Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/699

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STEPHENS
STEPHENS

1874, and the repeal of the increase of salary act. He was re-elected in 1870, and continuously served until his resignation in 1882. In the contest before the electoral commission, on the Hayes-Tilden issue, he advocated going behind the returns and setting aside those of Florida and Louisiana, but opposed all resort to force for seating Mr. Tilden. In January, 1878, he reviewed the question in the "International Review." On the announcement that Mr. Hayes was elected he advised acquiescence. His speech on the uncovering of the painting, "The Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation," 12 Feb., brought praise from all quarters. An old admirer proposed to send his crutches to congress after he should cease to be able to go. In 1881-'2 he undertook to write a " History of the United States," which he completed and published just before his death (New York, 1883). It had neither the vigor nor the value of his " War between the States," and was a failure, carrying with it his last bonds, in which he had invested part of the proceeds of his really great life-work. He had received a bad sprain in May, 1882, on the capitol steps, and at the close of the session left Washington forever. In 1882 he was elected governor of Georgia, by 60,000 majority, over Gen. Lucius J. Gartrell, a Confederate officer and lawyer. He worked hard and was an excellent governor. He made his last public speech at the Georgia sesquicentennial celebration in Savannah, 12 Feb., 1883. His brother, Linton, jurist, b. in Crawfordsville, Ga., 1 July, 1823; d. in Sparta, Ga., 14 July, 1872, was left an orphan at the age of three years, but his education was cared for by friends, and he was graduated at the University of Georgia in 1843. He then studied law at the University of Virginia and at Harvard, was admitted to the bar in his native state, and, taking an active part in politics, represented the counties of Taliaferro and Hancock in the legislature for several years. In 1858 he was appointed to a vacancy in the supreme court of Georgia, and his decisions, contained in three volumes of the " Georgia Reports," are characterized by their precision, perspicuity, and power of logic. Judge Stephens was a delegate to the Georgia secession convention in 1861, and opposed that meas- ure, but subsequently proposed a preamble and resolution declaring that the lack of unanimity in the convention was in regard to the proposed remedy and its application before a resort to other means of redress, and not as to alleged grievances. This was adopted, and he signed the ordinance. During the civil war he was a member of the Georgia legislature, where he introduced the peace resolutions of 1864, and vigorously denounced the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus by the Confederate congress. He also served in the army, and attained the rank of colonel. He continued his activity in politics during the reconstruction period, and prior to the presidential canvass of 1872 publicly spoke in favor of the selection of a purely Democratic ticket instead of adopting the candidacy of Horace Greeley.


STEPHENS, Ann Sophia, author, b. in Derby, Conn., in 1818; d. in Newport. R. I., 20 Aug., 1886. Her maiden name was Winterbotham. She married Edward Stephens in 1831, and shortly afterward settled in Portland, Me. She founded the "Portland Magazine" in 1835, and continued to edit it till 1887. In 1836 she issued a collection of writings by natives or residents of Portland, which she entitled "The Portland Sketch-Book." Meanwhile her writings were beginning to be known, and when her husband received an appointment in the New York custom-house in 1837 she made that city her residence. She edited "The Ladies' Companion" for four years, wrote tor "Graham's Magazine" and "Peterson's Magazine," and was for some time associate editor of these periodicals. She founded "The Ladies' World" in 1843 and "The Illustrated New Monthly" in 1846, and was during her life frequent contributor for various other periodicals. She also wrote several poems, one of which, "The Polish Boy," has long been a favorite for recitation in schools. Her principal short stories were "Mary Derwent," for which she obtained a prize of $400, "Malvia Gray," " The Patchwork Quilt," and "A Story of Western Life." In 1850 she made a tour through Europe and the East. On her return she published her first long novel, " Fashion and Famine " (New York, 1854), which is the best known, if not the best, of her stories. In France three different translations of it were published. Although Mrs. Stephens belonged to the intense school of novelists, her attention to minute details and her clearness of vision enabled her to be very realistic in the transcription of natural scenes, and she never hesitated to visit hospitals, public institutions, and even dangerous resorts, in search of striking types of character. Her principal works besides those mentioned include "Zana, or the Heiress of Clare Hall" (London, 1854; republished as "The Heiress of Greenhurst," New York, 1857) ; "The Old Homestead" (1856; 3 vols., Philadelphia, I860); "Sybil Chase" (1862); and "Ahmo's Plot" (1863). Mrs. Stephens also wrote a "Pictorial History of the War for the Union." A uniform edition of her writings was issued (Philadelphia, 1869 ; new ed., 23 vols., 1886).


STEPHENS, Daniel, clergyman, b. on his father's farm, Licking Creek, Bedford co.. Pa., in April, 1778; d. in Bolivar, Tenn., 21 Nov., 1850. He was graduated at Jefferson college, Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1803, at the end of a two-years' course, with the highest honors, served as tutor in college for a short time, and then opened a school in Easton, Md. Although of a Baptist family, he resolved to apply for orders in the Protestant Episcopal church. After due preparation he was ordained deacon in Upper Marlborough, St. Mary's co.. Md., in February, 1809, by Bishop Claggett, and priest at the diocesan convention in Baltimore in 1810 by the same bishop. His earliest service was in Chestertown; thence he went to Centreville, Queen Anne co., where he labored for four years. Deeming a change necessary for health, he moved to Havre de Grace, Harford co. In 1820 he received the degree of D. D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He was then called to the church in Staunton, Va., where he remained until 1820. Soon afterward he became rector of St. Peter's church, Columbia, Tenn., and from 1833 till 1849 he was rector of St. James's church, Bolivar, Tenn. He was very active and serviceable in organizing the church in Tennessee and electing its first