The Portland daily press., 1896-03-30
REV. JESSE STONE.
Death in Wells of One of the Original
Members of the Maine Conference.

Rev. Jesse Stone passed away suddenly
at noon Saturday az Wells, having en-
joyed fair degree of health until few
hours before his death when he suffered
shock, probably paralytic, while he was
dressing at his bedside. Mrs. Stone, who
had before arisen and was preparing the
morning meal, observing that he did
not come down as usual went to his
room and found him partially uneon-
scious and helpless. Had he lived until
April 10Th he would have attained to the
age of a. Mr.. Stone was an eminent
Methodist clergyman, having been con-
verified at the age OF fifteen years inPlain-
church. He entered the ministry at
twenty -one years of age under a license
from that church, but he joined the
Methodists a'year later and entered direct
ly upon the work, being admitted the
same year to the travelling ministry anG
stationed on a circuit embracing Halo
we'll, Augusta and Gardiner. At about
this time the Maine Conference was set
off from the New England, or about May
1924, so his term in the Methodist church
Is the age of the conference. He was
the last one living of the number that
then composed the Maine and probably
the New England Conference. His work
was at first in what was then virtually
the eastern part Of the state, in new
territory, and it was part of his duty to
form new societies. He travelled on
horseback nine years, preaching or
holding meetings nearly every day, and
received nealry $40 year as his salary,
though his board and horse keeping was
gratuitously furnished under the bibli-
cal rule that the laborer is worthy Of
his hire. -
He was afterward located over many of
the churches of his denomination, his
labors forming the base of their later
success amt growth. His last charge was
in Shapleigh in 1s66-67, Immediately af-
ter which he was placed on the superan-
nuuate list. Hefhas since resided in Wells,
near the village of North Berwick, on a
small place which he purchased in 1864.
His late home is neat white cottage
without buildings attached, on an eleva-
tion from the main thoroughfare, very
attractive to the passerby especially when
i n summer, his crops showed to advan-
tage, for the earliest vegetables and ber-
ries have often come from Glider"
Stones farm. He was universally loved
and his life as seen by his neighbors
could not be criticised. A few days since
your correspondent called on him and
found him cheerful and in a good degree
of health.
He was twice married and Is survived
by her. who has for many years. been his
sole companion and who is only few
years his junior. His family have gone
to other localities and identified them
selves in worthy and prosperous oallings.
Two sons, one lawyer in Arizona, the
other a farmer in the far west, and two
daughters in the west also, all of whom
have families of their own, are too far
away to attend the last rites of the
father. Mrs. Stone is in deep grief but
1t is only the expected event and that
for which the departed looked to with
cheerful expectancy. TO die, for Him,
was gain.
Miss Annie w. Evans.
The sudden and unexpected death of
Miss Annie W. Evans, second daughter
of the late Foxwell Cults aud Jemima
Cameron Evans was a severe shook to
her large circle of relatives and friends.
Che bod hoor laid acido from how ,1sua |
activity by few weeks illness Of grip"
which weakened the heart and ended
her life without any warning. But she