Carl Heinrich Stephan was born in Upper East Prussia (Germany) and came to the US in 1863 (according ot census documents). Upon arrival in the states (believed to be destined for Chicago area) Carl likely volunteered for the US Army's Company D, 19th US Infantry (Regular Army) to fight in the Civil War. He enlisted 2-Aug-1865; and was discharged 10-Oct-1865, on a Surgeon's Certificate after only 2 months, 8 days service.
Carl married Sophia LOUG (either abroad or in the states) around 1865-1866 likely after his military service. They settled in Elgin Township, Kane County, Illinois (west of Chicago). To their union were born three children; Reinhard, Carl Heinrich, and Herta. Herta, having contracted Whooping Cough, died at the age of two in 1874 in Elgin. Shortly thereafter, the Stephan family followed the advancing railroad system- dissapearing from the 1880 census- but reappearing in southern Missouri where they settled in Jackson Township to farm in the town of Strafford in Greene County.
However, in May of 1900, after his two grown sons had married and moved to nearby communities with their new families- either from chronic depression, disenchantment with the new life he sought leaving Germany for America, possible lingering Civil War wounds, or some other phychological or physical problem, Carl took his own life with a pistol. He was found dead on May 26th in that year, leaving his wife Sophia to find shelter with her son Carl in Springfield and later with her son Reinhard in Cuba, where she died 17 years later. The Springfield Leader-Democrat account listed:
"WEARY OF LIVING... Carl Stevens, a Morbid Old Farmer of Strafford Shot Himself."
Carl married Sophia LOUG (either abroad or in the states) around 1865-1866 likely after his military service. They settled in Elgin Township, Kane County, Illinois (west of Chicago). To their union were born three children; Reinhard, Carl Heinrich, and Herta. Herta, having contracted Whooping Cough, died at the age of two in 1874 in Elgin. Shortly thereafter, the Stephan family followed the advancing railroad system- dissapearing from the 1880 census- but reappearing in southern Missouri where they settled in Jackson Township to farm in the town of Strafford in Greene County.
However, in May of 1900, after his two grown sons had married and moved to nearby communities with their new families- either from chronic depression, disenchantment with the new life he sought leaving Germany for America, possible lingering Civil War wounds, or some other phychological or physical problem, Carl took his own life with a pistol. He was found dead on May 26th in that year, leaving his wife Sophia to find shelter with her son Carl in Springfield and later with her son Reinhard in Cuba, where she died 17 years later. The Springfield Leader-Democrat account listed:
"WEARY OF LIVING... Carl Stevens, a Morbid Old Farmer of Strafford Shot Himself."
Carl Heinrich Stephan was born in Upper East Prussia (Germany) and came to the US in 1863 (according ot census documents). Upon arrival in the states (believed to be destined for Chicago area) Carl likely volunteered for the US Army's Company D, 19th US Infantry (Regular Army) to fight in the Civil War. He enlisted 2-Aug-1865; and was discharged 10-Oct-1865, on a Surgeon's Certificate after only 2 months, 8 days service.
Carl married Sophia LOUG (either abroad or in the states) around 1865-1866 likely after his military service. They settled in Elgin Township, Kane County, Illinois (west of Chicago). To their union were born three children; Reinhard, Carl Heinrich, and Herta. Herta, having contracted Whooping Cough, died at the age of two in 1874 in Elgin. Shortly thereafter, the Stephan family followed the advancing railroad system- dissapearing from the 1880 census- but reappearing in southern Missouri where they settled in Jackson Township to farm in the town of Strafford in Greene County.
However, in May of 1900, after his two grown sons had married and moved to nearby communities with their new families- either from chronic depression, disenchantment with the new life he sought leaving Germany for America, possible lingering Civil War wounds, or some other phychological or physical problem, Carl took his own life with a pistol. He was found dead on May 26th in that year, leaving his wife Sophia to find shelter with her son Carl in Springfield and later with her son Reinhard in Cuba, where she died 17 years later. The Springfield Leader-Democrat account listed:
"WEARY OF LIVING... Carl Stevens, a Morbid Old Farmer of Strafford Shot Himself."
Carl married Sophia LOUG (either abroad or in the states) around 1865-1866 likely after his military service. They settled in Elgin Township, Kane County, Illinois (west of Chicago). To their union were born three children; Reinhard, Carl Heinrich, and Herta. Herta, having contracted Whooping Cough, died at the age of two in 1874 in Elgin. Shortly thereafter, the Stephan family followed the advancing railroad system- dissapearing from the 1880 census- but reappearing in southern Missouri where they settled in Jackson Township to farm in the town of Strafford in Greene County.
However, in May of 1900, after his two grown sons had married and moved to nearby communities with their new families- either from chronic depression, disenchantment with the new life he sought leaving Germany for America, possible lingering Civil War wounds, or some other phychological or physical problem, Carl took his own life with a pistol. He was found dead on May 26th in that year, leaving his wife Sophia to find shelter with her son Carl in Springfield and later with her son Reinhard in Cuba, where she died 17 years later. The Springfield Leader-Democrat account listed:
"WEARY OF LIVING... Carl Stevens, a Morbid Old Farmer of Strafford Shot Himself."
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