Department of Michigan Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War   Frederick Charles Stillson, PDC Department Commander 1891

Born on East Van Buren Street in Battle Creek, Michigan September 16, 1867, to Wallace W. and Amelia “Millie” (Nichols) Stillson. Frederick was a member of Byington Camp No. 55, Sons of Veterans, which met at the Farragut Post No. 32, G.A.R. Hall. He served as Camp Commander, and was elected Division (Department) Commander in 1891, at the age of 24 years.

Frederick’s father, William Wallace Stillson, (who went by Wallace W.) was born in Pennsylvania in 1841. He enlisted at Hastings as a Corporal, Co. C. 21st Michigan Infantry, on July 26, 1862, at the age of 21. He was mustered in on September 3, 1862. Wallace was promoted to Sergeant on October 31, 1863. He was discharged at Jackson, Michigan, May 31, 1865. He died in 1893, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek. Frederick’s mother Millie was born in Michigan in 1844. She died in 1911, and was buried next to Wallace.

Fred graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1885, and was appointed to West Point. Unfortunately, due to poor eyesight, he was rejected. He then apprenticed at a local manufacturing company, and then began working for the Nichols & Sheppard Manufacturing Company in 1886, which made steam engines for farm use. He rose to the position of Manager by 1900, and then Director, and soon Secretary of the company.

Frederick married Martha “Mattie” Helmer on September 25, 1887, in Battle Creek. Mattie was born in 1867, and died in 1953. Frederick and Mattie resided at 40 Elm Street, in Battle Creek. They had one child, a son, Donald R. Stillson.

Frederick and Mattie must have divorced, because he married Alice Randall in 1907, and then was married to Hazel McFadyen at the time of his death.

During World War I, Frederick was the Chairman of the War Drive for the American Red Cross in Battle Creek, as well as the Liberty Loan campaign director. Frederick created the War-time campaign plan, which was adopted by many other Red Cross Chapters throughout the United States.

After Frederick retired in 1925, he opened the Chanticler Tea Room on Verona Road. He sold that in 1936, and moved to Saugatuck, Michigan, and opened Stillson’s Green Candle Restaurant, spending winters in Florida, where he dealt in real estate.Frederick died on January 25, 1939, at the age of 71 years, in Battle Creek, from a liver ailment. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Battle Creek.

(Most of the information for this biography came from Frederick’s obituary found in the Saugatuck (MI) Commercial Record newspaper.)