Gen. William Stedman
Gen. William Stedman (deceased) was born in Granville, Ohio, November 26, 1815. His father's family emigrated from Granville, Mass., to Granville, Ohio, and were among the pioneers who founded the latter town. His early life was passed upon his father's farm, and when he was only twelve years old his father died. When about eighteen he entered the preparatory department at Hudson College, and thence went to Athens College for a regular course, but was compelled to relinquish his purpose on account of ill health. In May, 1837, when in his twenty-second year, he married Elizabeth Elmore, of Randolph, and here he settled as a farmer. He also had an interest in some mercantile and manufacturing establishments. Mr. Stedman was among the first to embrace the anti-slavery sentiment of the times, and upon the organization of the Republican party, he became one of its most active and influential members. In 1859 he was elected a Representative to the State Legislature, and again in 1865, and to the State Senate in 1868. At the breaking out of the war, he volunteered in the three months' service, and became Captain of Company F, Seventh Ohio. Returning from that service, he took a recruiting commission to raise men for the Sixth Ohio Cavalry. On October 21, 1861, he was commissioned a Major in that regiment; August 3, 1863, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and January 10, 1864, was promoted to Colonel. During his service with the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, Col. Stedman participated in the following engagements: Kelley's Ford, Va., Ely's Ford, Va., Stevensburg, Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville, in the actions of Monterey, Smithsburg, Hagerstown and Williamsport, Boonsboro, and in actions at Shepherdstown. He was also engaged in battle at Barber's Cross Roads,Va., skirmishing at Rapidan Station, Va., and at Auburn Hills. He was in action at Howe's Gap, Va., St. Mary's Church. Malvern Hill, Va., Petersburg, Boydtown Road, Va., and in all the marches and actions in which the Second Cavalry Division was engaged from the Rappahannock to Westminster, Md. The Colonel was also in other engagements. For meritorious services he was commissioned Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, March 13, 1865. Having passed through forty months of military service, and participated in numerous engagements, he returned home. He died of yellow fever at Santiago De Cuba, July 6, 1869, to which place he had been sent as Consul, under the appointment of President Grant, received in April previous.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885