Indianian Republican Thursday Aug. 17, 1893
HERMON INGRAHAM STEVENS, second son of Timothy and Catharine Stevens, was
born in the village of Moravia, Cayuga county, New York, March 1, 1818, and
died at his residence four and a half miles south-west of Pierceton, Ind.,
Sunday, August 6, 1893, aged 75 years, 5 months and 5 days.
His father was in the war of 1812. By trade he was a mill-wright. In
the year 1826 he moved his family to Huron county, Ohio, where he died soon
after his arrival at that place. After the death of the father, the mother,
with his two sons, Nelson and Hermon, returned to Cayuga county New York.
Hermon was sent to the common schools of the neighborhood where he obtained
a good English education. He also found employment in a store in Auburn,
New York, for three years, and then learned the cabinet-makers trade. His
mother died in 1833. He then made his home with an uncle by the name of
Woodward. He then came to Seneca county, Ohio, in 1838, making his home at
the residence of his uncle Ingraham. In 1839 he married Miss Henrietta
Ingraham, daughter of Judge Ingraham, of that county, and moved with his
wife to Kosciusko county, Ind., and entered the same piece of land, which he
improved and lived upon until the day of his decease. To this marriage was
born seven children, Ulyssus, Comelia, Amelia, Henry, Nelson, Emmet and
Oscar. Nelson and Emmet died in infancy, and Comelia became the wife of
Perry A.Magee, and died in 1878. The rest are living in the far West. In
1855 he was separated by death from his wife, and in 1857 he was married a
second time to Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Spencer, at the residence of her mother,
in Wayne county, New York. Two children, Will and Jennie, blessed this
union, both of whom are living. In 1861 death again entered his family, and
his wife was the victim. In December, 1861, he was married to Miss Julia R.
Adams, at the residence of her mother, in Wayne county New York. Four
children, Charles, Kitty, Frank and Fanny, crowned the happiness of this
third marriage, all of whom survive their father except Charles. In 1851 he
became a member of Kosciusko Lodge No. 62, I.O.O.F., being the 37th
initiate, and was one of the charter members of Hackleman Encampment, No.
37, and subsequently represented both bodies at the session of the Grand
Lodge at Indianapolis. As a man of business he has been successful;
persistent in purpose, he carried to its consummation any enterprise with
which he was connected. An instance of this can be shown in the efforts put
forth to drain the low lands of his own and others adjoining his estate. By
that trait of his character; permanency of place, and concentration of
effort, he has developed an estate second to none in the county, and which
today gives evidence of his skill as a tiller of the soil. In politics he
was a strong Republican and Union man, during the civil conflict, and up to
the time of Greely's nomination for President, when he cast his vote with
the supporters of that gentleman. He had frequently represented his
township in nominating conventions, and was Chairman of the Republican
Central Committee in 1868. Peace to his ashes! His works stand as a
monument to his memory. His firmness, integrity and honorable dealing with
his fellow-men, will cause a feeling throughout the community in which he
lived, of a loss which will not be filled in a long time.