Descendants of

William Jefferson Stephenson

 1 Judge William Jefferson STEPHENSON aka: Jeff Stephenson b: 18 November 1804 in Guilford Court House NC d: 16 April 1873 in Park Hotel St Louis MO Burial: I.O.O.F. Cem Ashley,  IL Father: Mathew Stephenson  W.J. Stephenson's will ; Chattel ; Appraisement

Attached Photo is from The Black Hawk War by Frank E. Stevens, 1903, Chicago, Illinois.

W. J. Stephenson was a Lt. in Black Hawk War in IL, Captain in Mexican War, and Col. in Civil War. Some say he was murdered by a supposed Southern sympathizer during a stay at a hotel in St. Louis MO. Census records list him as a Blacksmith.
 

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Letter written by William Jefferson Stephenson to stepmother, Delilah Freeman Stephenson.
 Outside addressed:
Mrs. D. Stephenson
Frankfort Ill.
By Jack Crawford
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 Inside:
Mt. Vernon Ill.

 

Dear Mother
 After a long silence I take this opportunity to inform you that I am well and the balance of the family also owing to the people having so mutch work to do that I can not come down just now at this time but it shan't be very long before I do come down. I have nothing of importance to write to you. Jack told me that you was very sick but that you was better than you had bin. I was very glad to hear that. Salina is very mutch pleased with this county and fir my part I am well pleased. We have all had our health very well since we came hear as well as better than we did then. I will let you now before long when I will come down. I would come down now but it is out of my power to do so. You must write or come up and see us as we all wish to see you all very mutch. Give my respects to all my inquiring friends. Tell Liza, John, Mathew and Mandy and Freeman that we all want to see them very bad with this I write no more--but remain yours as before
 D. Stephenson.     W. J. Stephenson
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ENDNOTES
The letter is copied as was written.

 

*estimated date of letter after March 11, 1840 and before June 15,  1841 after J. Mathew Stephenson death and Laurin's death and before John "Jack" Crawford marriage to Delilah.

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Source: Unknown newspaper article at time of death

IN MEMORIAM

 

 By the request of the friends and relatives of the deceased, Hon. Wm. J. Stephenson, I shall endeavor to give a short notice of his useful and eventful life.
 Brother Stephenson was born at Guilford Court House, North Carolina in the year 1804. When he was quite young his parents moved to Tennessee, where they lived a short time. From Tennessee they moved to Caldwell County, Kentucky. In the year 1839 [1825], brother Stephenson emigrated to Franklin Co., Illinois, age 21 years. His next move was to Mt. Vernon, Ill., Jefferson County [in 1839]. In the year 1855 he moved to Ashley, Washington County, Ill., where he resided until he was transplanted to Heaven.  The best eulogy upon Judge Stephenson that can be given was the continual record of his kindness, exhibited in almost every action of his life. He was a faithful, kind and judicious husband, an indulgent and generous father and an affectionate brother -- sociable and liberal as a fellow-citizen and noble and dignified in his bearing toward all men. A devoted friend to the poor, ever ready, so far as he could to alleviate their distress and to ameliorate their conditions.
 In his official relations his excotcheon was bright like the sun -- never sullied with dishonor. Integrity and decision of character for good were the prominent traits of his life. He has been a state senator in the legislature of Illinois, was sheriff of Jefferson County, Illinois for several years and was county Judge of Washington County, Illinois at his demise. All these positions he filled with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
 His piety was steady, active and intelligent. He taught the first Sunday School in Ashley. In his death the church has lost a faithful, laborious member whose place will not be easily supplied. As an official in the church he was punctual in all practical duties. None loved the cause of God and the Church more than he did.
 The circumstances of his death were sad. Like Moses, he died all alone (save with his God and Saviour). The hand of a kind wife or a loving child was not present to brush away the cold sweat of death from his sinking, dying features; no voice of love or song was around him, so far as humal [humble?] relatives of  [or?] friends were concerned. At Park Hotel, Room No. 9, City of St. Louis, April 16, 1873, his loved-wrapt soul departed for the great city above, not made with hands, leaving behind the frail tenement lying on the bed after having been an inmate of it for near 70 years.
 His disease was an affliction of the brain in complication (this I obtained from Dr. Pace, his near friend and family physician).
 ....veyed to the Odd Fellows Cemetery where they were interred. Besides the Masons of Ashley there was a delegation of that society from Nashville and also numerous other citizens.
 Judge Stephenson was born at Guilford Court House, North Carolina in 1804. He entered the Black Hawk War at its beginning and served until the capture of Black Hawk and the close of the war. During his service in this war Judge Stephenson held the commission of Captain.
 At the breaking out of the Mexican War he entered the army as a private and served two years, at the end of which time he was discharged, on account of ill health.
 Soon after his return home he was elected state senator, which position he filled for two terms.
 He was sheriff of Jefferson County two or three terms.
 He was Deputy U. S. Marshall during the Massack trouble and also Justice of the Peace.
During the rebellion he served two years with the rank of Colonel and soon after the termination of the great struggle he was elected Judge of the County Court of Washington County, which position he held at the time of his death.
 Judge Stephenson started out in the service of his country at an early age and continued in her service, with scarcely an intermission, to the time of his death -- a period of over forty years.
 During his long and busy life he was ever the true patriot and citizen with a large circle of friends who loved to honor and respect him, and he was held in high estimation by all who knew him. He was a man of sound principles and good judgment, and ever stood up for truth and justice. The death of this truly great man has been a severe loss to the people of the county and state, as well to his immediate friends and relatives. Of Judge Stephenson we can say that he was -- The man that as a soldier went to fight,
 As a Judge, was ever just and upright;
 As a statesman, very much honor has won;
 As sheriff ever his duty has done;
 As a christian, devoted and prudent too.
 As a citizen, ever good and true.
[................ "Memoriam for Hon. Wm. J. Stephenson. Newspaper Obituary Notice. There seems to be some of the above memoriam missing. Most of the text was also printed in the Nashville Journal, 30 April 1873 with this addition.]
 The immediate family and relations are under many obligations to brother W. B. Wescott for his kind favors to the deceased while a corpse in St. Louis, and pray the richest blessing of heaven to rest upon him and family, and also upon Mr. Kirkman, conductor on the St. Louis & S.R.R. Also John A Smithers and H. H. Wagner undertakers. Also to Chas. A Stilson one of the proprietor of the Park Hotel, St. Louis.
 I shall close this memorial tribute with much unsaid which might be appropriately said. The writer mourns with those most deeply afflicted, at the same time hoping that all his relations left behind may imitate his noble and pious example, and join him beyond the dark river of Death and perpetuate an endless existence with him in the society of heaven where our labor, work and suffering will be over forever, where we shall sing the silver song of  glory -
   "Beautiful throne of god the Lamb -
 Beautiful seat at God's right hand -
 Beautiful rest all wanderings cease -
    Beautiful house of perfect peace."
   J. H. Garrett

Nancy Cunningham  cunningb@flash.net