Stephenson - John M.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain
Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman, 1893
JOHN M. STEPHENSON, a representative business man and old resident of
Linden, Montgomery County, Ind., and a Trustee of Madison Township for the past
four years, has for over half a century been identified with the growth and
local history of the surrounding country. In 1889 he established a saw and tile
mill, and, finding the venture profitable, still continues in the business. Our
subject is a native-born American citizen, as was his father and his father’s
father before him, but his paternal great-grandfather, Hughey Stephenson, was a
Scotchman, born and bred upon his native heath.
In the early days of emigration from the Old Country, when a voyage across the Atlantic meant weeks of tossing about upon its stormy waves, the then young and ambitious Scotch laddie journeyed to the United States, which had about that time established a national government and declared its freedom from the rule of Britain. The majority of the emigrants of those days were of the energetic and enterprising middle class, who, like Hughey Stephenson, had descended from intelligent ancestry, and sought to improve their fortunes in a free and prosperous country.
Among these people the ancestor of our subject found congenial friends and entered into matrimony, rearing a large family of industrious and useful citizens. One of his sons, John, served bravely in the War of 1812, and afterward located in Ohio, when that State was almost a wilderness; a few straggling settlements here and there comprised the bulk of the populatiom, and many were the privations and dangers encountered by the pioneers. Amid the rugged scenes of those early days the grandfather of our subject reared ten children. His second child, Jeremiah remained in his native State until he had reached mature years; then, having married a Miss Phoebe Cook, came with his wife to Madison County, Ind., in 1837.
For a full score of years the grandparents made their home in their first location, and there a family of five bright children grew up about them, viz.: Nancy; John,our subject; Sarah, Rebecca and William. Of these children, all but Nancy still survive. John M. arrived at manhood in Madison County, but came with his parents to Montgomery County in 1857. The family settled in Coal Creek Township, where the mother died; the father survived her, and was making his home in Linden when he, too, passed away.
Our subject received an education in the common schools, and then applied himself industriously to a daily round of work. having made a good beginning in life, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Dewey, daughter of Washington and Elizabeth (Gammon) Dewey, in 1860. The father of Mrs. Stephenson was born near Whitewater, Ind. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Maryland, and his father was born and reared in England. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, viz.: Edward; Elizabeth, wife of Brent White; George, Fred, William, Blanche, Maud, John, C. Everett and Paul. Some of these young people have gone into homes of their own, but the majority still remain on the homestead of their parents, who are desirous mainly of training them well for the battle of life, and so fitting them for daily cares and anxieties, which come alike to all, both rich and poor.
Our subject and his family occupy a high position in the regard of the community in which they dwell. They are among the valued members of the Christian Church, and are foremost in the benevolent work of that religious organization. Mr. Stephenson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically affiliates with the Republican party. As Trustee of Madison Township he has given satisfaction, and in his work received the approval of old friends and neighbors.
In the early days of emigration from the Old Country, when a voyage across the Atlantic meant weeks of tossing about upon its stormy waves, the then young and ambitious Scotch laddie journeyed to the United States, which had about that time established a national government and declared its freedom from the rule of Britain. The majority of the emigrants of those days were of the energetic and enterprising middle class, who, like Hughey Stephenson, had descended from intelligent ancestry, and sought to improve their fortunes in a free and prosperous country.
Among these people the ancestor of our subject found congenial friends and entered into matrimony, rearing a large family of industrious and useful citizens. One of his sons, John, served bravely in the War of 1812, and afterward located in Ohio, when that State was almost a wilderness; a few straggling settlements here and there comprised the bulk of the populatiom, and many were the privations and dangers encountered by the pioneers. Amid the rugged scenes of those early days the grandfather of our subject reared ten children. His second child, Jeremiah remained in his native State until he had reached mature years; then, having married a Miss Phoebe Cook, came with his wife to Madison County, Ind., in 1837.
For a full score of years the grandparents made their home in their first location, and there a family of five bright children grew up about them, viz.: Nancy; John,our subject; Sarah, Rebecca and William. Of these children, all but Nancy still survive. John M. arrived at manhood in Madison County, but came with his parents to Montgomery County in 1857. The family settled in Coal Creek Township, where the mother died; the father survived her, and was making his home in Linden when he, too, passed away.
Our subject received an education in the common schools, and then applied himself industriously to a daily round of work. having made a good beginning in life, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Dewey, daughter of Washington and Elizabeth (Gammon) Dewey, in 1860. The father of Mrs. Stephenson was born near Whitewater, Ind. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Maryland, and his father was born and reared in England. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, viz.: Edward; Elizabeth, wife of Brent White; George, Fred, William, Blanche, Maud, John, C. Everett and Paul. Some of these young people have gone into homes of their own, but the majority still remain on the homestead of their parents, who are desirous mainly of training them well for the battle of life, and so fitting them for daily cares and anxieties, which come alike to all, both rich and poor.
Our subject and his family occupy a high position in the regard of the community in which they dwell. They are among the valued members of the Christian Church, and are foremost in the benevolent work of that religious organization. Mr. Stephenson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically affiliates with the Republican party. As Trustee of Madison Township he has given satisfaction, and in his work received the approval of old friends and neighbors.