Boone County, KY - Obituaries:  Stephens, Richard, 1890

Wednesday, April 26, 2000



Submitted by:  lharabing@worldnet.att.net  (Buddy & Linda Harbin-Grubbs)

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Boone County Recorder, dated 25 February 1890, pg. 3., Col. 3. Obituary of Richard Stephens:



"Richard Stephens died at his residence in East Bend, Boone county, Ky., where he resided 

with his son, on the 25th of February 1890. He was the third son of Benjamin and Agnes Stephens; 

and of a family of eleven children who reached maturity, he was the last survivor. Had his life 

been prolonged seventeen days he would have reached the eighty-fourth milestone in his life's 

long journey. Throughout the whole of this long period he lived in sight of the place of his 

birth. Belonging to a large pioneer family, distinguished for honorable dealings and correct 

habits, none of whom have been convicted, or ever accused of a crime, he kept inviolate the 

family honor, and died without the slightest stain of dishonor ever having marred the symmetrical 

proportions of his useful life. By this Solom judgement, combined with ....... economy,, he 

acquired a large estate, which after his death was found to be entirely unencumbered and this 

without a will passed into the possession of his children.....Anna, wife of Thomas N. Stephens, 

Esq., this only daughter; and Solon, his only son. As an example of the privations of the early 

settlers he often told of how during the first years of his married life he possessed in money 

only three-bits (37 cents) but as he said their wants were few, and they had a sufficiency of 

the necessaries of life.  From this small beginning, aided by frugal habits combine with good 

management, he accumulated a large property. In his twenty-second year, he married Pamelia, 

daughter of Thomas Sandford, whose genial characteries yet kept ...... kind ......... and 

thereupon entered along and happy voyage of domestic life, unruffled by storms and rendered 

extremely pleasant by mutual confidence and affection. There never was a wedded couple whose 

tastes were more congenial, nor one whose lives were more sweetly harmonious. As they were happy 

in themselves they possessed in an eminent  degree the faculty of dispensing hospitality, and 

this their home was a haven of comfort and peace to whoever entered therein. The first, and last, 

break in this happy attuned existence occurred on the 9th of Nov., 1872, when the fond wife 

suddenly passed away. Thereafter the bereaved husband continued the weary journey alone...

grieving in solitude, yet patiently bearing the blow that struck from this life his sweetness 

and his light. She was buried in an aboriginal mound on the East Bend and Burlington road, in 

sight of their home; and here it was his want to sit by the lonely grave, doubtless communing 

with her spirit and longing for the hour to come when he would be united with her forever. 

By her side, after his life's labors were well done, he, also sleeps.

"The thought thereof is awful, sweet and holy, Chasing away all worldliness and folly."  WHN." 

 

Buddy & Linda Harbin-Grubbs

Boone County, Kentucky

lharbing@worldnet.att.net

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