Lafayette C Stebbins

Lafayette C. Stebbins

Lafayette C. Stebbins was born December 19, 1844, Wendell, Massachusetts. In the 1860 Montague census, he is listed as 15 and a laborer working for John Ward, farmer.

Lafayette enlisted on September 18, 1861 and was mustered on October 18, 1861 as a Private into Company K, 26th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred into the U.S. Army Signal Corps on December 22, 1863. On May 12, 1864, he was a serving as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia. He was taken prisoner at Sabine Pass in Texas on September 8, 1864, while serving with the Signal Corps on board the Gunboat Clifton. A letter was written from his commanding officer, 1st Lieutenant John T. Robinson (26th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf.), to his mother mistakenly telling her that Lafayette had died in prison in Houston, Texas of fever. There was a follow-up letter from Lafayette to his sister, Mary E. Cowles, indicating that he was still alive. The letter was sent from New Orleans dated 1864. Private Stebbins was discharged from the U.S. Army Signal Corps on September 18, 1864.

Lafayette and Flora Lovett were married by Clergyman John Jones on April 9, 1867 in Pelham, Massachusetts. He was a painter at this time. In the 1865, the Wendell census lists him as 20 years old and living with his sister, Mary M. (Stebbins), and her husband, George C Cowles. In the 1870 census of Amherst, Lafayette (Age 25) was listed as a painter. He and his wife shared a house with Gansey Ballou, (Age 35), a carpenter, and Lucy (Cook) (Age 22).

Lafayette C. Stebbins died on June 19, 1872 at the age of 27 in Amherst, Massachusetts (consumption was a contributing factor; he had contacted consumption while imprisoned in New Orleans during the Civil War). He was buried in West Cemetery, Amherst, Massachusetts, Lot 312 1/2 (the cemetery papers indicate Lot 311 1/2).

Information and photographs provided by Lafayette's great great granddaughter, Shari Kelley Worrell, NSDU, Historian, General Regent, John Butler Chapter.

Lafayette Stebbins

Flora Elva (Lovett) Stebbins

Home of Lafayette and Flora Stebbins