Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-16
Inventor of Wooden Match
Eventiul Lie and Mysterious Disappearance OF John
Hucks Stevens



HIS sons Lull talk OF the sport they
MAD In the storeroom above the fac
tory-a pace In which he frequently
locked them IN later years. when they
mad disobeyed. Fortunately. workmeh
always remembered TO bring the boys
food while In durance for their father
utterly forgot them when he returned
70 his laboratory, and has been known
not to think to release them FOR week,
AS TO the lads, they enjoyed this en-
forced retirement passing their time in
converting wooden boxes, In which
matches were then sold, into sleds
these were then lowered from the WIN
dow by strings and exchanged for
goodies that admiring children at
tached IN their stead.
When the Millerites became convinced
that the millennium was al hand. MI.
Stevens was one Of the early adherents
70 that peculiar faith and thenceforth
was strict vegetarian
His ensuing fifteen years were happy
ones; bLi this peaceful period came ~
an abrupt end with the death Of his
wife, In IS. II Is probable that his mind
was somewhat affected by his grief AZ
that time, as soon thereafter he re-
ing not TO realize his responsibility to-
ward h.s motherless children. bur
calmly leaving the younger ones In the
care OF the Oldest son. who was not yet
OF age Occasionally, In after years he
wouli MAKE unannounced visits 10 the
children, stay for varying lengths OF
time and leave as abruptly as he camo.
Then would follow letters, at irregu-
lar uernds,-letters couched in quaint
phraseology and written IN flowing
characters. whose delicate tracery IL
very even, but not readily deoiphered
by those more familiar with the COM
inercial penmanship OF today.
Whle visiting son IN OHIO. early In
tne eightles ne opened trunk nlied
WIN iesal papers winch ne assured his
listener were Destined 70 make all ths
fanny wealthy after MS death, add
ing;
dislike business, but II Is a pleas
ure 10 Know mat nave amassed wealth
ior my chliuren' Remember this, II
never see you again, ] expect 10 die In
Caiitornla, Which l. ike better than any
place ever visited
lie hrst went 20 san Francisco about
the time OF the civil war.
Not long afterward he returned to the
land OF gold from which he wrote, but
gave meager accounts OF what he was
actually DONG or MS plans In 'sS one
OF the sons saw notice OF his death
In a Philadelphia paper, and started
with his family for the Quaker city for
the purpose OF seeing his fathers grave
and listening TO the account Of his last
moments In New York City they
stopped over to enable the grandchild-
rem 20 see places associated with his
memory. While they were walking
down Broadway he son turned toward
one who had been the inventors favor
tie granddaughter and said:
"Did you notice the old gentleman
who jusl passed? Don't forget that face.
II pa were not dead I would sneak 10
him. the resemblance Is so striking"
The grandchlld looked back and was
surprised to see that the stranger was
also lntently watching. having stood
sim 10 DO so. Friend or stranger. he
was worthy Of attention or medium
HEIGHT firmly knit frame and with the
appearance Of perfect health SO I'M
usual IN those who have passed their al
lottad three score and ten. COMPLEXION
fresh as a rirps. vet with the dellcacy
OF an ascetlc, flowing hair and silky
heard white as the driven snow. the
man was not one who could be seen and
forgotten.
Jew hours later the travellers
reached phuadelphla only Ia be met
with The assurance that The death no.
lice was a mistake. Though the folk in
the house from which the paper had