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STEPHENSON, Robert - 1912 Bio (1831-1909)

STEPHENSON, WILKINS, HOPKIRK, REDPATH, BOLTZ

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/1/2007 at 21:42:28

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 258, and 261-262

Robert STEPHENSON.

As each year is added to the cycle of the centuries the ranks of the Civil war veterans are fast becoming decimated, as one by one they respond to the final roll call. Among those who have recently passed away is numbered one, who, whether in times of peace or times of war, was ever found faithful to whatever duty lay before him and to whom the term citizenship held as much of responsibility as of privilege. Few are more deserving of the honor and esteem of their fellowmen than was Robert STEPHENSON, who for almost seven decades remained a resident of Jefferson county. He was born in England, September 3, 1831; a son of Robert and Mary Ann (WILKINS) STEPHENSON, also natives of England. The parents brought their family to the new world in 1834, landing at New York, whence they made their way to Cincinnati, Ohio, and on the 2d of May, 1841, arrived in Jefferson county, Iowa, the family home being located at Four Corners, Lockridge township. There they passed their remaining days upon the farm which they first located, the father giving his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a republican in politics and very prominent in the party ranks of Iowa, representing his county in the lower house of the state legislature. In his family were four sons: George, Robert, John and Thomas. The last named passed away while serving in the Civil war, as a member of Company M, Fourth Iowa Cavalry.

Robert STEPHENSON was a lad of three years when he left the land of his nativity and came with his parents to the United States. His education, which had begun across the water, was completed in the schools of Jefferson county, and here he continued to reside, engaging in agricultural pursuits, until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted, on the 13th of November, 1861, in Company M, Fourth Iowa Cavalry. He remained in active service at the front until the 25th of February, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability, due to an injury of the knee which resulted in the amputation of his left leg.

Returning home, Mr. STEPHENSON located on a small fruit farm at Coalport, Lockridge township, which he operated for about fourteen years, or until 1876, when he removed to Fairfield to assume the duties of county recorder of Jefferson county, to which office he had been elected in that year. Reelection proved the capability and efficiency with which he performed the duties that devolved upon him in that capacity, and for two terms he occupied the office. He also filled the position of justice of the peace at Lockridge for a number of years, and served as postmaster for a time. He was a stanch republican in politics, loyally supporting the principles for which the name stands, but, though a radical, he treated those of different political belief with courtesy and fairness and had warm friends in all parties. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1854, and, from that time until his death, he manifested the utmost fealty to the country of his adoption and to her laws and institutions.

Mr. STEPHENSON was married, at Lockridge, Iowa, on the 15th of May, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth HOPKIRK, who was born in Rochester, New York, January 10, 1835; a daughter of William and Jane (REDPATH) HOPKIRK. Her parents were born, reared and married in Scotland and came to the United States on their wedding trip, landing at New York. They first made their home in Rochester, New York, later removed to Ohio, and in 1842 came to Jefferson county, Iowa, where their remaining days were spent. In their family were eleven children, six daughters and five sons, of whom the two eldest sons, William and Robert, enlisted from Jefferson county in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and both died while serving in the Civil war. Five daughters and two sons are now living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. STEPHENSON were born eight children, as follows; Dr. Robert Bruce STEPHENSON, of Libertyville, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William Wallace, who passed away when four years of age; Mary Ann, whose death occurred at three years; Anna Laura, who died at the age of five months; James Ralph, a resident of Des Moines; John Walter, of Fairfield; Flora Belle, who married Oscar BOLTZ, of Fairfield; and another who passed away in infancy. Mr. STEPHENSON held membership in George Strong Post, No. 19, G. A. R., and both he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which he passed away on the 14th of February, 1909. For over a year he had been in frail health and for three months prior to his death it was known that he could not long survive, yet the news of his death brought a sense of personal loss to the citizens of Fairfield among whom he had lived and labored for so many years. He was one of the widely known men of Jefferson county and during his residence in this city had gained many warm friends, for the salient elements of his character were such as command confidence and regard and win and hold friendship. His widow still makes her home on South Fourth street, in Fairfield, and occupies a high place in the affections of all who know her, by reason of her many excellent qualities of heart and mind.

[Transcriber's note: The G.A.R. is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.


 

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