[...] Swiss-German composer, organist and conductor. He received his first lessons in organ and theory from his father. From 1853 he studied at the teachers' training colleges in Weingarten and Schwäbisch-Gmünd. He qualified in 1856, then taught in Schussenried (1857-64) and in Kanzach bei Saulgau (1864-9). Sympathizing with the aims of the Cecilian movement, he decided to become a full-time musician and in 1867 entered a composition competition organized by Franz Xaver Witt; he won first prize with his Missa "Salve regina". [...] In 1869 he became organist and choirmaster at St Kolumban, Rorschach, where in the following year he helped found the first Cecilian organization in Switzerland. [...]
Source: Clytus Gottwald: Johan Eduard Gustav Stehle quoted from Grove Music Online accessed 5 February 2010
Complete article (requires subscription).