in a number of fraternal orders, in the doings of which he takes an important part. June 23, 1880, he was married to Miss Jennie C. Thomson, an estimable daughter of a prominent resident of Boonville, and, like her husband, a leader in the best social circles of Boonville.

in the business, but refused because he preferred real estate investments to mercantile pursuits. In this choice he was fortunate, for both houses with which he was connected failed in later years. Having invested in Kansas City real estate, he removed to that city January 1, 1886, and engaged exclusively in the business. He has followed realty affairs since that time without cessation, save one year spent in traveling in this country and Europe. At the opening of the New York Life building in Kansas City, in 1889, he took offices there, which he has since occupied, passing through the periods of expansion in values, consequent contraction and other experiences which have marked the business in Kansas City. His firm, which is one of the strongest and most reliable in the West, is known as John Stevens & Company, and transacts a general real estate business. Mr. Stevens has, by appointment of courts, acted as commissioner in the appraisement and division of almost all of the large estates in Kansas City, and for the park board of that city appraised for condemnation the North Park Terrace, Grove Park, Penn Valley Park and Paseo, Benton, Gillham, Linwood and Independence Boulevards, including about 5,000 tracts of vacant and improved property within the city limits. He is regarded as safe and conservative in all his estimates. Mr. Stevens has never sought political preferment. On national issues he is a strong Republican, always voting that ticket, but in local affairs is in no sense a partisan. For the higher city and county offices he endeavors to select the best men irrespective of party, desiring the best possible administration of public affairs without regard to party lines. He is not a member of any church, nor a subscriber to any particular creed, believing firmly in the moral code as inculcated by all denominations. Having a deep regard for the ritual, and having visited the cathedrals in this and many Latin countries, observing at the same time the charities and methods of the Catholic churches, he does not withhold from them his warmest sympathies, especially with regard to their influ

Stevens, John, for many years prominently identified with the real estate interests. of Kansas City, was born in Fayette County, Indiana. His parents were Charles Peyton and Letitia (Thorpe) Stevens. The father was born February 22, 1797, in Fauquier County, Virginia, and belonged to the noted Peyton family of that State. He emigrated to Kentucky, where he was married; removed from that State to Ohio, and thence to Indiana, where the subject of this sketch was born. Charles Peyton Stevens had a brother in the War of 1812, and his son recalls the father's account of going to Maysville, Kentucky, to meet the brother as he returned by river from the ill-fated Hull expedition to and surrender of Detroit. A brother-in-law was an officer in the Union Army during the Rebellion, and served on General Nelson's staff at the time the latter was killed at Louisville, Kentucky. John Stevens had three uncles, named McCormack, Gordon and Monteith respectively, evidently of Scotch extraction. His parents were Godfearing people, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was an oldline Whig, with a political record along this line that is traced back to the Peyton defection in England. Subsequently he became a Republican. He was a man with no desire for show or ostentation, and in the even tenor of his way spent his uneventful and peaceful years in the cool, sequestered walks of rural life. John Stevens had opportunities which afforded him only a common school education. However, he has never ceased to be a reader and student, has a library containing the choicest works of classic literature, and firmly believes that this method of education is preferable to spend ing so many consecutive years in search of knowledge, frequently at the sacrifice of physical strength. While a young man he entered a wholesale dry goods house in Cincinnati as stockkeeper. He soon took a position as salesman in a similar establishment. Twice he was offered a partnership

acquiring an

ences on the Latin races; united as they are, they wield a greater influence with those races than the Protestant church. Mr. Stevens is a Mason, having attained the rank of Knight Templar. For several years he was a member of the Kansas City Club, but

is not now so connected. He is a member of the Gentlemen's Driving Club of Kansas City, and of the Kansas City Commercial Club. A systematic and a careful reader, he is capable of enjoying the pleasures which elevate mankind and point toward a truer and nobler conception of duty to self and to society.

Stevens, Wyandotte J., superintendent of public schools, Carthage, was born July 8, 1854, near an Indian community, in Dundee, Lower Canada. His parents were Allen and Margaret (Spink) Stevens, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of Canada, of Scotch descent. They removed, in 1856, to Ottawa, Illinois, locating upon a farm. The son, W. J. Stevens, was there reared, and attended the common neighborhood schools until he was sixteen years old. His higher education was acquired at Wheaton (Illinois) College, Oberlin (Ohio) College, and in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He subsequently took postgraduate instruction by correspondence, and in the Missouri State University. He was but twenty years of age when he entered upon the profession in which he now occupies so prominent a position. In 1874 he was placed in charge of the department of natural sciences in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, in which he had formerly been a student, and occupied this position until 1878, when he became associate principal of the Morris (Illinois) Normal School, and teacher of Greek and the sciences. From 1881 to 1883 he was principal of the California Normal and Scientific School, at Vacaville, California. In the latter year he was called to the charge of the Latin and science classes in the Northwestern Normal School at Geneseo, Illinois, and from 1885 to 1890 he was principal of that institution. In 1890 he was called to the superintendency of the public schools in Webb City, Missouri, and served acceptably in that position until 1895, when he was elected superintendent of the schools in Carthage. His school engagements have been continually of increased importance and prominence, and his work has been thorough in character, and in such directions as to insure permanence and advancement. Without assertive enthusiasm, he has the ability to give direction to effort, without semblance of a commanding disposition, yet securing full

