3rd great-uncle of Katherine Hoover Ballard

Pvt    Co. L   8th Illinois Cavalry

Dates of service:  17 Aug 1864 (as a substitute) - 18 Jul 1865 

Wesley Stubbs was born October 18, 1842 in Bucksport, Hancock County, Maine to Stillman and Louisa Meredith Hanney Stubbs.  He had one brother, two half-brothers and two sisters.  One sister died in infancy.  Around 1850, the family moved to Lee County, Illinois.  His mother Louisa died January 9, 1854.  His father then married Caroline Shaffer on October 12, 1857 in Kane County, Illinois.  By 1860 the family was living in Manistee, Michigan.

Wesley married Sarah Elizabeth Bell in Manistee County on September 7, 1869.  Sarah was born in Manchester, Montgomery County, Indiana on October 9, 1850 to William Bell and Priscilla Jane Cowgill Bell.   They had the following children:  Arthur B. born in 1871, Charles born in 1873, Frank born in 1875, Roy born in 1881, and Winifred born in 1889.  Wesley worked as a Merchant to support his family.  

On August 17, 1864, Wesley enlisted as a substitute for Andrew N. Fullerton in Chicago, Illinois.  He served as a Private in Co. L, 8th Illinois Cavalry.  His enlistment ended July 18, 1865.  He was admitted five times between 1916 and 1926 at the National Home for Disabled Soldiers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  On the 1930 Census, he is living in the Michigan Soldier’s Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He started receiving a disability pension December 19, 1891.  

Wesley passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage and senility on May 6, 1935 at the age of 92.  His wife Sarah passed away on February 4, 1942 from “general disability and senility”.  They are both buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee, Michigan.  

GRAVESITE: Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee, MI

Written by Bethany Hoover, PDP, March 2020

Eva Gray Tent No. 2, Grand Rapids, Michigan