USA > Pennsylvania > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present > Part 143
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
HENRY B. BAILEY, coal operator, Sandy Lake, was born June 1, 1842, in Mahoning County, Ohio, to Bariah and Anna B. (Kincaid) Bailey, natives of the same State, and the parents of Horace (killed at Pittsburgh Landing, was a member of Company C, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry), James G. (lives in Ohio, and is in partnership with our subject), Henry B., William, Lydia A. (married Warren Van Fleet) and Hiram R. The parents were members of the Disciples Church. Henry received a common-school edu- cation in Austintown Township, Mahoning Co., Ohio. He enlisted in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He was wounded in the right arm at the battle of Chaplin Hills, Ky., and was with his regiment in all of the battles. On his return from the war he resumed mining in the vicinity of Sandy Lake. He and his brother, James G., opened the present Bailey Mines in 1876, and employ from ten to twelve men during the busy season. He was married September 11, 1872, to Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Margaret Patterson, of Venango County, Penn., by whom he has four children: John D., Anna B., Edna M. and an infant. Mr. Bailey is serving as school director, and is a member of the G. A. R. of Sandy Lake. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of the same place. His brothers, James, William and Horace, were in the war, Horace and James in one company, and William and Henry in another.
P. P. BARNES, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born October 3, 1845, in Sandy Lake Township, to James and Elizabeth (Patterson) Barnes, natives, the father of Mercer, and the mother of Venango County. The parents set- tled in Sandy Lake Township at their marriage, where the father died in 1853, and his widow in 1887. They were blessed with the following children: Elizabeth, married Albert Reagle; John, lives in Illinois; P. P., W. J., T. H., of Franklin, and Samuel. The mother was a member of the Covenanter Church, and the father was a Democrat. Our subject was educated in the common schools and has always been a farmer. He was married March 30, 1865, to Eliza M. Reagle, and has been blessed with four children: James, Samuel, Sadie and John R. Mr. Barnes is the owner of 108 acres of land, known as the Hunter Farm, which is one of the best in the township. He and wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is an earnest Democrat. He is one of the public spirited citizens who always lends a helping hand to all enterprises that go to advance the interest and re- tain the good name of Mercer County.
HON. H. S. BLATT, hardware merchant, Sandy Lake, was born August 26, 1845, in French Creek Township, this county, to James and Hannah (Grove) Blatt, natives, the father of Snyder County, Penn., and the mother of Union County. The father came to Mercer County about the year 1835, and the mother a few years prior. The former settled in French Creek Township with his parents, Peter and Rachel (Beidler) Blatt, who had James, Abram, Absolem, Daniel, Catharine and Peter, all of whom are living but Daniel, who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, and Peter, who died when young. Hannah Grove came with her parents, Abraham and Elizabeth Grove, to this county, and the parents died in Mill Creek Township, and their children were Jacob, David, Catharine, Elizabeth, Barbara, Hannah, Rachel and Elizabeth. James Blatt followed the trade of a carriage maker in Sandy Lake, establishing that business there in 1852, and continued until 1866. They had four children: Rachel, married R. S. Hogue, of Cochranton, Crawford County; H. S., Mary C., married Albert Glenn; Isabella, married F. D. Muse. The father, James Blatt, was the first burgess of Sandy Lake, and held vari-
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
ous offices in the place. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was educated at the common schools and at the New Lebanon Academy. He taught one term of country school. He learned the trade of a carriage maker, which he followed until 1871, when he engaged in the hardware business at Sandy Lake. He carries a stock of about $12,000. He was married in 1863 to Hannah M. McClure, daughter of James and Hannah McClure, and has by her six children: Charles H., James J., both in the store with their father; Elfrida, married S. D. Parker, a grocer of New Castle; William R., Kate and Frank. Mr. Blatt was elected to the Legisla- ture in 1874, and served with credit. He was elected a justice of the peace at the age of twenty-two years, and has served as school director for fifteen years. He was burgess of Sandy Lake, and a member of the council one term. He is a member of the A. F. M., I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., K. L. H., and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics he is an active and enthusiastic Republican.
