Born on May 1, 1842, in Ohio, Daniel Stephens was raised in Pleasant Township, Henry County, Ohio. His parents, Daniel Sr. and Margaret, were farmers there, along with several other sons.
Daniel (Jr.) went off on his own to work as a farm laborer when he was about 18. He worked for George Roof, 72, a farmer in Pleasant Township, found in the 1860 census. But the glory of war called Daniel and on August 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company G of the 38th Ohio Infantry.
By September, he and his regiment were crossing the Ohio River at Cincinnati and then heading to Camp Wild Cat in Kentucky. They worked at driving the Confederates out of Kentucky until March.
Too late for the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, they were encamped there until heading into Corinth, Mississippi, destroying Confederate supplies and capturing their soldiers. They took part in the Battles of Missionary Ridge and Chickamauga before getting a furlough home in early 1864. The regiment went back to join Sherman's battles in Georgia and his March to the Sea (Savannah). Daniel was discharged on July 12, 1864. On the 1890 Veterans' Census, he listed diarrhea and an ulcered wound as his disabilities. Whether he was wounded in battle was not determined.
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| His pension card |
In 1880, the family was in Henry County, living with Margaret Stephens, 78, born in France - Daniel's mother. Daniel, 37, was doing the farming with Anna M. (Magdalene), 39; Magdalene, 9; Henry, 8; and Frederick, 2.
He reported in for the 1890 Veterans' census with his post office listed as Defiance, so sometime in this period the family may have moved to Brown Township, Paulding County, where they were enumerated in 1900. This was in close proximity to Defiance and where they were enumerated in 1910, living at the corner of Meher and Oakwood Road. Daniel, 68, and Magdelene, 62, had Frederick D., 32, at home working on the home farm and Magdalena, 27, and Besie, 19, both single.
Frederick, as the oldest son, seemed to be the person relied upon by his father for the farm. As Daniel turned 76 and Magdalene, 72, it became more sensible to live together with Frederick, 41, and his wife, Lulu, 40, on the home farm. Daniel was designated the farm manager and Frederick, the farmer. Bessie, 28, the single daughter was still at home, along with a grandson, Donald, 5.
Magdalene died on January 17, 1922, and Daniel followed her on December 31, 1929. The Defiance Crescent-News reported Daniel's death:
Oakwood, Jan. 2 - Daniel Stephens, 87, member of Bishop Post, G.A.R., at Defiance, died at the home of his son, Fred Stephens, Tuesday evening. He had been in poor health for some time. Mr. Stephens had lived in this community about thirty-five years, coming from a farm near Defiance.
Surviving children are Mrs. Frank Benedict, Ypsilanti; Andy Stephens, Melrose; Mrs. Alva Benedict and Fred Stephens, Oakwood.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock at the Methodist church here with interment in Riverside cemetery at Defiance."
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(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city. Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived. If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)
The symbols on each side are broken columns. A broken column symbolizes a life cut short by death.
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