The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-04-23
0BETUARY


The following was read at the funeral of Judge
StevehsUni and was prepared by his son+in-law.
Simpson Jones, of Ross county:
John Stevenson, the deceased, was born in the
State of Virginia, on the oath of December, 1890.
When but a lad, his parents removed to Ohio
and settled in Ross county. Surrounded by the
privations of the early pioneers the deceased
grew to manhood without the advantages of
even common school education" and was
married TO his first wife in his nineteenth year
to whom six children were born-but two of
whom yet survive. Two young men of much
promise, dying in the bloom of manhood.
Losing the companion of his youth some thir-
teen years after their marriage, land being COM
peIled either to put his children out or main
tain the broken family organization, he decided
the latter,) was married 10 the present bereft,
on the first day of January, 1888. Delicate and
responsible as was the position of "step-mother''
Mrs Stevenson began housekeeping with four
children. to whom she was a mother indeed, such
as few bereft children have the good fortune to
know as i'step-mother."
As a result of this latter marriage, seven child
rem were born-fve of whom yet live. Without
property or education himself, and with such
numerous household mainly dependent upon
parental labor and economy for support and
education, under a school system lacking houses
and teachers such we now have, it can read
of eleven children, when even a good common
English education was attempted. How well
this task was performed can only be known by
reference to the living and the dead; since all
the children but two became teachers, while
two of the sons, Hon. R. B., of Illinois, and ]. C.,
of this place, studied to practice law. This is
the more remarkable as the deceased reached
his 2Sth year before he learned the alphabet
An incident occurred about this time in his his
fnrx hot hot
what, at the time seems of the smallest conse-
quence. Being at sale in the country, de-
ceased was asked to secure note by his sigma
ture, but excused himself by requesting the
clerk to write his name, when he proceeded to
make this mark The astonished clerk set his
eye upon him and surveying his manly pro-
portions, clad in the best suit of clothes at the
sale, proceeded to remark that such neglect of
mind culture in young man of his appearance
was a0holly inercusoble. This, deceased took as
gross insult, and his first impulse was to smite
the clerk to the ground, but on moments re-
Election decided that the fiogging of so feeble a
man as the clerk by one who prided in his man
hood would only double his disgrace,-and
there, at that instant the resolution was formed
to yet know something, Accordingly when he
got home, and his wife and children got to bed,
an old Dilworth spelling book was hunted up,
and the work commenced. Through the assist
letters, then to spell and read and write, and SO
on. At this time he resident of Highland
county, and was elected to the office of Justice
of the Peace, which he held some nine years
in which capacity he acquainted himself with
statutory and common law to such extent
that his advice and counsel was sought after,
often in preference to that of regular practition
ers at the bar. So successful was he in his law
practice that even such men Judge Dickey
hod tn berf he
country Squire"
In addition to the ability displayed in legal
contests, the deceased among the first to
espouse the cause of temperance, or rather total
abstinence, and falling in with the Washington
ian movement, rendered efficient service as
ready, fluent lecturer in the surrounding neigh
borhoods.
In 1850 deceased changed his residence, leav-
ing Highland and settled in Jackson county,
Berlin. Here he again elected to the
Office of j. p, and in addition was rendered the
Postoffice at Berlin. These positions he held till
elected to the Office of Probate Judge for jack
son county. His election to this office induced
him to sell his little farm and remove to Jack
son town, where he resided till his decease,
which occurred on the morning of the 18th inst
Few men had more difficulties to contend
with than deceased, and fewer were ever favored
with such reserve of will power as to over
come any and every opposition obstruction
in his pathway.
Beginning life cripple, by the accidental
breaking of one foot which troubled him
through life; then the severing ofthe other foot
by miss stroke of caused an additional
inconvenience. In addition to this, soon after
his arrival and settlement in Jackson county,
he contracted disease of the eyes, which, be-
coming chronic put an end to his reading and
lecturing.
Being threatened as he thought, with ap-
poplexy, several years ago, deceased made such
arrangements and disposition of his effects, by
will, as seemed then proper, lest he should as
he said, be deprived OF the privilege in his last
hours. These apprehensions were but too well
grounded, as the last years of his life verified.
Few persons suffered more than he did the
last year of his life, and fewer bore with greater
fortitude the ills that he felt could not be cured
The one pervading Characteristic of John
Stevenson may justly be said to have been his
ardent love of truth, honesty and uprightness,
and his fixed dislike ofhypocrisy, falsehood and
dishonesty.
Beginning the world without means or edu-
cation, and encountering almost one continued
succession of seemig misfortunes, deceased, by
dint of perseverance and will power, has left an
example worthy of imitation in many pasticu-
lars. Deceased was in his seventy-fourth year,
and leaves a frail companion and seven chill
dren.