Edward Nelson Stebbins

Edward Nelson Stebbins, was born October 27, 1835, in Hammondsport, Steuben County, New York, son of Pierre Alonzo Stebbins and Almira Brundage, both native New Yorkers. On an unknown date the family moved to Coudersport, Pa. where he attended the academy. In 1854 he left the academy and went to Wisconsin. In 1856 he returned to Coudersport where he entered the Mercantile business. Edward died September 19, 1903, in Barron, Barron County, Wisconsin, aged 67 years, 11 months and 12 days, and was buried there in Block 2, Lot 110, of Wayside Cemetery. His gravestone is inscribed "Edward N. Stebbins 1835-1903" and that of his wife "Mary T. Stebbins 1841-1908."

On October 2, 1866, Edward was united in marriage to Mary Treat Clapp. Mary was born December 3, 1841, in New York City, daughter of Stillman Sprague Clapp, born in Massachusetts and Lizzie Lamb, born in New York. She died January 5, 1909, at Barron, Wisconsin, aged 67 years, 1 month and 2 days and was buried there beside the remains of her husband in Wayside Cemetery. Their twelve children, as listed in the two volume Stebbins Geneology published circa 1903, were:

Mary Louisa born 17 Jul 1867 in New Jersey Frank Sprauge 22 Aug 1869 in Connecticut Jessie Watt 11 Nov 1870 in Pennsylvania Edward Nelson 27 Oct 1872 in New Jersey Elizabeth Lamb 4 May 1874 died young Stillman S. 26 Feb 1875 lived one day Pierre A. 26 Feb 1875 lived one day Isabelle Gertrude 5 Jul 1876, in New Jersey Eugene Benson 6 Nov 1878, in Couldersport, Pa. Arthur Perry 13 May 1880, in Pennsylvania Harold Delavan 9 May 1884, in Pennsylvania Helen Anita 28 Mar 1887, in Pennsylvania

In the Stebbins Family Plot in Wayside Cemetery, are gravestones for Frank S. Stebbins (Aug 22, 1869-Sept 25, 1896); Arthur P. (1880-1966) and his wife Louise T. (1890-1961); and Joan Terry nee Stebbins Des Isles (Feb 16, 1916-Nov 25-1990), a daughter of Arthur P. Stebbins.

Of the above children, Mary Louise Stebbins married William L. Morris, in 1882, probably in Coudersport, and their first child was born in Pennsylvania. William was born in 1866 in New York, son of parents born in Wales. They lived in Barron for a time and were listed there in the 1910 U.S. Census with their three children: Mary O., Esther and Edward Morris. They later moved to Aiken, Minnesota. Jessie Watt Stebbins married Frank H. Spenser. Isabelle Gertrude Stebbins married the Rev. Annesley T. Young.

Edward N. Stebbins, Jr. became a partner in the firm of William F. Horstmann & Co., a furniture and undertaking establishment in Barron. He married his partner's daughter, Laura Horstmann, and later became connected with the canning factory in Barron. In the 1920 U.S. Census Edward was listed as a retail merchant involved in furniture and undertaking, living on Division Street in Barron with his 43 year old wife Laura A. Stebbins and their three children, 12 year old Marion, 10 year old William N. and 6 year old Edna L. Stebbins. Isabell Stebbins became a librarian at the University of Minnesota and on June 8, 1897 was married at St. Mark's Church in Barron to Reverend Annesley Thomas Young, rector of St. Mark's Church at Aspen, Colorado. Eugene B. Stebbins became a physician in Ironwood, Michigan, and served as a Major in World War I. Arthur P. Stebbins became the proprietor of a pharmacy in Barron and died there. Harold D. Stebbins became a traveling salesman and resided in Chicago. Helen A. Stebbins became a stenographer and resided in Aiken, Minnesota.

In the 1880 U.S. Census, E. N. Stebbins was listed as a 44 years old general merchant, living in Coudersport, Potter County, Pennsylvania, with his 38 years old wife M.Y (Mary) Stebbins and their seven children: 12 years old F.S. Stebbins; 10 years old M.J. or M.G. Stebbins; 8 years old J.W. Stebbins; 6 years old E.N. Stebbins Jr.; 4 years old I.G. Stebbins; 3 years old E.B. Stebbins; and one month old A.P. Stebbins, born in May 1880.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, Edward N. Stebbins was listed as the 63 years old proprietor of a barrel works in Barron, Barron County, Wisconsin, where he resided with his 58 years old wife Mary Stebbins and their children: Edward N. Stebbins, Jr., a 27 years old barrel maker; 21 years old Eugene B. Stebbins; Arthur P. Stebbins, a 20 years old laborer in the stave mill; 16 years old Harold D. Stebbins; and 13 years old Helen A. Stebbins. They had been married 33 years, lived in a rented house, and were the parents of 12 children of whom 4 were deceased.

