Alexander Dibean

            Submitted and written by: Jack & Marianne Dibean



            Alexander Dibean

            23 February 1941 - 3 August 1923

            Alexander Dibean was born on 23 February 1941 in Addison County, Vermont, the son of Peter and Mary Till Dibean. While a young boy his family moved from Vermont through New York to Michigan and settled in Southeast Michigan. In 1850 his family lived on a farm in Waterford Township, Oakland County. Alexander was the second child in the family with an older brother, Peter, and two younger sisters, Julia and Mary. In 1860 his family lived in West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County and the family had grown with the addition of three more sons, Leonard, Frank, and John; and another daughter, Mary Adeline (Cecelia), however the death of daughter Mary had occurred between 1850 and 1860.

            At the start of the Civil War in 1861 Alexander joined the 5th Michigan Infantry, Company D, on 9 August 1861 and mustered on 28 August 1861. The 5th Michigan Infantry was assigned to serve in Virginia with the Army of the Potomac when the unit departed Michigan on 11 September 1861.

            On 5 May 1862 he was wounded at Williamsburg Virginia with gunshot wounds to the right breast area and the right hip. After being treated at a hospital at G H Broad and Cherry Streets in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and placed on furlough he returned to duty.

            On 13 December 1862 he was wounded at Fredericksburg with a gunshot to the abdomen. He was admitted to the Wolf Street General Hospital on 19 December 1862 where he was treated for his wounds. He returned to duty on 2 July 1863 after being transferred to the Invalid Corps on 15 April 1863. Later, probably in August 1863 he was transferred to Company A, 1st Regiment of the Veterans Reserve Corps.

            Alexander was discharged in December 1865.

            After being discharged Alexander worked as a sailor for a few years before returning to Michigan where he married Mary S Malonso on 17 June 1868 in Franklin Michigan.

            In early 1870 he resided in Meridian Township of Ingham County with his wife, Mary, and a daughter, Mary Jennie, who was one year old. Later in 1870 he and his family had moved to Bath Township of Clinton County.

            In 1879 Alexander and his family; now consisting of his wife, Mary, daughter, Mary Jennie, and daughter, Lila, moved to Mecosta County where he purchased a farm in Millbrook Township on Two Mile Road. In March 1882 while visiting family in the Lansing area twin sons were born, but died two days later. In March of 1884 a son, Charles A, was born. Daughters, Mary Jennie and Lila, died but the date and place are unknown.

            (Information on death of daughters taken from Alexander's Civil War Pension File)

            Alexander died 3 August 1923 at home in Mecosta County and is buried in the Decker Cemetery in Millbrook Township.

            Charles A Dibean, son of Alexander, remained a bachelor and died on 5 September 1927. Charles is buried in the Decker Cemetery with Alexander.

            Mary S Dibean, wife of Alexander, died on 24 October 1940 in Birmingham at the home of her half-sister. Mary is buried in the Decker Cemetery with Alexander.