Michael Young Gephart
11 May 1844-12 Feb 1920

 
Vitals

Michael Gephart was a native of Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, born 11 May 1844. He was the son of Michael and Eleanor (Schenk) Gephart. Michael was joined in marriage with Emma Simmons 19 Dec 1879 in Grand Haven, Ottawa County, MI. She was born in Wisconsin, 27 Mar 1860, to Rudolphus and Aurelia (Baldwin) Simmons. They settled in Montcalm County 10 May 1882.

They had the following children: Rodolphus M. (1881-1951) husband of Luella M. Chambers; Eleanor A. (1883-1912) wife of Deroy Dennis Cramer; Aurelia D. (1885-1963) wife of Carl Brakeman; Lawrence W. (1887-1947) husband to Bessie A. Fisk; Lizzie A. (1889-1892); and Leon (1892-1898).

Emma married Charles E. Haviland 9 Dec 1920, after Michael's death. Emma died 28 Nov 1939 in Belding, Ionia County, MI. She is buried in River Ridge Cemetery in Belding, MI.

Mr. Gephart had been a township clerk in Ohio, village assessor of Lakeview, MI, for three years, and employed in the post office in both Ohio and Michigan. Death record states that he was a retired merchant. He died in Highland Park, Wayne County, MI.
Service At the age of 18, Michael Gephart enlisted from Butler County, OH. He was a private in Comany D, 93rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th A. C. Later he transferred to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th A. C. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamaugua, Missionary Ridge, Nashville, and throughout the Atlanta Campaign. He received a furlough 22 Jan 1864, for 40 days, rejoining his command April 1, near Ringold, Georgia. He was wounded 15 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN, by a gunshot wound in the right side, affecting the lung. He was kept in the Cumberland hospital at Nashville for two weeks, then transferred to Camp Dennison, OH, until 16 May 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. He was pensioned $5-$8.
GAR Andrew Macomber Post #141
Siblings A brother, John H. Gephart, served through the war in Company F, 35th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and his wife's father, Rudolphus Simmons fought in the 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Records 1850 Census Lemon Township, Butler County OH with parents and siblings
1860 Census Middletown, Butler County, OH with parents
1870 Census Plainwell, Allegan County, MI farm worker with Squire A. Monroe
1880 Census Grand Haven, Ottawa County, MI clerk in feed store
1890 Veteran Census Cato Township, Montcalm County, MI Lakeview
1894 MI Census Lakeview, Montcalm County, MI wounded lung
1900 Census Belding, Otisco Township, Ionia County, MI 7 children, 4 living, day laborer, Front Street
1910 Census Belding, Ionia County, MI ward 2, Broas Street
1920 Census Greenfield, Wayne County, MI with daughter Aurelia's family
Obit  
Death
Burial River Ridge Cemetery
Belding, Ionia County, MI
Find A Grave #7204737
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.
contributed by Paula Johnson