The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-05-06
OBITUARY.
The Sioux City, Iowa, Tribune of
April 10Th prints the following obituary
of a native If Knox. Waldo county:

The Sioux City, Iowa, Tribune of
April 10th prints the following obituary
of native of Knox, Waldo county:
Elmer E. Stephenson, agency director
of the New York Life insurance COM
pany, and prominent IN business, social
and club circles of Sioux City, died at his
home, 17l7 Fourth avenue, Morningside,
produced by overwork during the time Of
the investigation of insurance companies
in New York two years ago. Most of
the past winter was spent in Florida,
but the change seemed to do Mr.. Steph-
enson little or no good, SO he returned
home about six weeks ago much weaker
than he was before taking the trip south.
Mr.. Stephenson was born at Knox,
Maine, in 1866, his boyhood life being
spent on his fathers farm. He received
his education in the schools of Freedom
and Kents Hill, Maine, and at an early
age started out in life for himself Sew
eral years were spent in Tennessee,
Pennsylvania and Michigan, as manager
for an eastern publishing house, after
which, in 1890, he came to Iowa and took
up insurance work at Mason City. In
1891 he married Mrs. Ida M. Anderson,
who, together with their daughter, Mrs.
H. A. Headington of this city, survives
him. Quiet and unassuming, few but
Mr.. Stephenson closest friends knew
the sterling worth and integrity of his
character. Generous and charitable to
fault, his interests were always relegat-
ed to the background in an effort to as
slst someone else. He was especially
fond of aiding young men, and many
OF the young men of this and other cities
owe tboir g., 1ifa opd fbo;. oJ,,o,
ton to his interest and generosity. Sioux
City's interests were his interests and
he was always ready to assist in every
enterprise which would aid the city's
growth. He came to this city in 1896,
just as business was at it's lowest ebb,
but had unlimited faith in the city's
ability to rise above her misfortunes,
more than once refusing fattering offers
to go elsewhere, his invariable reply al
ways was ''Sioux City is my town. -
Since coming to Sioux City he had been
at the head of the New York Life Insu-
rance company's interests and was a
valued employee. When troubles arose
in New York during the investigation of
insurance companies Mr.. Stephenson
believed his company to be in the right
and worked necessarily and untiringly for
their interests until forced to retire tenn
porarily because of illness. Mr.. Steph-
enson was member of St. Thomas
Episcopal church where, until his health
failed, he taught class of boys, in
whose welfare he took great interest.
They were "my boys" to him always.
He was member of the Odd Fellows,
Elks, the different branches of the Ma
sonic order and the Country club. Much
of his time and thought were devoted to
the Humane society, of which he was
for many years secretary and at the time
of his death, president, but with all his
wide interests in life he was essentially
home loving man and his greatest de-
light was in the hours spent there. For
nearly a year, Mr.. Stephenson knew he
was doomed man, because his physician
frankly informed him that the disease
from which he was suffering would
speedily carry him away, but in the face
of this he was always cheerful, declaring
that he was at any time ready and willing
to yield to the inevitable.