Name/Title
Hamlin Blacksmith Shop, Stephen Marshall Hamlin family and Civil War serviceEntry/Object ID
2025.44.01Description
1. Digital photo of Stephen Marshall Hamlin at his blacksmith shop in Douglas plus two snippets of text from the South Haven Sentinel about Mr. Hamlin.
SOUTH HAVEN SENTINEL, April 17, 1886
-- S. M. Hamlin and family of Casco are for a time to make their home again on their fruit farm near Douglas, their home farm to be managed by their nephew, James Hamlin.
SOUTH HAVEN SENTINEL, November 24, 1888
-- Steve Hamlin of Ganges, near Glenn, while unloading hay on last Thursday fell off the load and unfortunately fractured three of his ribs and possibly broken. The gentleman, however, is able to be about again. – Fennville Dispatch. We do not know whether or not this refers to Stephen M. Hamlin of Casco and Douglas, but we should judge it did from what we know of that gentleman’s unfortunate luck in getting hurt.
2. Stephen Marshall Hamlin in 12th Michigan Infantry Civil War uniform, digital scan
3. Stephen Marshall Hamlin tintype, digital scan
4a. Stephen Marshall Hamlin family 1895, digital scan.
4b. names written on back of the family photo, digital scan
Top row: Seth, Mettie, Dora (Mrs Jobe)
Bot row: Stephen, Ida Belle, Samantha (Mrs Stephen), Baby Clyde, Jobe
5. Stephen Marshall Hamlin & Samantha, digital scan
6. Stephen Marshall Hamlin Civil War enlistment document 1864, digital scan
7. Stephen Marshall Hamlin Discharge - Civil War, digital scan
8a. Federal Veterans Schedules, 6-page pdf
8b. Discharge Oath of Identity, 3-page pdf
8c. Full Pension File, 45-page pdf
8d. Photo in uniform 12th Regiment Michigan Infantry, 11-page PDF with more information about 12th Regiment Michigan InfantryPhotograph Details
Type of Photograph
Digital scanSubject Person or Organization
Hamlin, Stephen Marshall 1830-1910Collection
Commercial businesses, Military, wars and veteransCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2025.44Acquisition Method
Donation, unconditionalLocation
* Untyped Location
Digital data in CatalogItRelationships
Related Events
Event
American Civil War 1861-1865General Notes
Note
"My great-grandfather, Stephen Marshall Hamlin, had a blacksmith shop in Douglas (see attached photo).
I don't know where it was located or when he had it. Perhaps you can find out more for me, or at the very least, add this to your achieves. I have more information about him if it would be of value to you.
Thanks and best regards, Karl Hamlin"
-- emailed to Sally Winthers, 2 Nov 2025
"While engaged in the Civil War, Stephen wrote 62 letters to his wife, Samantha, at home. I have the originals, and I transcribed them (see attached).
They may be of interest to you, but I'm not sure I want them made available to the world."
-- emailed to Sally Winthers, 3 Nov 2025Create Date
November 2, 2025Update Date
December 6, 2025