recognition of his conscientious and intelligent purpose. The morale of the school of which he now has charge amply attests this fact. He has always been deeply interested in seeking to make the work of the school have a direct beneficial influence upon the home, and to this end he has been instrumental in introducing music, drawing, manual training and sewing, as well as the adornment of school and home grounds by the artistic planting of trees, shrubs and flowers. In 1894 he became president of the Fruit Belt Orchard Company, of Burnham, Missouri, and in this capacity has aided in the planting and development of a commercial orchard of about 20,000 trees. Upon national issues he is a Republican; in local affairs he regards the man rather than the party to which he adheres. He is a Presbyterian, and a ruling elder in the church at Carthage. He holds membership in the Royal Arcanum, and has occupied the position of vice regent in the local body. He was married August 7, 1877, to Miss Julia H. Baldwin, who died three years later. June 29, 1882, he married Miss Eleanor E. Graham. Of this marriage four children were born: Hirrel, in California, May 14, 1883; Graham and Allen, in Geneseo, Illinois, January 2, 1887, and Margaret, in Webb City, Missouri, October 31, 1892.

Stevenson, John Dunlap, lawyeṛ, soldier and public official, was born in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, June 8, 1821, and died in St. Louis, January 22, 1897. He was educated as a lawyer in his native State, and in 1841 located at Union, Missouri. In 1846 he commanded a company in Colonel A. W. Doniphan's regiment and marched across the plains to take part in the Mexican War. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was a member of the Missouri Legislature and sternly resisted every endeavor of the secession party to carry the State into the Southern Confederacy. June 1, 1861, he became Colonel of the Seventh Missouri Infantry Regiment and served gallantly under Generals Grant and Sherman, rising to the rank of brigadier general and brevet major general. After the war he was commissioned colonel in the regular army and resigned in 1870. After leaving the army, General Stevenson accepted numerous stations of responsibility and trust in civil life. He was

successively city collector, assessor and collector of water rates, and comptroller of the city of St. Louis, and when stricken with his last illness, was auditor of the Laclede Gas Light Company. February 19, 1845, he married Miss Hannah Letcher, of Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia, their marriage taking place at St. John's Episcopal Church, in St. Louis.

Steward, Solomon, physician, was born November 11, 1823, near Mansfield, Ohio, son of William and Mercy (Clark) Steward, natives of Vermont. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed from Vermont to Ohio in 1812 and was one of the pioneer settlers in the Buckeye State. Until he was sixteen years of age Dr. Steward worked industriously on his father's farm, and as he was the youngest child the elder Steward had planned that he should remain at home and take charge of the farm. The son, however, was ambitious to obtain a higher education and declined to follow the course which had been marked out for him. A compromise was effected between father and son, the former telling the latter that he might follow his inclinations, but need look for no assistance from his parents. With this understanding Solomon Steward started out for himself, and for a period of five years thereafter attended school in summer and taught school in winter, during which time he received much unpromised material help from the old home. He read medicine in the office of Dr. Bushnell at Mansfield, graduating from the Cleveland Medical College in the winter of 1846-7. Returning to Mansfield he practiced medicine there until the spring of 1850. He then went to California and spent the following two years on the Pacific Coast. At the end of that time he returned to Mansfield and resumed his practice. During the Civil War he was for a time in the government military service surgeon at the Mound City, Illinois, Hospital in 1864 and 1865. In

and was

1867 he

practitioner and his conscientious devotion to the welfare of his patients soon brought him a lucrative practice, to which he gave close attention until 1898. In that year his wish was to retire from active professional work. However, many of his old patrons still insist upon having the benefit of his counsel, advice and treatment, and he is frequently called in consultation with his brother physicians and surgeons, with all of whom he is on good terms. Kindly and courteous, and benevolent in instinct and disposition, he is beloved by all, in a community which has been his home for more than thirty years.

came to Missouri and estabon a farm near Trenton,

lished himself

Grundy County, where he lived for the first four years of his residence in this State. The constant demand of the people among whom he lived for his services as a physician, caused him to move into Trenton and give his entire time to professional labors. His skill as a

In politics Dr. Steward was originally a Whig, and since the Republican party came into existence he has been a member of that great political organization. He has been a Free Mason since 1847. Dr. Steward married Miss Olive Hyde, a native of Wayne County, Ohio. Their children are Mrs. Cora E. Merrill and Mrs. Nettie H. Hoffman. The husbands of these two daughters constitute the firm of Hoffman & Merrill, leading business men and excellent citizens, who are proprietors of the Farmers' Store, of Trenton, the leading commercial house of that city.

