Stephen B. Saathoff came by his interest in the Civil War honestly. His great grandfather, Joshua E. Lahman, wanting to fight his country's battles, enlisted in September 1861 and was mustered into the service as a member of Company C, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry. For two years he was with his regiment in various battles and skirmishes, and at the end of that time he was honorably discharged on account of disability caused by a gunshot wound received at Murfreesboro. He was also present at the battle of Shiloh and retired from the army with the well-earned title of sergeant.

After the war, Lahman documented his regiment's history in a book titled The Regimental History of Company C, 34th Infantry.

Relatives on Saathoff's mother's side resided in Franklin Grove (Lee County) Illinois during the war and after reading his great grandfather's book, Steve wanted to learn all he could about the Civil War and how it affected his relatives in Lee County. This began his lifelong passion for collecting items related to the 34th Illinois, with his interest expanding later into other Civil War objects.

Saathoff was himself a veteran, serving heroically as leader of the 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Central Highlands in South Vietnam. He was the recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart during combat operations in Vietnam. He was the president of The Franklin Grove Bank for thirty-eight years before retiring in 2013 and was very active in his local church and various fraternal organizations.

Steve loved collecting and researching the items he collected. He spent a great deal of time documenting items to specific soldiers who had owned them, but his love for Co. C, 34th Infantry remained his primary focus. It is his family's desire to make his collection available to other avid Civil War collectors.

View the collection here.