The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-18
THEY ALL KNEW HIM.
Col. Holiday, Maj. Anderson, Tom
Archer, John Elliott and Others
WERE ACQUAINTED WITH l. D.STEYEHS

"Reminiscences OF the 1Kan. Whose Re-
mains 1t Is Expected Will Be
Brought to Kansas for Burial.
There are several people in Topeka
who were we'll acquainted with Aaron
Dwight Stevens whose. remains are at
Perth Amboy unclaimed. These gentle
men are Col C. K. Holiday, Col. George
w. Veals. Major Tom Anderson, Coun-
Gilman John Elliott, John Armstrong
Thomas Archer and ]. P Farnsworth.
Stevens worked for Councilman Elliott
as mason's apprentice and with him
built the foundation for house on the
site of the: Santa Fe shops Mr.. Elliott
says that the foundation is still standing.
Stevens had taken up the claim, in
Guiding the site of the shops, and he had
dispute with Tom Forrington about the
title to the claim. Forrington won and
Stevens then went to Dover and pre-
empred quarter section of land, two
miles southwest of that place, though he
always made his home in Topeka.
Mr.. Elliott says that he remembers
we'll the last time Stevens left Topeka.
sit was on Sunday in February, 1858"
said he, "and Lewis Bodwell was
preaching when the word came
tudtA JOIN DEOWu Q00Q6Q Sums
men. Bodwell stopped. the services and
Stevens, Archer, Armstrong, Major Scud-
der, Tom Anderson and others left at
once to join Brown. I left them at the
river and came back"
Mr.. Armstrong and Mr.. Archer told
the story about that last trip. 1--WE went
as guard with Brown to preventattack.
He had a party of slaves, and was
taking them to Canada. Both Stevens
and HaZlitt were with the party. We
first went to Nebraska City, and
then to Tabor, Iowa, where Brown left
US and took the slaves on to Canada.
Stevens and Hazlitr went with him, bur
the party was too large for all to go.
That is the last we ever saw of Stevens
and Hazlitt Stevens had great rever-
ence for Brown and would always kneel
down when Brown prayed, though he
was not churchman."
Those who knew Stevens all say that
he was a courageous man. SHE was one
of the jolliest fellows l ever knew" said
Mr.. Archer, land he would be pro-
nounced by any one an excellent fellow.
His bones must be. brought to Topeka
and buried here among his friends"
Councilman Elliott says that Kagi,
who was Browns adjutant- general, aud
who was killed at Harper's Ferry, also
worked for him in building.
There is now no doubt that an effort
will be made to have the remains of tbs
two men brought to Topeka for inter
ment At the meeting of LiRcoln Post
tonight the matter will come up and
some action will undoubtedly be taken.
The Old Settlers society has also deter
mined to do what it can, and there is
little doubt but. that the plan will be a
success. 1t is suggested that the living
companions of the men act as pail
ers.
The following stanzas are from a poem
which was copied by Stevens and sent
to Mira Spring just before his execution
and reveals the character of the man:
Make me grave where'er you viii,
La a lOWly plain, on lofty hill;
Make it among earth'S humbest graves,
But not in a land where men are slaves.
would sleep, dear friends where bloated
might
Can rob no man of his dearest right;
My rest shall be calm ! any grave
Where none can call his brother slave.
ask no monument, proud and high,
To arrest the gaZ9 of the pASSerS by.
All that my yearning spirit Graves
Is, bury me not in a land Of slaves.