduated near the top of his class
from the Field Officers' School at
Gondrecourt, France, Stephan, then
q lieutenant colonel. was ordered to
the 4th French Army and assigned
to the 18th French Infantry, stationed
at Tahure. After trench and raiding
experience with the French outfit he
was ordered behind the lines and
placed in command Of the third train
ing district, with headquarters at
Selles-sur-chere, later being transfer
red to command of the 1st Infantry
Training Regiment of the fifth train
ing district, with headquarters at
Pontlevoy.
Promoted to the rank Of colonel
August 10, 1918, Stephan was de-
tailed to command of all infantry re-
placement in the 1st Replacement
Depot after the armistice. In July,
1919, he returned to this country and
was mustered out of the National
Army. For his overseas service the
French bestowed upon him the Order
of the Black Star.
On April 26, 1920, less than a year
after concluding his war service,
President Wilson commissioned Ste
phan q brigadier general and placed
him in command of the District Ma
fjnpol Ts,,orl uaarc Iok..