The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-11
AUGUSTUS e. STEVENS.
His Sudden Death from Heart Disease.

The community will be shocked this morn
ing to learn of the sudden death of Ex-Msyor
Augustus E. Stevens, the sad event occurring
at his late residence on Spring street, few
moments past six o'clock last evening. Mr..
Stevens had been out all the afternoon, ar
ranging his insurance with the adjusters of the
losses by the late fire, and arrived home about
six o'clock. He sat down in his easy chair in
the parlor and was talking with his younger
ssn, while awaiting the tea bell when his head
suddenly canted backwards, he gave few
gasps, and all was over. A physician was inn
mediately summoned and DR.. G. Gs Adams re-
sponded, but said, upon examining the patient
that it was a case Of heart disease and that
death must have been instantaneous. Mr. Chas
Mclaughlin, who resides directly opposite was
also summoned. He said he found Mr.. Stew
ems lying back in his arm chair and. If it had
not been for the pallor of his countenance he
should have thought him sleeping.
Mr.. Stevens, while not complaining. has evil
IDENTIFY not been perfectly we'll man for some
time. At the time of the great fire in 1866 he
mayor of the city, and the feeling of RESPONSE
bility and the duties it entailed were such
strain upon him that it is probable his nervous
system never fully recovered its tone Then
came the great fall in iron some time ago, and
the effect upon him then was injurious. 1t is
more then probable the fire of Monday proved
too much for him. About three weeks ago he
made the remark that he felt some strange
pains in the region of the heart which he
should inquire about from his physician The
writer met him Monday during the fire and
had occasion then to remark upon his pallid
complexion, and yesterday afternoon two gen.
tlemen spoke to him as he was leaving his
house after dinner and remarked that he APP
peared i'll. He complained of illness Thurs
day, suffering good deal at that time from
rheumatism.
Mr.. Stevens was born in Westbrook, now
Deering in September, 1926, and was conse-
quently ffty-seven year old at the time Of his
DEATH He was the son of Samuel B. Stevens,
an old and respected merchant, and was the
eldest of family of four boys, and one girl,
besides one child who died while an infant.
OF this family of children he is the first to be
taken. The others-Samuel H., general agent
of the Boston & Maine Railroad Company
Granville M, agent of the Fibre Ware Com
pany, Frank G., register of deeds for Cumber-
land courtyard Mrs. Starr wife of Judge
Starr of Illinois, survive him.
Mr. Stevens was educated when lad at
Westbrook Seminary and at the close of his
studies entered the store of Day & Lyon, then
in the paper business in this city, on Exchange
street, as clerk. Afterwards his father be-
came interested in the firm of Tinkham &
Foss, wholesale grecers, and Mr. Stevens ser
we'd term with that firm. He then associated
himself with Hon. John Lynch in the whole
sale grocery business on Fore street, under
the firm name of Lynch & Stevens. Still
later he left the grocery business and entered
the iron trade with Mr.. Little under the firm
name of Little & Stevens, and, after continu-
Jog that firm for some time, he formed the
firm of A. E. Stevens & Co., on Commercial
street which was in existence at the time of
his death. In these various business connec-
lions deceased accumulated handsome prop
erty.
Mr.. Stevens was in political Office only two
years, and then as Mayor OF the city. He was
a staunch Republican and was their candidate
against A. X. Shurtleff on the Democratic
side. Mr.. Stevens received 2,219 votes against
LIS duVibdtJ oCt WAuA AoS nCappCAAhSs CuAihS
his maroralty the great fire occurred and he
was nearly Frustrated by the care it imposed
upon him. The next year he was reelected
by vote of 1908 to 757. He was director in
Casco Bank, was the first treasurer of the
Portland & Ogdensbury Railroad, had been
treasurer, we believe, of Westbrook Seminary,
and held offices in benevolent institutions.
Mr.. Stevens was citizen Portland could i'll
afford to lose. He was thorough, gentlemen,
kind, considerate, benevolent. He was a
capital business man and was thoroughly
respected and beloved. AS an instance OF his
straightforward honesty it may be mentioned
that a nsighboring firm wished to pay him for
the wear and tear done to his wharf Of their
teams. He refused to take cent saying it be
longed to his building to keep the wharf in
repair.
Mr.. Stevens was twice married; first to Miss
Tyler, daughter of the late Samuel Tyler of
Portland, by whom he leaves four daughters
and two sons, and secondly to Miss Mailing,
daughter of Capt. BENZ. Mailing of Kennebunk,
who survives him, and by whom he had no
children.