The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-02-02
Death of Mrs. Mary Chase Stevens.


Died in Lewiston, Jan. 2, at the house OF
her nephew, Benjamin Chandler, Mrs. mary
Chase Stevens, aged 81 years ana mohtns'
Few in our busy city knew her. FEWER
still understood the slgninahce Oh me
course to wise,. selfdenying and practlcai
heipfulness-l life that tried by the test APP
piled in the Kingdom of Heaven, glad
Willingness to serve, has never been OBSCURE
and must Low be recognized as eminent.
Ii all whose burdens she had borne ana
whose sorrows she had shared joined in
welcoming her to the life above, hers must
have been an abundant entrance" Mrs
stevens was woman OF strohs persohdiIy,
vigorous in body and mind, clear headed,
sensible, passionately devoted TO use1ul
work. She demons trated that life may be
very quiet and vet be very useful Through
her long life she formed her own opinions,
chose her own associates and relied on her
own judgment She did not argue, but
quietly followed her CONVICTIONS.
Her nature was as gentle as IL was strong'
She had a keen sense of humor, and large
fund of interesting facts and amid the quiet
companlonships of home, experiences upon
which she freely drew. And few women.
even OF her years. had gathered 50 amply
from the experience OF others. Her memory
was stored with "reminiscences OF the lie OF
six generations.
Her grandfather, Stephen Chase, was
almost the first settler of what is now Unity.
having removed from Durham to that town
one hundred and twenty years ago. Her
girfhood home was on the beautiful horse
back that oyerlooks the famous Unity pond,
and but few rods distant from the orlgl-
nal log house Of the pioneer. Her paternal
grandmother, Hannah Blethen Chase. lived
to the wonderful age OF hundred and SIX
years; retaining her mental vlgor tor more
than one hundred years. and she entertain
ed her grand children with vivid recltals,ln-
Cldents in her own experience of wilderness
life and of the visitations of friendly Indians,
or with accounts of her ancestors ana their
still earlier times Mrs. Stevens father,
HeZeklah Chase, was sixty years ago, one OF
the most active and best known men IN the
public and the business life of Waldo county
and his house was celebrated for its hospi-
talty.
Mrs. Stevens shared for many years
the cares and burdens Of her oldest sister,
Mrs Martha Chase Chandler, who on the
early death of her husband sought malnten-
ance for herself and her large family OF
children by opening in Unity what was then
marvel to all travellers, The Temperance
House" 1t must have been one OF the hrst
in Maine. 1t was ieered at and threatened,
but II was fairly successful; and to TINS
result Mrs. Stevens contributed no small
share.
Nor did she permit herself to think of
; - ~ ooalii 10 lN w.
s1Neh iull PROOF OF her slseFilS aii0S'i9n,
ohe was nearing nifty years q age Wnen sne
married her klnsman; samuel t; stevens,
aud removing to Glenburn, Me, became-Hn
warmth of affection and fidelity OF care more
IMAM mother to MS mothef4ess Cht'uren'
No one ever shared m het Mlse aLn C W,l
~ ~ stFaliohS "i1aout loNlnS hei' j." l,e,ii
lhe nome was ielt' thfou3n tne ilLaEe
anu removal q ehe thlldftn' 20 VT, oU5Neus
and her husband, they returned to Unity to
make a new nome Tor toelr uetllhihg Hs8ls :.
There Mrs. Stevens, alter years q "iitlS
deNoIlon' buried htr nus pdl4, ana Vhel =