SAMUEL STEVENS

SAMUEL STEVENS WAS BORN IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK IN 1811. WHEN HE WAS OF AGE HE MOVED INTO OHIO AND FROM THERE INTO ILLINOIS IN 1865. THERE HE REMAINED UNTIL INCREASING YEARS MADE IT DESIREABLE THAT HE CEASE FROM ACTIVE WORK AND IN 1878 HE MOVED TO IOWA TO BE WITH HIS SON, RALPH E. STEVENS, WITH WHOM HE MADE HIS HOME UNTIL HIS DEATH, APRIL 24, 1900, AGED 89 YEARS. FEBRUARY 15, 1844, IN OHIO, HE MARRIED MISS JANE E. LAFFERTY. THERE WERE BORN TO THEM FOUR CHILDREN, GEORGE W., RALPH E., ELECTA M., AND ORRA J. OF THESE ONLY RALPH SURVIVES HIS FATHER, OTHERS HAVING DIED IN CHILDHOOD. HIS WIFE DIED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE LONELINESS OF THESE LAST YEARS WAS CHEERED BY CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN, UNTIL OLD AGE CAUSED HIS DEATH. WHILE NOT A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH, HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS. HE WAS READY TO GO WHEN CALLED. HE HAD WON THE ESTEEM OF MANY FRIENDS AS AN UPRIGHT MAN, A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND FRIEND. THE FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD AT THE HOME OF HIS SON, CONDUCTED BY HIS PASTOR, REV. AMBROS S. WIGHT, FOLLOWED BY INTERMENT IN THE BETHEL CEMETERY.