On June 10, 1861, during the Civil War, Edward was appointed to the office of Paymaster and Storekeeper by President Lincoln and mustered into the regular U.S. Army as a Major in the Ordance Department and stationed as the Washington Arsenal in Washington, D.C., now Fort McNair. During his tenure at the Arsenal he was responsible for burying the remains of John Wilkes Booth by order of Secretary of War Stanton. One of the floors in a cell in the pentitentiary on the grounds was dug up and Booth's body dumped in and covered up and the key to the cell given to the Secretary of War. Booth's body was later disinterred and delived to his brother Edwin Booth for burial in the family plot at Baltimore, Maryland.

On October 10, 1865, Major Stebbins resigned his commission, having served four years and four months of Federal service. He than engaged in the hardware business in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1871 he moved to Summit, New Jersey where he resided for about six years. In February 1877 he was appointed a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners by President Grant. Two years later, during the Hayes administration, he resigned his commission and returned to Couldersport, Pa, where he again entered the mercantile business. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland and served four years in that capacity. In 1891 he moved to Barron, Wisconsin where he established the Barron Stave and Heading Company with himself as President. During his life in Barron he served six years as Chairman of the Board of Education and was elected Mayor of the City.

References: 1880 U.S. Census, Coudersport, Potter County, Pennsylvania. 1900 U.S. Census, 2nd Street, Barron, Barron County, Wisconsin, June 2, 1900, ED 1, Sheet 2A, Lines 47-53, Family 32/34. History of Barron County, Pages 80-81. Special thanks to Mary Elbert, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, daughter of Arthur Stebbins, who provided much information in her letter of April 11, 2001; and Mrs. Wayne H. Dietrich, nee Suzasse DesIsles, daughter of Joan Terry Stebbins DesIsles and granddaughter of Arthur Stebbins, and her letter of April 18, 2001.

Obituary

DEATH'S SUMMONS

Answered by One of Barron's Most Prominent and Honored Citizens Last Saturday. The Loss to the Community is Great, and is Deeply Lamented by All.

It is with a feeling of deepest grief we are called upon to chronicle the death of Maj. E.N. Stebbins, which sad event occurred at his home on Division street at 10:30 o'clock last Saturday morning. The end came peacefully, the major being conscious to the last, being able to recognize a brother who arrived at his bedside an hour before the death occurred. The death-bed was surrounded by all the family except Eugene, who is in the United States Navy, stationed at Japan, and Mrs. F. H. Spencer, of Spooner, whose health prevented her presence.

Maj. Stebbins suffered a stroke of paralysis on Sept. 8th, and his condition remained nearly stationary, after the first slight rally, until the end. On Wednesday of last week he seemed somewhat better, but the improvement was only temporary and the next day the scale turned the other way and he sank gradually.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at St. Mark's Episcopal church. The service being conducted by the rector, Dr. Harris, assisted by Rev. A. T. Young, a son-in-law of the deceased. The church was draped in deep mourning. Interment was made in the Barron cemetery.

Maj. Stebbins was born in Hammondsport, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1835. About the year 1850 the family moved to Coudersport, Pa., and in the public schools of this city, Mr. Stebbins received his education. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the mercantile business. At the breaking out of the civil war he was appointed Paymaster, with rank of Major in the regular army, by President Lincoln, and was stationed at Washington, D.C. In this capacity he was dispensing officer for all the arms and equipment of the army of the Potomac. This position he held till the close of the war, enjoying the confidence of the President, and also of the Secretaries, Cameron and Stanton. With the close of the war Maj. Stebbins resigned his office, and removed to Bridgeport, Conn., where he engaged in the manufacturing business for several years. He was appointed by President Grant, as a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners, and proved himself to be worthy of the office. He traveled all through the north west and personally investigated the condition of the Indians, and was the means of introducing several necessary reforms in the service. After this he returned to his old home in Coudersport, Pa., and engaged in the mercantile business, and was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland. Maj. Stebbins was a prominent member of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. He was for some years warden of the Church in Bridgeport, Conn., and founder of the Christ Church, Coudersport, Pa. and and St. Marks church Barron, of which latter he was the respected warden from its foundation to the day of his death.

On Oct. 2, 1866 Major Stebbins was married to Miss Mary Treat Clapp, at Brooklyn, N.Y. A large family blessed the union, eight of whom survive, viz: Mrs. W. L. Morris, Mrs. F. H. Spencer, Mrs. A. T. Young, E. Nelson, Eugene, Arthur, Harold and Helen Stebbins.

Maj. Stebbins came to Barron in 1892, and in company with his sons built the stave and heading mill north of the depot which has since been our leading manufacturing industry. In 1896 the mill burned down but it was rebuilt at once. Last spring, fire a second time destroyed the plant, but undaunted by this second loss the major immediately built another and better one.

Maj. Stebbins always encouraged financially and other wise every project calculated to promote the interests of the city and took a lively interest in public affairs. He held the office of school director several terms, and in 1898 was elected mayor of the city, and under his administration the electric light plant was put in. The major was noted for his generous disposition, and his acts of charity were many, but in this respect his left hand seldom knew what his right hand did. St. Marks Episcopal church received his special consideration, and this handsome church edifice is to a very large extent the result of his generosity and devotion to his faith. By the death of Maj. Stebbins the city loses a good man and a model citizen and sustains a loss that will long be felt and deeply mourned by all. [Friday, September 25, 1903, in the Barron County Shield, Barron, Wisconsin.]