Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-11-03
DEATH OF JOHN y. STEPHENS.

The death of the celebrated traveller, John
l.. Stephens Esq, which took place on Tues
day evening at the residence of his father in
this City, will cause lively emotion Of sorrow
not only in the large circle of personal friends
to whom he was the object of distinguished
pride and affection, but in the far wider sphere
of intelligent persons who have been indebted
TO his admiral writings for rare and valuable in
formation, as well as mental entertainment Of
the choicest character
Mr.. Stephens was born in this City in No
vember, 1906, and had thus nearly completed
the forty-seventh year of his age. His father
Mr.. Benjamin Stephens, a retired merchant OF
wealth and probriety, is now living at an ad-
vanced age. Receiving his academical educa-
ton at Columbia College, at which venerable
seat of education he graduated at an early age,
he commenced the study Of the law with Dam
iel Lord, ESQ.,, in whose office he remained for
q twelve-month, and completed his legal studies
with George w. Strong, Esq, and at the Litch-
field Law School. He was admitted to the
New York Bar in the year 1926. His health
soon after became impaired, which circumstance
connected with native love of travel, induced
him to suspend the practice of his profession
and embark on an extensive foreign tour. He
visited England, France, Italy, and Germany and
what at that time Was an uncommon enterprise
with American tourists, extended his travels to
the far East. The record of his impressions
was given to the public on his return in the
work entitled " Incidents of travel" descriptive
of Arabia Petrea, Egypt and the Holy Land
which at once gained reputation for brilliant
skeching and lively narrative, such as has not
often been equaled in the production of the
most experienced writer's. This work may be
regarded as the pioneer Of the series Of Oren'
tai travels, which have since formed such an at.
tractive department of English literature, and
though by some of them it may have been sur.
passed in artistic finish and effect, point of var
ed and perpetual destinations it may justly be
said not to have found its superior. \ subse.
quent work with the same title on Greece, Tur-
key, Russia and Poland fully sustained the
character of the previous one, placing the au
thor indsputably in the higher rank of intel
gent travellers.
During the administration of President Var
Buren,, Mr.. Stephens was appointed specia
Ambassador to Central America, and awaiting
himself of the OCCASION he engaged in the ex
animation of the Antiquities of that country, il
spirit of wise enterprise, and afterwards pub
ished the fruits of his researches in those vol
umes with which his name is identified ant
which now from noble monument to hi
fame.
Mr.. Stephens had taken deep interest il
the construction of the Railroad across the Is
thmus of Panama, and from the commencement
of the undertaking was President of the Corpo
ration. He had resided on the lsthmus, attend
ing to the details Of the project, until, in tn,
month of May last, he was prompted by fa!lin!
health to return to his native city. His Hines
had been of an alarming character for the las
four months, and his death was not unexpecte,
to the friends who watched at the side of hi
sick bed
The funeral will take place tomorrow at 3
o'clock, from st. Thomas Church.
N. Y. Tribune, Oct. 5.