The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-01-25
: DEATH THE STATE LOSES
~ IT'S BEST AND MOST
PROMINENT MEN.
OF TRUST

From an Obscure Country Lad
ons Of Georgia's Most Successful
,,aoss Men and Most HonOred
.TbIic officials
Brorghout all of Georgia there
|rsnuine sadness in the announce NJ
# the death of Hon. obediah
forons, Not entirely unexpected
| - had been known for three or
aovs his condition was ex-
so,v serious, the announcement
death non the less touched the
/. of thousands of friends all
GEORGIA. Col. Stevens has been
.noo the early part of December
| trouble of the heart and
h came after midnight Tuesday
/ at his home, 304 East Linden
III dl Ll45 49,
in Atlanta.
he funeral services were held at
loto residence Wednesday, Dr. j.
hickey. pastor of the First Meth
\ church of Atlanta, conducting
services. The remains were
I,gbt to Dawson Thursday after
l and carried to the home OF
L. ]. A. Laing, on Church street.
b a short service, conducted by
LIN. Cutler, pastor of the First
|bodist church, was held attended
one of the largest crowds ever
in Dawson on a similar occasion.
ar this service the remains were
rred in the family lot at Cedar
cemetery.
Had a Long Public Career.
lol Stevens was a native of Ran
,b county, where he was born 6S
rs ago. When but a boy he re-
ed to Terrell county, and as a
ne man lived on a farm, where
'olIowed the avocation of a farm
with considerable success until
p, when he moved to Dawson to
: charge of a mercantile business
nerly owned by Capt. ]. A. Full
He later engaged in the fertilizer
warehouse business here, where
made a success. In 1882 and '83
began to take an active part in
e politics, and in 1884 and 'S5
red his first term in the house of
resentatives. Col. Stevens sue
1ed himself in the house and COM
led the second term in the house,
sr going to the senate, where he
yed one term from the Eleventh
trict. While member of the SEN
Col. Stevens decided to make the
e for commissioner of agriculture,
in 1898 was elected to that Of
. serving continuously until in
IS he was appointed by Governor
rell to the vacancy on the state
road commission to succeed Hon.
Pope Brown for a term of six
rs.
lie moved to and made Atlanta his
ne about 1902, and had since been
itizen of that city. After retire
Mt from the railroad commission
engaged in the real estate bust
S, and was active in that business
Ill his recent illness.
Large Family Connection.
Col. Stevens had a large and prom
mt family connection. He was ed
ited in the public schools, and
S united in marriage to Miss
LA Lotion, who survives him. He
the father of seven children,
zee sons and three daughters. He
survived, however, by only three
Ildren, Mrs. Mark j. James of Crit
Miss Ella Stevens and o. B. Stew
F' Jr., of Atlanta. Mrs. NJ. ]. Yeo-
EnS and Mrs. Frank Nasworthy, of
lVsOn, Will Stevens, of Fayette-
le' and Robert Stevens, of Atlanta.
eceded their father to the grave.
l. stevens is survived by one sis
: MIS- J. A. Laing, of Dawson.
'hen His Democracy Was Tested.
IN 1892 Colonel Stevens aspired to
'ceed Henry G. Turner as congress
II from the Second Georgia dis
e. J. H. Query, Judge of the Pa
l'a circuit, had the same aspira-
Ill., They we're friends and left
uecIslon as to which should be a
luldate to the people of this coun-
In the primary Mr.. Stevens won.
inat year the Farmers Alliance,
y strong in South Georgia, went
y polltics like a calf to it's mother.
' stevens had the endorsement of
AlIlance organization for con-
'@ nom the Second district, and at
: Nlle appeared to have won the
y But in several sections the AL
a'snen began to go over to the
'NSS party. Some of Mr.. Stew
representatives on the stump,
: Questioned directly by some of
va guard democrats, declined
ITOF NJ