Alfred Franklin Stafford
Rank: Private, Co. B, 37th Regiment North Carolina Infantry
Descendant: Thomas J
Alfred Franklin Stafford was born in Alexander County, North Carolina on 17 May 1836, as one of ten children of Alford Monroe and Martha Elizabeth Foster Stafford. In the 1850, he is listed as being a laborer. In 1853, he married Cyrena Price. They eventually had eleven children. In the 1860 census, he is listed as a farmer.
Franklin enlisted I the Confederate Army on August 15, 1862 in Statesville, NC. He served in Company B 37th NC Infantry Regiment. He and his unit participated in several major conflicts including the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. At the time of the Battle of the Wilderness, the unit was serving Lane’s Brigade, Wilcox’ Division, A P Hill’s 3rd Corps, CSA. He was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, and after recovering from his wounds, continued with his service. He mustered out at the end of the war.
He returned to his home and family in Alexander County, NC, and resumed his life as a farmer. Cyrena passed away in 1890, and Franklin married Nancy Loving Chapman in 1898. He passed away on 21 February 1903 and is buried in Taylorsville, Alexander County, NC. The inscription on his grave marker says: “Co B Regt NC Infantry, Enlisted Aug 15, 1862, Mustered out at End of Conflict.”