The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-08
.ILDGE STEpHENS

Lawrence Journal: Judge N. T.
stephens died at his residence, west Of
town, Monday afternoon. abou 4 O'Clock,
Of cerebral hemorhage. He was taken
down about SIX weeksyago while hold
ing term of court at Ottawa, and has
been confined to his bed nearly all of the
time since. The fatal termination of
his disease was not unexpected, though
at one time considerable hope was en-
tertained OF his partial recovery. he
had been in failing health for more than
ayear, and his friends for some time
recognized the fact that his strength was
gradually giving away before he CON-
menced the Ottawa term OF court.
Judge Stephens was born in Cayuga
county, N. Y, NoYember ., 1920, and
was consequently upwards of SIXTY four
years old when he died He was en-
gagged IN the practice of the law IN his
native county until 1861, when he raised
q company of infantry and entered the
army under the first call for volunteers
for three months service as a captain.
In 1852 he ran tor Judge of the supreme
court on the Union ticket, and in 1885,
on account of falling health, removed to
Kansas, and for two or three years de-
voted most of his time to his farming
enterprises. His first appearance 4 IN
court here was made on behalf of the
taxpayers OF Douglas county in the
very important and celebrated in
junction suit against the county commits
sioners TO restrain the issuance of the
100000 of Galveston railroad bonds,
which was tried before Judge Valentine
In July, 1868. In 1870 he became q
member of the firm of Thacher i Banks
aud continued Ia active practice until
1876, when he was elected
judge of the fourth judicial dis
tricL and reelected ia 1890, his second
term of office not having expired at the
time of his death. November ID, 1874,
he was married to Elizabeth Rathbone,
of Brooklyn, N. Y, who still survives,
with family of four children. All were
present at the timeof his death. The
eldest son. Clinton F., graduate OF the
Rensselaer, Polytechnic institute of Troy,
N. Y, and chief engineer of the Texas
81 st. Louis railroad company. resides
in st. Louis, Missouri. His
eldest daughter, Mrs. Mary Green,
is the wife of our well-known townsman
Hon, J. w. Green. Miss Kate Stephens,
his Youngest daughter, Is professor of
Greek in the University of Kansas, and
has always lived with her father. The
youngest son, N. J. Stephens, graduated
from Harvard in 1881, and Is now en-
gagged IN business in Arkansas.
Judge Stephens leaves behind him q
large circle of warm and devoted friends.
His hospitality was fully recognized bv
all who came IN contact with him at his
home, and no one enjoyed the inter-
course OF friends more heartily than did
he. He was a man of superior men,
tai powers, and as lawyer
he stood at the head of his profession.
His ability and qualifications as q judge
were OF high order, and in the DIS
charge of his Official duties he merited
and won the communication OF the peo-
pie he was elected to serve.
He was faithful in the discharge of
every duty as citizen, and was always
found advocating every public measure
intended and calculated to promote the
public good. His death, at compare
lively early age. will be regarded as an
iTreparable loss 70 the community and to
his profession. His bereaved family
will have the sympathy of all whose ac-
quaintance they enjoy.