THE BROWNS, OF SANDY LAKE. - The first to come to this county was Alexan- der Brown, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., the time of his arrival being about the year 1805. He settled at what was known as "The Falls" of Big Sandy Creek, and was the first to erect a mill in what is now Sandy Lake Township. He was a surveyor, and surveyed a considerable portion of Mercer County. Soon after the organization of the county he removed to Mercer for the purpose of educating his children. While there he was engaged in the mercantile business with Bevan Pearson. He was the first man to card wool in the county, which he did at Mercer, by the use of a horse-tread power. He and Pearson dealt some in stock, and the fall of the market caused them to fail in business at a time when they had a large amount invested in stock. He was first married, in Cumberland County, to Mary Jacobs, a native of that county, by whom he had the following children: Eliza, married Andrew Pat- terson; James F., Thomas J. and Alexander. James F. was a printer, and worked a short time in Madison, Ind., and was offered a lot in the newly laid town of Indianapolis for every day he would work on the paper at Madison. He finally came back to his home and joined his brother, Thomas J., in the construction of a stone dam across the stream where the mill-dam of the McClure brothers is now located. This was the first stone dam that was con- structed in Mercer County. Thomas J. was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., May 2, 1801, and came to Sandy Lake in 1805, and in 1808 removed to Mercer. In 1818 or 1819 he was elected captain of a militia company, and subsequently was elected captain of an artillery company. In 1821 he mar- ried Caroline, daughter of Dr. Christopher Heydrick, and located on Sandy Creek, near Sandy Lake, where he subsequently laid out the town of Browns- ville. He was the first postmaster of this town. He erected woolen- mills, flax seed oil-mills, flouring-mills, turning lathes and manufactured lum- ber. In all of these he was assisted by his brother, James F. He was also engaged extensively in merchandising. In 1840 he was appointed a justice of the peace to fill a vacancy, and was elected to the same in 1845. In 1855 he was appointed associate judge to fill a vacancy, and was elected to that office in 1856. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1875 and elected in 1876, and re-elected in 1881, and filled the office up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1883. His wife died March 2, 1874, and was the mother of eight children: Alexander F., Harriet H., James, Charles, Christopher, Mary E., Benjamin F. and Albert G. Alexander, Sr., was one of the first associate judges of this county. At a time he and three other acquaintances were cap- tured by the Indians while on a tour down the Ohio River, where they had
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
established a trading post. Two of the company were killed by the red men, and while they were holding a consultation to determine what to do with Alex- ander and the other, an Indian squaw agreed to take them for her husband and adopted son. She finally helped them to get away, but they were soon captured by another tribe, which traded them to a Scotchman, who released them, and finally they reached home, dressed in Indian costumes. The original Alexander Brown was married a second time, his last wife being Mary Weekly, who bore him two children: Mary, married Alfred Norton, and Sydney, mar- ried James Moorehead. James F. Brown, whose portrait appears in this work, through the enterprise of his widow, was one of the respected and worthy citi- zens of the county, and is an excellent representative of the Brown family, which figures largely in the history of Sandy Lake.
JOB BUCKLEY, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born March 27, 1856, on the farm where he now lives, to John and Harriet (Slater) Buckley, the mother a native of England, and the father of Sandy Lake. They had six children; George, of New Vernon Township; Samuel, of the same place; Job, Alice, who married D. G. Perrine; Mary, married Cyrus Perrine, and Luke. The father belonged to the Zion Church, and died in July, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg; was a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Penn- sylvania Volunteers from Mercer County, and enlisted almost at the beginning of the war. In politics he was a Republican. Our subject received his educa- tion at the common schools, has always farmed, and owns one-half of sixty- five acres of the old homestead. He was married in 1879 to Mary, sister of Mrs. C. S. Wright, and by this marriage they have two children: Homer S. and Ralph A. Mr. Buckley has been supervisor, and is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church.
