Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-03-19

MRS. MARCIA 8uRlelGH STEVENS.
Marcia Burleigh Smith was born in
Topsham, July 10, 1905. She was the
daughter Of Marcia Burleigh and Ezra
Smith, formerly of Newmarket, N. Il.
They moved to TOpsham, where Marcia
was born. When she was quite young
they moved to Howard's Gore, now Han
over.
Here Marcia spent her girlhood. At
one time she attended a boarding school
in Portland. She also taught school.
She taught the first term of school in
the new school house on West Ellis
River, which was burned more than fifty
years ago.
Marcia was the third daughter and the
fifth child. Her oldest sister married
Rev. Chas. Frost of Bethel. Her brother,
st. John Smith, was one Of Portland's
eminent business men. Her older sister,
Mary, married Hon. Mark P. Emery Of
Portland. Her younger sister married
Moses Il. Cross Of Bethel, who Is the
only surviving member Of the family.
Marcia was married October 10, 1874
to James Stevens of Andover, son Of
Capt. James Stevens, descendant Of
the Stevens family of Andover, Mass.
Mr.. Stevens was widower, having four
daughters, the eldest about twelve years
of age.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens lived on the
home place which was cleared by Capt.
Stevens in the early days of AndOver.
They had two children, James Henry,
who married Emma Frances Garfield Of
Manchester, N. H., Marcia Burleigh
married Frank E. Hoyt of Rumford.
May 0, 1880, Mrs. Stevens was.called
to part with her husband. Her eldest
son, James Henry, with whom she lived,
passed away, Aug. 5, 1885. May Is
1899, the only daughter Of James Henry,
Marcia Emma, passed from earth. In
Jsnnarv, 1900, granddaughter, Maggie
Hoyt, died. June II, 1900, Charles Can
field, her eldest grandson, % years Of
age, faded away. In the same month,
her only daughter, Mrs. Hoyt, was called
| to Heaven. In all this affection she was
not heard to murmur or question the
will of her Father in Heaven. For
twenty-six years she was totally blind.
She had the best of care and attention.
No own daughter could have been more
devoted or untiring in her efforts than
her daughter, Emma Frances, who has
| watched over her in sickness and in
health. As a dear friend writes her,
SHOW privileged she was to enjoy your
tender care. never saw anything love-
| lier than your mutual relation"
Mrs. Stevens was one Of the first to
organize the social circle connected with
the Congregational church In Andover.
She was associated with Mrs. Sylvanus
Poor, Mrs. Emery Merrill, Mrs. Deacon
Samuel Poor, Mrs. Amos Purington,
Mrs. Winthrop Newton, who have en-
tered into their rest. When the soldiers
of the late war were in need they rem
derered efficient aid by sending money
and boxes of clothing to their relief.
In all the changes Of life which Mrs.
Stevens was called to pass through she
never complained or thought her lot was
hard.
Although she lived to old age, and we
saw her only as we called upon her In
her own home, yet she will be greatly
missed. She retained her faculties Won
derfully. In my conversation with her
I was impressed with the lively interest
she manifested in all the affairs Of each
day, keeping up her knowledge OF pass
ing events.
Although most of her old friends had
passed away, yet she was ever cheerful
and hopeful. The church has lost a
friend, the community an able counsellor
and the neighborhood in which she lived
80 many years will long cherish her
memory, although she has gone into the
land of silence.
She died Nov. 81, 1900. Her funeral
was attended by Rev. j. A. Waterworth
Nov. "a, from her residence at South
Andover. A. NJ. E.