Thomas Alexander Stebbins 1861-1913

STEBBINS, KNEMYER, APPLETON, BENNETT, CANTRIL

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 9/16/2005 at 11:47:40

T. A. Stebbins, one of Fort Madison’s most prominent business men, died at his home, 431 Fourth street, at 2:30 Thursday afternoon after a prolonged illness from liver trouble. Death was not unexpected, but the end came as a sad blow to the family from whose midst there went a loving husband and father.

Thomas Alexander Stebbins was born at Salem, Van Buren county, on January 3, 1861, to Mr. And Mrs. Chas. Stebbins who were among the early settlers of Van Buren county, coming to Iowa from New York state in 1857.

When but a little child, the parents moved to Bonaparte and there the deceased had his home until he came to Fort Madison about fifteen years ago. He had been engaged in **** hardware business in Bonaparte ****** his brother, Charles, and when *******ame to Fort Madison he entered ***** the same business.

*******e Stebbins Hardware Company, *****hich T. A. Stebbins was the sole ***ner and head until a year ago ***n his son, Hiram, went into partnership with him, is one of the best ****wn firms in Fort Madison and **as grown rapidly under the ***iful management and by the *** dealing of the man who may *** be said to be one of Iowa’s self ***e men.

*r. Stebbins was married in Nov.****7 to Miss Lena Knemyer at Oma**** Neb., bringing his bride back to ***naparte where his home then was. To this union there were born four children, all surviving. They are Mrs. G. W. Appleton of Lexington, Ky., Hiram Stebbins, Fort Madison, and Katherine and Dorothy at home.

Besides these there survive two brothers, Charles of Bonaparte and Hiram of Keokuk and four sisters, Mrs. Lloyd Bennett of Decatur, Ill., Mrs. J. E. Cantril of West Point, Miss Mary Stebbins of Bonaparte, Ia. and Miss Margaret Stebbins of New York, City. Two grandchildren, Chas. Stebbins, Jr., son of Mr. And Mrs. Hiram Stebbins, and Dorothy Katherine Appleton, also survive.

Mr. Stebbins was a member of the Moose Lodge, the Eagles and the Woomen. – Gem City.

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[Note: Article was cut off along left margin first part of article. Hand written on obituary is “5.15.13”. Also, Salem is located in Henry county, not Van Buren.]

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA.