Col. Henry George Stebbins (1811-1881)

He was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and was the sister of the sculptor Emma Stebbins. He became a stockbroker in New York, founded Henry G. Stebbins & Son, and was three times President of the New York Stock Exchange. He was Colonel of the 12th Regiment who featured prominently in the Astor Place Riots of 1849. As a Democrat, he was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1863 and served on the Ways and Means Committee. In 1871, he took an active part in the movement to oust Boss Tweed from power and was made Chairman of the Committee of Seventy. In 1872-73, he was Commissioner of the Department of Public Parks. He was subsequently President of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway; Vice-President of the Texas Pacific Railroad; and, Director and Real Estate Agent of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroads.

After the resignation of Ulysses S. Grant, he was President of the U.S. International Commission for the World's Fair of 1883. He was a founder of the Academy of Music, President of the New York Philharmonic Society, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, President of the Arcadian Club, Vice-President of the Union League Club, and a founder of the Dramatic Fund Association (it was said he paid for Clara L. Kellogg's musical education). In 1831, at New York, he married Sarah, daughter of Valentine Wightman Weston, of Southington, Connecticut. They lived at 2 West 16th Street, New York City, and they were the parents of four children (listed) who survived infancy.