JOHN STEVENS

 

Stevens came to Henderson county in 1863, as a teacher at the South Prairie school. The following spring he entered the army at Mattoon, and was sent into Missouri. Here he was engaged chiefly in garrison duty along the line of the Iron Mountain railroad, especially at Pilot Knob and Ironton.

By a singular train of circumstances, Mr. Stevens was absent from all the severe engagements in which his command were concerned ; for instance : he was one of the force detailed to convey arms to Pilot Knob, but was sent back just before the battle. Hardly had he turned over his arms at the expiration of his term of service, when Price made his so nearly successful invasion. He was a member of Co. A, 135th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. Returning from the army, he taught in Henderson and Warren counties till 1868, when he returned to his native state (Ohio), to teach in the graded schools there.

After some years he again came to Henderson county, taught for a time, and then, in 1878, bought his present business (dry goods and groceries), a business which he is now closing out in order to remove to Dakota Territory. His parents, Lewis A. Stevens and Sarah A. Sperry, were, respectively, of Scotch and German descent. The family was large, consisting of fourteen children, of whom twelve came to adult age. . The family is one of rather remarkable longevity, several of Mr. Stevens' ancestors lacking but little of reaching four score and ten.

Born October 31, 1841, he spent his early years in the county and normal schools of Muskingum and Licking counties, Ohio. The profession of his choice was the law ; his prospects for pursuing his studies successfully were very bright, but his entrance into the army changed his whole course of life. In 1865 he married Isabel, daughter of William and Elizabeth Black. They have five children living, and buried one in infancy. Successful in his teaching and in his business, Mr. Stevens goes to his new home with good reason to expect success.

 

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

 

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Illinois Ancestors