C. CARVER and JOSEPH BOWER, carriage-makers, Sandy Lake, are among the best known manufacturers of this county. Mr Carver was born in Trum- bull County, Ohio, August 10, 1840. His parents, John and Mary (Nesbit) Carver, were natives of Franklin County, Penn. They removed to Ohio when they were both young. In 1843 they settled in Lackawannock Township, this county, and subsequently the father followed his trade, that of blacksmith, at. Clarksville for about fourteen years. They then moved to West Salem Town- ship, where the father died in 1875 and his widow in 1882. They had eleven children born to them: James, a resident of Beaver County; Margaret, mar- ried Jesse McQuiston; Emily, is dead; Eliza, married James Watson; Mary, died in Erie County; Sarah, married to William Means; Calvin; Anna, married James McMillen; Seldin, died October 9, 1888; John F. and Mirancy. Of these, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. McMillen, Mrs. Means and Mirancy have taught school. Mr. Carver was educated in the common schools, and began to learn his trade when quite young. At the age of twenty-two he had completed his trade, having learned the carriage manufacturing business with H. C. Beldon, of Warren, Ohio. He formed a partnership under the firm name of Sisley & Carver, at Sheakleyville, and did general blacksmithing and wagon and car- riage-making. In 1869 he withdrew, and formed a partnership under the firm name of Waid & Carver, at Sandy Lake, and did the same kind of work. In 1880 he was joined by Joseph Bower in their present business. Aside from their manufacture of buggies and wagons they sell these vehicles of other manufactories. Mr. Carver was married September 26, 1865, to Caroline Beatty, only daughter of David M. Beatty, of Sheakleyville, and by her has six children: Frank B., William W., in a dry goods store at Burlington, Iowa; Edwin F., Jesse H., Kate I. and David M. The oldest is employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Burlington, Iowa. Mr. Carver is
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
a member of the K. of H., K. & L. of H., and he and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Joseph Bower was born August 9, 1845, in Venango County, Penn., to Peter and Catharine (Earhardt) Bower, the parents of four children, who grew up: John J., Daniel, Joseph and George W. The father was married a second time, his last wife being Elizabeth Lash, by whom he had Cyrus D., Mary, William A., Sarah B., Anna, Addie and Emma. Mr. Bower was edu- cated in Cooperstown, Penn., and began to learn his trade when young. He finished with William Dickson, at Clarksville, began for himself in 1872, and continued until he formed his present partnership. He was married Novem- ber 7, 1870, to Amanda E. Seiple, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sherr) Seiple. She was born in Lehigh County, and has borne him two children: Jesse A. and Frances V. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat in politics.
