Illustrated roster of the Department of Illinois Grand Army of the Republic … (1914)

The Grand Army of the Republic was instituted and organized at Springfield, IL., by Major Benjamin F. Stephenson, former Surgeon 14th IL. Inf. Regiment.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEPHENSON conceived the ideas upon which was formed the Grand Army of the Republic, the largest, most successful and most beneficial soldiers' society ever organized. Born In Wayne Co., IL., Oct. 30, 1822. Became a Doctor of Medicine, graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, In 1850. Was appointed Asst. Surg. 14th IL. Inf. May 25, 1861. Promoted Surgeon April 7, 1862, at Pittsburg Landing. Mustered out June 24, 1864. After the Army was mustered out Dr. Stephenson conceived the Idea of forming the returned soldiers into a society for mutual protection and improvement, and to care for the widows and children of their comrades. He wrote a ritual for muster In purposes, and for the work of the organiza- tion. Arranged for a National, State, County and Town organizations, pre- scribing the method, constituency and officers of each. His first requirement was that each comrade must have an honorable discharge from the service; next, that all rank must be abolished in the meetings of the Order. He then arranged for the care of the comrades and their wives, widows and children, and, finally, that each comrade should have an honorable burial. He organized first, the Dept. of IL., on April 1, 1866. and signed himself. Commanding Dept." He had his chosen friend, Gen'l John M. Palmer, elected Dept. Com'd'r at that Encampment. He then proceeded, as Com'd'r-ln-Chief, organizing the other Depts., and called the first Nat'l Encampment of the Order to meet at Indianapolis, Ind.. Nov. 20, 1866. Dr. Sephenson was urged to take the office of Com'd'r-in-Chief at this Encampment, but refused it, because, being a poor man, he could not afford to, but asked for the Adjt.- Generalship because that was to be a salaried position. During the year of Dr. Stephenson's incumbency as Adjt. -Gen'l, the entire receipts of the office were only $1,637.56, and the expenditures nearly double that amount, so that on the election of Gen'l Logan as Com'd'r-ln-Chief at Philadelphia, and the removal of Headquarters to Washington, D. C.. Dr. Stephenson decided to remain In Springfield and practice medicine. Died at Rock Creek. Menard Co., Aug. 30. 1871, in his 49th year, and is burled in the soldiers' section of the cemetery at Petersburg, where the Grand Army has erected a suitable monument.

Benjamin F Stephenson