My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS B. STEPHENSON. A man of untiring energy, the subject of this sketch has been successful in life, which is proved by the fact that, although he started for himself without money, he has accumulated a comfortable home and is now one of the prominent citizens of Randolph County. He resides in Sparta, where he is Secretary and Treasurer of the Sparta Pressed Brick Company, of which he was one of the organizers. He is also a stockholder and Director in the Sparta Creamery, and has been prominently connected with the organization of the building and loan association, of which he is the Secretary.

The father of our subject, Edward Stephenson, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1829, and at the early age of nineteen was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Preston. With his wife and a family of five small children, he left his native land to seek a home in the New World. He naturally turned to Her Majesty’s province of Canada, and having acquired an education for the profession of a school teacher, he turned his attention to that in his new home. But only a few more years were allotted him in this world. The hardships and anxieties of frontier life overcame him, and while yet a young man he laid aside his armor and entered into eternal rest.

After a few years of widowhood, our subject’s mother married the brother of her deceased husband, John D. Stephenson, who was born in 1836 in Lancashire, England. In 1857 he emigrated to America, and locating in Canada, remained at Toronto until 1860, when he came to the States and made his home in Sparta. The following year he moved to a farm four miles northeast of the city, which he cultivated and resided upon until 1892, when he returned to Sparta, and is now living a retired life. He is a carpenter by trade, but followed farming through the greater part of his active life. His early education was received in the common schools, and although his advantages were not of the best, he improved his spare moments, and became one of the well posted men of the section. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is deeply interested in all matters pertaining to the advancement of his community. He held the offices of Road Commissioner, Township Commissioner, Justice of the Peace and School Trustee, and is recognized as a man of extended influence. He was formerly an official member of the Baptist Church, but is now associated with the Brethren.

The paternal grandparents of our subject, Christopher and Margaret (Walker) Stephenson, were also natives of Lancashire, England, where they lived and died. The grandfather, who was a canal-keeper, was the son of William Stephenson, a Scotch sailor. The maiden name of our subject’s mother was Elizabeth Preston. She likewise was born in the above shire in England, and was a daughter of John and Ann Preston, prosperous farmers, who spent their entire lives in their native land. During the latter years of her young womanhood, Mrs. Stephenson made her home with her eldest brother, Roger, who was a Quaker, and through him received a good education.

The mother of our subject was first married about 1848, and the union was blessed with the following named children: Roger P., Christopher, John, Edward, Thomas B., Margaret and Elizabeth A. To her second marriage five children were born, James, William R., Sarah J., Mary and Alonzo J. The eldest son is now living in Salina, Kan., where he is pastor of the First Baptist Church; Christopher makes his home in Denver, Colo., and is a prominent lawyer of that place; John lives on the old homestead near Sparta; Edward makes his home in Jackson, Mich., and has charge of the Baptist Church there; Margaret is the wife of R. S. Burns, a carpenter residing in Sparta; Elizabeth married Michael S. Crawford, a farmer in Crawford County, Kan.; James is a member of the firm of Stephenson Brothers, in Sparta; William R. is the junior member of the same firm; Alonzo is employed in the pressed brick works, in which our subject is interested; Sarah J. and Mary are at home.

Thomas B. Stephenson was born November 20, 1855, in Lancashire, England, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Canada in 1857. He was reared to manhood in Randolph County, Ill., in the meantime attending school when opportunity offered, and also engaged in farming pursuits. Later, his knowledge gained in the public schools was supplemented by attendance at the Carbondale Normal University, where he was a student for about two years. He earned his first money by teaching school in Cumberland County, Ill. After being thus engaged for two years in that place, young Stephenson returned to Randolph County, and was employed as teacher in this vicinity for four years, the last two terms of which time he taught in the high school at Sparta.

In 1881, while teaching school, Mr. Stephenson purchased the stock of goods from S. F. Hyndman, of Sparta, and, associated with his brother-in-law, J. L. Beattie, continued to carry on business as Stephenson & Beattie until 1890. In 1888, prior to disposing of his interests in that line, our subject became book-keeper in the bank of F. R. Crothers & Co., with whom he remained until February of 1892. Mr. Stephenson assisted in incorporating the Sparta Pressed Brick Company, which was organized with a capital of $14,000. It is a valuable acquisition to the town and gives employment to many men. The building and loan association, which was incorporated in April, 1886, in a measure owes its existence to our subject, as does also the Sparta Creamery, of which he is a stock holder and Director. The latter was organized in 1884, and now has a capital of $10,000. The company pays out for milk each year from $50,000 to $60,000, and the product of the factory finds a ready sale in this vicinity. The Gas and Oil Company of Sparta, of which Mr. Stephenson is now Treasurer, operates twelve wells, and has a capital stock of $15,000.

October 8, 1879, Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob B. and Elizabeth (McMillan) Beattie, became the wife of our subject. She is a native of Sparta, while her father was born in Allegheny County, Pa., and her mother was born in Paisley, Scotland. Mr. Beattie came to Randolph County in 1818, and located in township 4, range 5. February 9, 1853, he married Elizabeth McMillan, and they still reside upon the old homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have been born three children, Edward B., Bertha E. and Carl C. In his political relations, our subject always votes with the Republican party, and few residents of the county are more widely known, and none more favorably, than he. With his wife he is associated with the Brethren.