W. H. CLAWSON, butcher, Sandy Lake, was born January 1, 1836, in Trumbull County, Ohio, to William and Melinda (Hummison) Clawson, natives, the former of Virginia and the latter of Connecticut. The parents settled in Trumbull County in 1834, and at Jackson Centre in 1843, where the father followed the tannery and harness-making business, a part of the old Infield Hotel constituting a portion of the tannery. Six years later he moved his tannery a short distance eastward in the same township. His tannery having burned down about 1863 he removed the next year to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he farmed. Here his wife died in 1876. She was the mother of W. H .; Elizabeth, married John J. Giebner; Cylvia, married T. D. Mackey; A. M .; Charles; Luca A., married Austin Silliman; Lewis; Calvin; Melinda, married Lester Clark; Almira, married Charles Trowbridge, and Emerson. The father was married again, to a lady named Gates, by whom they had one child, Mina. The father was a stanch Republican. At an early date he, Benjamia Ride and Messrs. Harrison and Savage formed a Wesleyan Methodist organization at Jackson Centre, and held services in a school-house, near where Mr. Vernam's store stands. He naturally drifted into the current of opposition to slavery, and because of this those in authority on the other side refused them the use of the school-house to worship God, and Mr. Clawson tendered the use of his dwelling for some time. W. H. Clawson was educated in the common schools, and early learned the tanning and harness-making trades, which he followed until the age of twenty-six. He was a partial owner of the tannery when it was destroyed by fire. He was for four years engaged in farming and stock raising with A. G. Egbert, and afterward removed to Sandy Lake, where he engaged in the manufacture of harness with the same gentleman for two years. In 1869 he purchased the old Egbert homestead in Sandy Lake Township, and farmed the same until 1885, when he purchased the meat shop where he now prosecutes the butcher's business. He owns the old farm of 175 acres. He was married to Patience Egbert, a daughter of Lewis Egbert, by whom he has two children: A. M. and Lucy, the former married Ida, a sister of Dr. J. B. Mc- Elrath. Mr. Clawson has been school director three terms. He is a member of the E. M. B. A., of which he was one of the charter members. He also belongs to the A. O. U. W. and P. H. C., and he and wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He is a Republican, and sent a substitute, Harvey Squires, who was killed in the defense of his country at Fort Steadman by the side of Charles Clawson. The gallant fighting of these two at this bat- tle formed one of the most romantic episodes of the war.
DR. T. M. COOLEY, Sandy Lake, was born January 19, 1846, in French Creek Township, to William and Elizabeth (Paden) Cooley. The parents were
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
natives of Pittsburgh. They came to Mercer County about 1838 and settled in French Creek Township. The father was a blacksmith, and erected a shop on his farm of 125 acres, which he had bought soon after locating there. He died in 1849, and his children were: Matilda, married Hugh Patton; James, a merchant at Cochranton, Crawford County; T. M., Robert, the chief police officer at Texarkana. Mrs. Cooley survives. The father was married prior
to his union with Elizabeth Paden. His first wife was Matilda Paden, by whom he had John, deceased; Jane, married Joseph Smith and is deceased; William, lives near Meadville, Penn .; Eleanor, married James Smith and is deceased, and another child, who died in infancy. Dr. T. M. Cooley was educated in the common schools at Cochranton, and at the Edinboro Normal. He taught three terms of country school. At the age of seventeen years he began reading medicine with Dr. Bates, of Cochranton, and later read with Dr. Johnson at the same place. He attended the Cleveland Medical College, where he was graduated in March, 1868, and began the practice of his pro- fession the same year at Utica, Venango County, where he remained until 1875, when he located in Sandy Lake, forming a partnership with Dr. E. X. Giebner, which lasted until April 1, 1888. He served one year in Company E, One Hundred and Twelfth New York Volunteer Infantry. He was married in 1872 to Miss Sarah A., daughter of James Dickey, of Venango County, by whom he has had two children: Judson C., a student at the New Lebanon Acad- emy, and Robert B. D., deceased. The doctor has been a member of the town council and school director. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for four years. He belongs to the Mercer County and the State Medical Associations, is medical director of the E. M. B. A. and was one of the charter members of that institution. He is united to the K. L. H., and is a Democrat. A few years ago, while driving to see some of his patients, his horse took fright at the train, ran away and threw his arm across the track so that it was crushed by the cars. His escape from sudden death was a miraculous one, and the after struggle was one that but few could have stood.
