The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-21
BENJAMIN Stsuans. Jr.

Benjamin Stevens, Jr., Esq, of this city,
died at 104 o'clock yesterday forenoon, after
an illness of two and half weeks Until
Sunday he was supposed to be out of serious
danger, but at that time his illness assumed a
more serious phase and defied all the efforts of
his skilful physician and loving friends to
avert a fatal result.
Mr.. Stevens was a native of Newburyport
Mass, where he was born May 16, 1921; but
when youth removed to this city, where he
has spent all of his active life, except few
years when he was in the drug bust
ness in Boston. After his return to
this city in 1S43, he engaged in the drug
business here for several years; and in 1S49,
under President Taylor's adm inistration, he
appointed mail agent on the recently
opened Androscoggin & Kennebec, (now
Maine CentraD railroad, and continued in that
position until he was removed in 1853 when
Pierces administration came in. In this po-
stion he proved an efficient and popular Off
Ger. After leaving the postal service, he be-
came first the book. keeper of Hezekiah Wins
low, and subsequently the partner of Warren
Brown, Esq, of this city, in the lumber bust
ness. Subsequently he retired from the firm
of Brown & Co., and went into the lumber
business alone, continuing in it till the time of
his death.
Mr.. Stevens was prominent and highly re-
spected business man-one of those true men
whose 'word was as good as his bond" and he
was held in the highest estimation by his fell
low citizens He served several years in the
Common Council of this city, and was especially
active in administering the aid extended to
soldiers families. He was ardently attached
to the Republican party, of which he
was one of the most active founders.
In 1869 he was one of the Republican
candidates for representative from this city.
He was prominent member of the Indepen-
dent Order of Odd Fellows, and passed through
all the important positions in Ligonia Lodge
No man in this city was more generally be-
loved, Or had larger and warmer circle of
friends.
1t was in his family, however, that the noble
qualities which Mr. Stevens possessed shone
most conspicuously His first wife, daughter
of Mrs. N. P. Cushman of this city, died in
1851, leaving one child, who followed few
years after. He leaves two children-a son
and daughter--by his second wife, sister of
the wife of Ex-Governor Dingley. To the
stricken widow and orphaned children and
large circle of mourning friends, his sudden
call "home" comes with a peculiar grief
They have the consolation of knowing that he
met the summons with resignation and Chris
tian faith, fully assured that he could put his
trust in the Saviour; and with the firm con-
viction that after few feeting years the pecu-
liarly happy family of which he has for SO
many years been the head, would be reunited
beyond the tomb.
The funeral services will take place from his
late residence, 12S Danforth street. Saturday
afternoon, at o'clock. Lgona Lodge, I. o.
o. F., will attend the funeral and the burial
service of the Order will be performed.
Deceased was a member of the Odd Fellows
Mutual Relief Association of Maine and the
Odd Fellows Mutual Relief Association of
Portland.