JOHN W. STEVENSON.

GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, 1868.*

ANDREW STEVENSON, father of John W., was a native of Virginia; served for several sessions in the State Legislature, beginning in 1804; was a Representative in Congress from 1821 to 1834, and for six years was Speaker of the House; was appointed Minister to Great Britain in 1836, remaining in office until 1841. On returning from his foreign charge, he devoted himself to agriculture, and to the interests of the University of Virginia, of which institution he became Rector.

John W. Stevenson was born in Richmond, Va., May 4, 1812; died at Covington, Ky., August 10, 1886.

He graduated at the University of Virginia in his eighteenth year, read law, and established himself in his profession at Covington.

He served several years in the State Legislature; was elected a Representative to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses; in 1867 was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Kentucky; in 1868 was elected Governor of the State by the largest vote ever cast for that office; and in 1871 entered the United States Senate for the term ending 1877. Retiring from political service, he accepted a Professorship in the law department of the Cincinnati College.

Mr. Stevenson was retiring in his tastes, and loved the quiet of his home and library. He was fair in his judgment of men, and could even love those whom his official position, or conscientious duty, compelled him to rebuke. To a political opponent,

* Lanman; Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Ky.; "Sketch," by Rev. Walter Baker, D. D.

who challenged him to a duel, he wrote a letter giving his reasons for refusing the challenge.

He was an Episcopalian in religious sentiment, and at Covington, where he resided, was a communicant in Trinity Church. Strong in his principles, he impressed one, even on first acquaintance, that he feared his God, and would do right at all hazards. Often was the remark made by his fellow-Congressmen, "Governor Stevenson will do only what he thinks is right." If ever in doubt as to his duty, if an important letter was to be written, or an interview of moment was to be held, he would seek Divine counsel. He knew the way to many abodes of poverty in the city of his residence, and with his generous heart made many a fireside bright. While Governor of Kentucky, he regularly taught a class in the Sunday School.

RICHARD STOCKTON.

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 1776.*

RICHARD STOCKTON, great-grandfather of Richard, emigrated to this country with his wife and children, from the town of Stockton, England, establishing himself, first at Flushing, Long Island, afterwards in New Jersey; having purchased of George Hutchinson, by deed, March 10, 1692, for the sum of three hundred and twenty-five pounds, a tract of land, containing two thousand

acres.

Richard Stockton, grandfather of Richard, a member of the Society of Friends, received by conveyance from William Penn, October 20, 1701, a tract of land in New Jersey, consisting of five thousand acres, Mr. Penn reserving ten hundred and fifty acres. This location, situated on the north side of a brook, near what is now named Princeton, was called Stony Brook, in remembrance of the Stony Brook which passed through his father's land in Long Island.

John Stockton, father of Richard, was a Presiding Judge of the Common Pleas, of Somerset County, and occupied the plantation known as Morven, devised to him by his father. "He was a religious man, and always entertained those devoted missionaries, David and John Brainerd, when they came to Princeton. John Brainerd in his Journal, under date August 24, 1749, describing his journey from Cranberry to Neshaminy, Penn., says: 'Visited the sick Indian again, and prayed with him, took leave of him and several others of my people, and set out on my journey about three o'clock in the afternoon. Called at Mr. Wales' as I passed along; tarried a little while, and then came to Princeton. Went

Hageman's "History of Princeton "; Goodrich's "Lives of the Signers"; "Princeton College during the Eighteenth Century," by Alexander.

to Justice Stockton's and tarried there. I spent the evening mostly in conversation, and afterwards attended family and secret duties in which I was favored with some comfortable composure of mind, but had no special enlargement.""

Richard Stockton, subject of this sketch, the eldest son of John, was born in Princeton, N. J., October 1, 1730; died there February 28, 1781.

He prepared for College at the Academy at Nottingham, Maryland, under the care of Rev. Samuel Finley, afterwards President of Princeton College. Graduating at the College of New Jersey with the first class, in 1748, he read law with David Ogden, of Newark, was admitted to the Bar in 1754, and opened a law office in Princeton.

His business was co-extensive with the Province, and he was invited into the neighboring colonies. As an eloquent and persuasive advocate, he had no competitor in the State.

"Strictly upright in his profession, he scorned to defend a cause which he knew to be unjust. A friend to peace and to the happiness of mankind, he often, with great pains and attention, reconciled contending parties, while he might fairly by the rules of his profession have drawn from their litigation no inconsiderable profit to himself. Compassionate to the injured and distressed, he often protected the poor and helpless widow, unrighteously robbed of her dower, heard her with patience, when wealthier clients were waiting, and zealously protected her interest."

Among his law students were Jonathan Sergeant, Gen. Joseph Reed, William Paterson and Elias Boudinot.

In 1774 he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and in 1776 was elected to the Continental Congress, and was one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. While a member of Congress, during a visit to the house of a friend in Monmouth County, New Jersey, he was captured by a party of Royalists and thrown into prison in New York City. His confinement and the barbarity of his treatment seriously and permanently affected his health. He obtained his release through the interference of Congress.

Mr. Stockton was a man of handsome fortune, and the plantation which he received from his father, was made one of the most

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beautiful residences in the State. His house contained elegant and rare furniture, a valuable library and works of art. His grounds were tastefully laid out, planted with rare trees, and ornamented with a choice flower-garden.

From 1757 till his death, he was a Trustee of the College, and for many years a member and Trustee of the Presbyterian Church in Princeton.

An estimate of his Christian character can be formed by reading the following extract from his last will: "As my children will have frequent occasion of perusing this instrument, and may probably be peculiarly impressed with the last words of their father, I think proper here, not only to subscribe to the entire belief of the great leading doctrines of the Christian religion, such as the being of a God, the universal defection and depravity of human nature, the divinity of the Person, and completeness of the redemption purchased by the blessed Saviour, the necessity of the divine Spirit, of divine faith accompanied with an habitual virtuous life, and the universality of divine Providence; but also in the bowels of a father's affection to charge and exhort them to remember that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.'"

Mr. Stockton married a sister of Hon. Elias Boudinot. "She was a woman of strong mind, fine culture, and was a zealous Presbyterian. She impressed her character not only upon her husband, but on all her children, and her children's children."