LUKE IRWIN CRAWFORD, editor and proprietor of the Sandy Lake News, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., August 3, 1834. He attended the com- mon schools, then the old Mercer Academy in 1850, and taught a select school in Fairview, Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1860. He was graduated at Westminster College July 1, 1858, studied theology at Allegheny City, was licensed to preach April 4, 1861, by the Mercer Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, and ordained June 16, 1864, by the Le Claire Presbytery. He was pastor at Wyoming, Jones Co., Iowa, June 16, 1864-68. From January to April, 1870, he supplied the congregation of Sandy Lake, Utica and North Sandy, Mercer Co., Penn. He was installed July 1, 1870; resigned Utica in 1873, North Sandy July, 1874, and Sandy Lake August 12, 1879. He has been editor of the Sandy Lake News since June 23, 1876. He was married, October 31, 1861, to Miss M. J. Anderson, of Fairview, Guernsey Co., Ohio. Her father, Rev. John Anderson, was born in 1791 in Ireland. When he came to this country he identified himself with the "McCoyites," was educated under their auspices, and ordained about 1822 by the Reformed Dissenting Presbytery of Ohio. He was for many years pastor of the Reformed Dissent- ing congregation of Clear Ridge. In August, 1853, he and his congregation united with the Second Presbytery of Ohio, Associate Reformed. He
1 remained its pastor until his death, September 1, 1855, when his congregation joined the Associate Reformed, now United Presbyterian, congregation of Fairview, Guernsey Co., Ohio, with the families of which it was intermixed.
J. L. CROSS, furniture dealer, Sandy Lake, was born in Butler County,
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
Penn., May 27, 1846, to Samuel and Jane (Leggett) Cross, natives, the father of Butler and the mother of what is now Lawrence County. The parents had but two children: J. L. and S. B. The father was married three times, his third wife being Hannah Cornelius, a native of Mercer County, by whom he had one child, Julia, who married John Manning. His first wife was Jane Adams, by whom he had five children, three boys and two girls. Our subject was educated in the common schools and one term at Prospect, Butler County. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker at Harrisville with William P. Brown, with whom he continued for two years and six months. In the spring of 1865 he enlisted as a private in the Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Re- turning he finished his trade with Sam Brown.
In 1868 he opened a general furniture and undertaking store at Sandy Lake, and by attention to business and square dealing has established a paying business. He was married to Margaret J. Sawyer, a native of Venango County, by whom he had five chil- dren: Angus P., died at the age of eight years; Charles, died young; Ger- trude M., Lee B. and Jay G. Mr. Cross has been burgess of Sandy Lake three terms, a member of the council and school director. He is a stock- holder in the Stoneboro Fair, belongs to the K. L. H., is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is one of the leading citizens of Sandy Lake.
WILLIAM S. DEAN, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born March 12, 1825, in Butler County, Penn. His parents, Aaron and Leah (Steal) Dean, were natives, the father of Maryland, and the mother of Huntingdon County, Penn. They came to Butler County about 1800, to Mercer County about 1837, and settled in Fair- view Township, where the mother died in 1875, and the father in 1862. Their children were Hannah, married John Vogan; Ellen, married Aaron Dean; Jane, married John Allison; Jonathan, married Susan Wintz; Leah, married Martin Wintz; Polly, married Jacob Van Meter; William; Aaron, married Elizabeth Mc- Clain; Jacob, married Sarah Eckles; Isabella, married Benjamin Slater; Phoebe, married James Riley, and Nancy, married William Van Meter. The parents were Baptists, and the father a Republican. Our subject was educated in the common schools and brought up at rural pursuits. He began for himself by cleaning land by the acre at $9. He bought and paid for seventy-nine acres in that way, in Fairview Township. He was married March 27, 1849, to Mary Canon, of Lake Township. Her parents, Samuel and Nancy(McClure) Canon, had seven children: Mary; Margaret, married John McCoy; Nancy A., married Erastus Clark; LaFayette, deceased; Elmira, married Caleb Higbey; Elvina, married Riley Hosack; Fianes, married Elisha Bearce. Her mother is dead and her father lives at Stoneboro. Mr. Dean settled at marriage on his Fair- view farm, which he sold in 1856 and bought 100 acres where he now lives. They lived for many years in a log house on this farm, and in 1878 a fine house which they had previously built was burned while they were in Franklin on business. This incurred a heavy loss, as everything was destroyed. With sor- rowing hearts, but indomitable will, they set to work to rebuild, and now have a pleasant home. They have only one son, Edward W., who married Rebecca, a daughter of Samuel McClelland, by whom he has had three children: William C., married Nettie Cutchall; Cora A. and Charles M. Aside from his farming, Mr. Dean is engaged in selling choice nursery stock in Mercer County, from the well known Paynesville, Ohio. Nursery. He has served as school director: and assessor. He and his wife believe in the doctrine of the Methodist Epis- copal Church; he is a Prohibitionist and one of the honest, upright citizens of the country.
