John W. Stevenson, Pioneer Merchant

 

John Wesley Stevenson was born in Maryland in 1825 to Mathew and Jane (Gilson) Stevenson. Mathew Stevenson was a pioneer physician in Ohio. The photograph above was taken by Sandusky photographer Willard A. Bishop, who was his brother-in-law. 

In the summer of 1853, Mr. Stevenson opened up a dry goods store in the Reber block of downtown Sandusky. An advertisement which appeared in the September 8, 1853 issue of the Sandusky Daily Commercial Register indicated that the store had just received a new shipment of goods from the east. The store sold fancy and staple dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, hardware, willow ware, and other merchandise. The ad stated that the assortment and stock at Stevenson’s dry goods store was not excelled by any other business in Sandusky.

By 1867, he listed his occupation in the city directory as produce merchant. 

John’s wife was the former Caroline Converse Mathews. They married in July, 1853 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The couple had two children, Frederick Boyd Stevenson and Mary Stevenson, who married John Sweet. Frederick Boyd Stevenson had a long career in newspapers. He was on the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle in New York for twenty-seven years.

John W. Stevenson died on May 22, 1910, at his home at 921 Washington Street, at the age of 85. Rev. Ashton Thompson from Grace Episcopal Church conducted funeral services for Mr. Stevenson, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. From 1865 until his death in 1910, John W. Stevenson and his wife resided at what is now 603 West Washington Street, a home originally owned by George Reber.

Promising Young Men of Sandusky

The eight young men pictured below were photographed in 1861. While the exact reason for the photo is not known, the men may be members of a literary club or a church youth group.
Jay Smith, J. Edward Mathews, Harper Austin, and Charles B. Dennis all served in the 101st Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Frank Pierce worked Sandusky in the hardware business before moving to Cincinnati. C. M. Thorpe was engaged in the coal business in Sandusky and Detroit. Henry C. Huntington was a successful local businessman in several ventures, and was president of the Men’s Literary Society. Charles E. Bouton became Mayor of Sandusky in April 1895.
All of these young men served their country and community well. The photograph above captures them in the innocence of youth before they had to face the responsibilities of work, warfare, and civic duty.

If you have historical photos of Erie County residents, consider donating them to the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library.