Stevens, Jonas Taggard
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 20, credited to Eden, VT Unit(s): 1st VT CAV Service: enl 8/27/62, m/i 9/26/62, PVT, Co. I, 1st VT CAV, pow, Broad Run, 4/1/63, prld, 4/7/63, pr CPL 6/1/64, pr SGT 11/19/64, pr 1SGT 3/23/65, comn 2LT 6/4/65 (6/17/65), m/o 6/21/65 as 1SGT See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 06/03/1842, Eden, VT Death: 08/02/1923 Burial: Eden Corners Cemetery, Eden, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Denis & Karen Jaquish Findagrave Memorial #: 18745255 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 2/15/1887; widow Emma S., 8/13/1923, VT Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice   Eden Corners Cemetery, Eden, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
Biography
Stevens, Jonas T., of Hyde Park, son of Amasa and Martha (Smith) Stevens, was born in Eden, June 3, 1842.
His father, Amasa, was a long-time resident of Eden, was prominently connected with public affairs, and for a considerable period was associate judge of the county court.
Jonas T. Stevens obtained his education in the common school, and for a time gave his services to neighboring farmers, being also employed in mills in the vicinity of his birthplace. Acquiring a small but well-earned capital, he invested it in a saw mill, when his business plans were suddenly interrupted by the breaking out of the civil war. He was too good a patriot to remain behind, when so many of his countrymen were thronging to the field, and abandoning his mill he enlisted in Co. I, 1st Vt. Cavalry and participated in nearly seventy engagements, in which that gallant corps were engaged. He had three horses shot under him, but escaped unhurt and was only prevented by a four weeks' sickness, when he was sent to the hospital, from being always present for duty. He recovered, however, in time to be present in the Winchester fight, where he had the satisfaction of seeing the rebel General Early sent "whirling down" the Shenandoah Valley, and April 1, 1863, he had the misfortune to be taken prisoner at the engagement at Broad Run, and sent to Libby Prison, but was fortunately paroled and rejoined his regiment within less than six months, eager and ready for the fray. He was discharged after almost three years service, having been promoted through every grade to 1st Lieut. of his company.
After his gallant service in the army, he returned to the vocation he had deserted at the commencement of the war, and for twenty-three years was engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Eden Mills. Since that period he has occupied himself with farming to some extent, but a large share of his time has been devoted to public affairs.
For eight years he was deputy sheriff and held that office till 1878, when he was elected sheriff of the county, serving two years, and again he discharged the duties of a deputy, till he was re-elected to sheriff in 1892. He has been entrusted with various offices, and was elected representative in 1872 and 1874 by Republican votes, doing good service as a member of the committees on general claims and corporations.
Mr. Stevens was united, in 1867, to Emma, daughter of Charles A. and Eunice White of Eden. One son has been born to them: Edson M.
Mr. Stevens is a member and past commander of Aaron Keeler Post, No. 91, G.A.R., and has received seven degrees in Free Masonry, affiliating with Mt. Morris Lodge, No. 69, of Eden, and Tucker Chapter, R. A. M., of Morrisville.Source: Jacob G. Ullery, compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, (Transcript Publishing Company, Brattleboro, VT, 1894), Part II, p. 378.
Obituary
NEWS & CITIZEN: AUGUST 8, 1923
DEATH OF J. T. STEVENS
PROMINENT IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR OVER 50 YEARS
GREAT RECORD AS SHERIFF:
TOOK PART IN THE CIVIL WAR
Jonas T. Stevens, a long time and prominent resident of Hyde Park, died Thursday night of hardening of the arteries. A sketch of his life appeared in print a few years ago, as follows:
Jonas T. Stevens, of Hyde Park, son of Amasa and Martha (Smith) Stevens, was born in Eden, June 3, 1842.
Jonas T Stevens obtained his education in the common school, and for a time gave his services to neighboring farmers, being employed in the vicinity of his birth place. Earning a small, but well earned capital, he invested it in a saw mill, when his business plans were suddenly interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil War. He was too good a patriot to remain behind, when so many of his countrymen were thronging to the fields, and, abandoning his mill, he enlisted in Company I, First Vermont Calvary, and participated in nearly 70 engagements, in which that gallant corps was engaged. He had three horses shot under him, but escaped unhurt, and was only prevented by a four weeks illness, when he was taken to the hospital, from being always present in the Winchester fight, where he had the satisfaction of seeing the rebel-General Early sent "whirling down" the Shenandoah Valley, and April 1, 1863, he had the misfortune of being taken prisoner at the engagement of Broad Run, and taken to Libby Prison, but was fortunately paroled, and rejoined his regiment in less than six months, eager and ready for the fray. He was discharged after almost three years service, having been promoted through every grade to First Lieutenant of his company.
After his gallant service in the army, he returned to the vocation he had deserted at the commencement of the war, and for 23 years was engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Eden Mills. Since that period he had occupied himself with farming to some extent, but a large share of his time had been devoted to public affairs.
For eight years he was deputy sheriff, and held that office until 1878, when he was elected sheriff of the county, serving two years, and again he discharged the duties of a deputy until he was re-elected to sheriff in 1892. he has been entrusted to various offices, and was elected representative in 1872 and 1874 by republican vote, doing good service on general claims and corporations.
M. Stevens was united, in 1867, to Emma, daughter of Charles A. and Eunice White of Eden. One son, Edson M. has been born to them.
Mr. Stevens was a member and past commander of Aaron Keeler Post, No 91, G.A.R., and had received seven degrees in Free Masonary, affiliating with Mt. Norris Lodge, Chapter No. 69 , R.A.M. of Eden, and Tucker Chapter R.A.M. of Morrisville.
FUNERAL FOR THE LATE JONAS T. STEVENS
The funeral for the late Jonas T. Stevens, who died Thursday night, following an illness of several weeks, was held at his home Sunday afternoon. It was largely attended by friends and relatives from surrounding towns, including nearly all the Civil War veterans from the Post of which he was a member, together with the American Legion, who attended in a body. Rev. Mr. Hays officiated, with Masonic Services at the grave in Eden, conducted by Mt. Norris Lodge, of which he was a member.
He leaves besides his widow a son, Edson M. Stevens, and a granddaughter, Allene Stevens, of Kansas City, Mo., and a sister, Mrs. Frank Stone, of Oskaloosa, Ia.
Among those from out of town to attend the funeral were Mr. & Mrs. George White, of Montpelier, Mrs. John McCuen and son, of Belvidere, and Mr. & Mrs. E.M. Davis, and Mr. &. Mrs, Charles Wright of Hardwick.
Submitted by: Deanna French.