When I was back in Scales Mound in October, I discovered several obituaries in my Grandma Davis‘ genealogy files.  I assume she “inherited” them from Viola (Bausman) Davis Hickman after she passed in 1974.  Anyway, I’m glad Grandma kept them and didn’t toss’em since Caroline Hebenstreit’s is almost 100 years old.

Anna Caroline Hebenstreit was born in Germany, June 8th, 1858, to  Vitus Hebenstreit and Bertha Schafer.  Her sister was my great-great-grandmother, Catherine (Hebenstreit) Bausman.  This makes Caroline aunt to Viola (Bausman) Davis Hickman.

Caroline married Anton Stephan in 1876.  They had six children:

• Catharine Magdalena
• Edith M.
• Anton Charles
• Raymond Vitus
• Clare
• Leo Joseph

Catherine is buried in Scales Mound Township Cemetery / Citizen’s Cemetery in Scales Mound, Jo Daviess Co, Illinois.

The obituary citation is unknown, but reads like it was published in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.

Transcription of obituary:

Mrs. Caroline Stephan

Mrs. Caroline Stephan died at her home in Scales Mound, Ill., Sunday morning, September 29, 1912, after an illness of about one week.  She was stricken blind about seven years ago and has since that time been in very poor health and has needed almost constant care.

Caroline Hebenstreit was born at Baversted, June 8th, 1858, and came to Shyllsburg [sic] with her parents when but three years old. She was married to Anton Stephan of this city October 29, 1876, and moved to Scales Mound two years late where she has since resided. She leaves a husband and six children, three sons and three daughters, viz. Anton and Ray of Chicago, Leo at home, Mrs. Kate Banworth, of Elizabeth, Ill., Mrs. Edith Allan of Scales Mound, and Clara at home, who during the long years of her mother’s illness has been constantly with her, leaving nothing undone to ease her burden. She also leaves an aged father Vitus Hebenstreit, a brother Andrew Hebenstreit of this city and a sister Mrs. Katie Bonsman [sic] of Scales Mound.

The funeral was held Tuesday at Scales Mound from the Catholic church and was largely attended. The pallbearers were her three sons, two son-in-law and a nephew. The music was furnished by the choir of St. Matthew’s church of this city.

Deceased was well known to our people and no one knew her but to love her and she will be mourned by a large circle of friends who united in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.

Those from Shullsburg who attended the funeral are Vitus Hebenstreit, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hebenstreit and son Austin, John Hebenstreit and wife, Vincent Hebenstreit, Mrs. Herman Stephens, John Stephan and wife, Chris Stephan and wife, John Brannan and wife, Mrs. Jas. Hebenstreit.