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
WILLIAM K. DE FRANCE, farmer, post-office Sandy Lake, was born on the farm where he now lives, February 11, 1840, to William and Jane (Kilgore) De France, natives of this county. The grandfather of our subject was a Frenchman, and came to America about the time that La Fayette came here. William De France died here in 1850, and his widow survives him at the age of seventy-six. They had six children: Sarah A., who married A. J. Patter- son, of Iowa; Boone, deceased; William K .; Elizabeth, married J. D. Powell, a contractor, residing at Sandy Lake; J. E., deceased; and H. T., a druggist of Johnstown, Penn. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the father was a Democrat. The father owned 115 acres of land, eighty-five of which our subject now owns. William K. is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has been trustee for over six years. In politics he is a Democrat.
DEVORE & STEVENSON .- W. S. Devore, of the firm of Devore & Stevenson, general merchants, Sandy Lake, was born in Washington County, Penn. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Sampson) Devore, who had four children, of whom the subject only survives. After the death of his wife the father was again married, to Miss Margaret Warner, by whom he had four children: Taylor, is a merchant at Parkersburg, W. Va .; Margaret, married Charles W. Smith, who is a prominent man and politician of the same city; the other two are dead. The father was a Whig at the time of his death, which occurred in 1859. He was for years a justice of the peace. W. S. Devore was educated in his native county, and at the age of fifteen years he began clerking in a store at Pittsburgh, where he remained four years, and then was employed by Thomas Stevenson, of Mercer, for about three years. He then went into business at Louisville, Ky., on a small scale. He subsequently engaged in business at Franklin, Venango County, and later at Utica, in the same county. He was fifteen years at the latter place, having a Mr. Nesbit as a partner for a portion of this time. He came from Utica to Sandy Lake, and in 1873 formed a partnership under the firm name of Devore & Stevenson, which continues. Mr. Devore is a director and stockholder in the Sandy Lake Banking Company, and is one of the wealthiest and most enterprising gentle- men in Sandy Lake. He is a Republican. W. T. Stevenson, of this well- known firm, died May 24, 1887, of erysipelas and pneumonia, after about two weeks' severe illness. If medical skill and careful nursing could have pro- longed his life, he would have been spared, as he had the best of both. Mr. Stevenson was a native of Mercer County, having been born at Mercer, Penn., in 1843. When a young man he worked at the printing trade in the Franklin Spectator office, for one year, when his eye-sight failed, compelling him to quit. Subsequently he volunteered in and served as a soldier of the Union army during the Rebellion. After the war he engaged with his uncle, William Devore, in the mercantile business at Cooperstown, Venango County, and thence removed their extensive business to this town, about fifteen years ago. Mr. Stevenson was a careful accountant, a popular salesman and successful merchant, and liked by all for his sociability. He was married October 7, 1873, to Harriet Egbert, a native of this county. She blessed him with four children: Sarah D., Edgar T., Mary M. and Harry, all of whom survive. The parents of Mrs. Stevenson were James and Harriet J. Egbert, natives of this county, and who had two children: Jane and Harriet. Her mother died September 3, 1855, and her father went west, and Mrs. Stevenson was reared by her grandparents, Egbert. In politics Mr. Stevenson was a pronounced Republican. In religion he had been for many years a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sandy Lake, to which organization his estimable widow is attached.
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