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Ceremonial Artifacts
Military and Veterans
American Civil War ➔ Tombstone, Stephen Champlin
Identifier:
2001.31.1Description:
Tombstone tablet shape, with arched top and straight sides. Decoration near top features oval surrounding clasped hands. Incised lines mirror shape of stone.;This was the original civilian marker that marked Brigadier General Champlin's grave site, until recently replaced with a military marker. Champlin was a significant Grand Rapids personality in the Civil War.;Tombstone reads "Stephen Champlin Brigadier General Volunteer USA Died Jan. 26 1864";Originally installed at Champlin's grave site in Fulton St. Cemetery;Champlin was General of the 3rd Michigan Infantry during the early days of the Civil War, He returned to Grand Rapids after being wounded and was succeeded by General Byron R. Pierce;Carved into stone, 'STEPHEN G. CHAMPLIN / Brigadier General of / Volunteers U.S.A. / DIED / Jan. 26, 1864 / Aged 36 years / 6 ms & 25 ds.' |Date:
1864Materials:
Carved, StoneDimensions:
34.5" h 17.5" w 5.5" dCurrent Location Status:
On ExhibitSource:
In Honor Of A Grand Rapids Civil War HeroLinks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gardner_ChamplinExhibit/Program:
Thank God for Michigan: Stories from the Civil War (June 6 2011 – March 29 2015)Thank God for Michigan was an exhibition developed by the GRPM to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. The exhibit featured over 150 artifacts from the GRPM's collection and told the story of the Civil War through the lens of soldiers and civilians from Michigan.
Related Entities:
City of Grand Rapids, Parks and Recreation Department, Cemeteries Division (donor) Champlin, Stephen Gardner (is related to)Stephen Gardner Champlin was born in Kingston, New York and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1953 with his wife Mary E. Smedes and their son, Alexander. Here he practiced law with Lucius Patterson and later Harry Yale. In 1856 he was elected as a judge of the Recorder's Court and in 1958 he was elected the Prosecuting Attorney for Kent County.
Champlin served in the Grand Rapids Light Artillery and was elected captain in 1856. In 1861 he entered the Union Army as a Major under the 3rd Michigan Infantry. He was wounded in the hip at the Battle of Seven Pines and was promoted to brigadier general after the Second Battle of Bull Run in 1862. Due to health complications, he was assigned to the Draft Depot near Grand Rapids in 1863. He resigned from the Union Army on November 8 of that year.
In early 1864, Champlin died of complications from his hip injury sustained at the Battle of Seven Pines. His funeral was held at St. Mark's Church and he was buried in Fulton Street Cemetery.