Stewart, James, was born September 16, 1821, in the seaport city of Peterhead, situated at the eastern limit of Scotland, in Aberdeenshire. He was brought up as a. quarryman and contracting builder, succeeding his father in that business. He emigrated to Canada, where he resided for twenty-two years, and during this time acted as building commissioner of the government, supervising the estimates and the characters and value of the structural work of the new Parliament buildings at Ottawa. He also erected the government prison at Ottawa, and the Episcopal Cathedral in that city. In 1865 Mr. Stewart became a resident of the city of St. Louis, where he has since constantly resided. Several years ago he formed a partnership with his son, Alexander M. Stewart, and more recently the firm was enlarged so as to include his two other sons, John L. and James C. Stewart, but the style of the firm has constantly remained James Stewart & Co. The business of the firm, thoroughly founded by Mr. Stewart, has constantly increased, so that now, as engineers, contractors for the construction of harbors, railroads, bridges, grain elevators, railroad depots, mer

cantile and other heavy works, they scarcely have a peer in the country. He is a Presbyterian, active in church work and liberal in his benevolences. Mr. Stewart was married in Kingston, Canada, in 1844, to Miss Martha Lyall, daughter of William Lyall, an architect of Edinburgh. They have six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living.

Stewart, Joseph C., mine operator, was born April 19, 1844, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Robert and Charlotte (Fleck) Stewart, natives of that State, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of German descent. The son was fairly well educated in the common schools in the home neighborhood and entered early upon the active duties of life. As a boy he began in a store, where he learned to sell goods and assist in post office, express and railway station business. In 1866 he was placed in charge of a store in the Broad Top coal region, near Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, but relinquished this the following year to go to Montana, where he engaged in goldmining, and later conducted a store for Colonel Vawter & Co. In 1876 he returned to Pennsylvania, but not discerning a suitable field for his effort, and placing reliance upon the knowledge of mining operations which he had acquired in Montana, he determined upon entering the Missouri lead field, and located in Webb City, February 1, 1877. He at once became one of the incorporators of the Center Creek Mining Company, an organization inseparably connected with the history of mining in the district, and whose operations have been a stimulus to many similar enterprises, and have been taken as a guide by many. the first he was assistant superintendent and afterward became general manager, a position which he continues to occupy. This company was capitalized at $1,500,000, onethird of which is treasury stock; of this he and his brother, William C. Stewart, secretary and treasurer, are holders of a controlling interest. The holdings of the company are 160 acres of Webb City land, a forty acre tract north of Cartersville, and ten acres on the south of Webb City, all in fee simple. These extensive tracts are remarkably rich in high grade ore, and it is an interesting item. of history to know that J. C. Webb made his

discovery of mineral upon the parcel of land first described. Since 1877 about 130 shafts have been sunk upon these properties, under leases to operators in many cases, and the company work extensive mines on their own account, fully equipped with the most elaborate concentrating mills and other machinery. Mr. Stewart is also a directing member of the Elk Lead & Zinc Company, which operates under lease upon 160 acres, with ample operating and reduction plants. He is president of the Webb City Iron Works, principally engaged in building mining machinery. Their plant comprises five large buildings, fully equipped, and they have built or rebuilt mills to the number of twenty-six in a single year. In 1878, in association with his brother he established the Exchange Bank, of which he is president and manager. He is also treasurer of a stock company, which out of local pride furnished the elaborate and costly furnishings for the Newland Hotel of Webb City, and he is joint owner with his brother of the Stewart Brothers' lumber yards at Joplin. To all these large concerns are to be added lumber yards in Peabody and Lincolnville, Kansas, and large tracts of farming lands in that State and Missouri. Politically he is a Republican and gives active aid to advancing the interests of the party, which he regards as the only safe exponent of principles and policies which assure national prosperity, and the stability of commercial and financial affairs. He has been a frequent delegate in State conventions, and in 1888 was a delegate in the National Convention which nominated Harrison for the presidency. He is wholly destitute of political ambition, and has refused all public office except in connection with educational affairs, which always command his interest and service. For four years he was a member of the Webb City board of education, and is now (1899) president of that body. During his service in this important relation has been developed the existing departmental system of school organization, culminating in the high school providing an elective classical or scientific course of four years, completion of which admits to matriculation. in the University of Missouri. He is a charter member of Webb City Lodge, No. 512, A. F. & A. M., and past commander of Ascension Commandery, No. 39, Knights Templar, of Joplin. He is an active member of the Com