Stephen B. Tarlton was born on June 6, 1833, in North Hampton, New Hampshire, to Samuel and Abigail Tarlton. His father was a carpenter who owned $800 of real estate by 1850. He grew up and attended school in North Hampton.
He married Arianna E. Smith on March 20, 1860, and they had at least two children: Elmer, born on July 4, 1861; and Ada, born around 1866. They lived in Rye, New Hampshire, and Tarlton worked as a blacksmith. By 1860, he owned $200 of personal property.
He enlisted in the Union army on September 11, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company K of the 13th New Hampshire Infantry on September 20. The regiment took part in the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Bermuda Hundred campaign, the Overland Campaign, and the siege of Petersburg. He was promoted to corporal on February 14, 1863, and then to sergeant on March 1, 1864. He was wounded in the hand on June 1, 1864, in the Battle of Cold Harbor, but he eventually recovered and rejoined the regiment.
He expressed devotion to the Union and mailed home patriotic poetry. Nonetheless, he appeared indifferent toward partisan politics. In November 1864, he observed that “the boys in the 13th [New Hampshire] go in for old Abe. I was not very much interested in the Election. I hope the best man will get it, the one that will bring this country together again as it should be.”
In April 1865, he celebrated the surrender of Confederate general Robert E. Lee: “the boys are over joyed with the success of our Armies, and why shouldn’t thay be after fighting so long to put down this Rebellion.” He mustered out on June 21, 1865.
He settled in North Hampton after the war and resumed his work as a blacksmith. By 1870, he owned $300 of personal property. His wife died on June 21, 1906. By 1910, he was living with his daughter Ada and her children in North Hampton. He died of Bright’s disease in North Hampton on March 17, 1921.