The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-09-16
PAY TRIBUTE TO HIGH IDEALS
Tho Rev. j. S. Lean, Long a Co-Worker
With Mr.. Stevens, Pays Tribute to
Ills Devotion to His Church and to
His Work as Ministers
(From Wednesdays Daily


The memory of the late Rev. w. W.
Stevens, former pastor Of Park Avenue
M. e. Church, was revered by the
ministers of the Wisconsin conference
at the session of the conference this
morning when the Rev j. S. Lean OF
Whitewater, formerly district superin-
tendent of the Milwaukee District,
read memorial to the conference.
in speaking of the deceased pastor OF
the Kenosha church DR.. Lean said:
William Waters Stevens vas born
on May DIST, 1853, at Meadow Gap,
Pa. and died in Kenosha, Wisconsin,
February 7th, 1909. His boyhood was
spent on his fathers farm. 1t was
here, at the age Of eleven, while fish
inG in the narrow stream that ran
through the farm that he felt his first
sorrow. Word was brought to him
that his father had been killed in bat
tie, and had been buried on the battle
field by his uncle.
From this day the son did his part in
supporting three sisters and a widowed
mother. He went into the hardware
store of his uncle at Mount Union, Pa
This uncle, Frank D. Stevens, who had
buried the father, brought the boy out
into manhood. It was chiefly through
his influence, and that Of his Cody
mother, that Brother Stevens was con-
verted at the age of twenty.
Conversion marked turning point
in his life, for it brought with it the
conviction that he must preach the
Gospel. AS he felt the need of special
preparation for so great work, he
gave up a prospective business career
that to him seemed promising, and en-
tered Williamsport, Seminary. After
studying for three years at Williams
port, he went to Drew Theological
Seminary and was graduated from this
Institution with the Bachelor of Di-
Nlnlty degree IN 1861.
On January 18th, 1889, he was mar
ricd to Miss Katherine Mccoy at
Eouat Union, Pa Three children,
two sons and daughter, blessed
this union, all of whom together
with Sister Stevens remain to
mourn the early departure of a de-
voted husband and father.
Brother and Sister Stevens came at
once after their marriage to Wausau,
Wisconsin, to fill vacancy in the pull
pit at that place, and in the fall of
that year joined the Wisconsin Con-
ference. He passed through the regu-
lar course of study and was ordained
Elder by Bishop Mallalieu in 1884.
During his ministerial life he served
the following charges:
Wausau, Plover, Berlin, Lake Mills,
Algoma St., Oshkosh, Evansville, Fort
Atkinson, Lake Geneva and Kenosha,
For two years he was Presiding Elder
of GAINESVILLE District Finding the
work of the district to be somewhat
uncongenial, at his own request and
greatly to the regret of his brethren,
he re-entered the Passionate
This is but the briefest kind of a
record of a most interesting and use
full life. Brother Stevens measured
well up to my ideal of a Christian
minister. He was loyal to all the
doctrines and policy of the church; no
note of uncertainty ever fell from his
lips. He knew in whom he believed
and gladly told the story of his hope
and faith to all who cared to listen.
His life was as honest and true as
the finest steel. He had an unusual
amount of sanctifed common sense: he
was prominently a manly man His
was sturdy, noble character; what
ever he undertook to do he accom-
plished. Every obligation imposed up
on him was promptly met. On all
questions of civic righteousness he
stood pronounced and uncompromising
ly for the right. What was said Of
another by Divine authority could be
said of him, He was a good man and
full of the Holy Ghost" His self
sacrificing devotion to his work. his
loyalty to every interest of the church
his helpful spirit and his word and
smile made him justly popular with
both preachers and people. From
every charge he served there is a mul
ttude to call him blessed, and many
who have already entered into resi-
were won to God and Heaven through
his labors. lie was held in high Re
gard by his brethren in the ministry
who elected him one of their delegate.
to the General Conference of 1908.
Brother Stevens had been sev4
years pastor of Park Avenue Church
Kenosha. When he was returned fo,
the eighth year he said to me, ~
mean to make this my banner year. !
He threw himself with great energ,
into his work, APPARENTLY determined I,
carry out his intention Of making tli
dis most successful year.