John S. Stevens
Encyclopedia
John S. Stevens was a prominent Illinois
lawyer
.
on September 16, 1838, the son of Joshua and Abigail (Walker) Stevens. He and his family moved to Hardwick, Vermont
in 1849. He enrolled in Dartmouth College
in 1858 and graduated in 1862.
After college, Stevens moved to Peoria, Illinois
, where he worked as a schoolteacher for two years. He then read law with lawyer
Alexander McCoy. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois
in June 1865. Stevens and McCoy formed a partnership, McCoy & Stevens, which lasted until 1870 when McCoy moved to Chicago
. Stevens then formed a partnership with David McCulloch
, which lasted until 1876 when Stevens became postmaster
of Peoria, a post he held until February 1880. In 1877, Stevens formed a law partnership with John S. Lee. Walter S. Horton later joined the firm, which became known as Stevens, Lee & Horton. After the death of Lee, William T. Abbott joined the firm, which was renamed Stevens, Horton & Abbott.
In June 1868, Stevens married Sarah M. Bartlett.
Stevens was active in the Illinois State Bar Association
, serving as its president 1901-1902.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Biography
John S. Stevens was born in Bath, New HampshireBath, New Hampshire
Bath is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2010 census. Now a tourist destination and bedroom community for Littleton, the town is noted for its historic architecture, including the Brick Store and three covered bridges...
on September 16, 1838, the son of Joshua and Abigail (Walker) Stevens. He and his family moved to Hardwick, Vermont
Hardwick, Vermont
Hardwick is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,174 at the 2000 census.It contains the incorporated village of Hardwick and the unincorporated villages of East Hardwick and Mackville...
in 1849. He enrolled in Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1858 and graduated in 1862.
After college, Stevens moved to Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, where he worked as a schoolteacher for two years. He then read law with lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Alexander McCoy. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in June 1865. Stevens and McCoy formed a partnership, McCoy & Stevens, which lasted until 1870 when McCoy moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Stevens then formed a partnership with David McCulloch
David McCulloch (judge)
David McCulloch was a prominent Illinois lawyer and judge.-Biography:David McCulloch was born on January 25, 1832, in Big Spring, Pennsylvania...
, which lasted until 1876 when Stevens became postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Peoria, a post he held until February 1880. In 1877, Stevens formed a law partnership with John S. Lee. Walter S. Horton later joined the firm, which became known as Stevens, Lee & Horton. After the death of Lee, William T. Abbott joined the firm, which was renamed Stevens, Horton & Abbott.
In June 1868, Stevens married Sarah M. Bartlett.
Stevens was active in the Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. Approximately 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, in which membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of lawyers licensed to practice in...
, serving as its president 1901-1902.