Roldon Stimson Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 984-985


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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ROLDON STIMSON. This former prominent citizen of Atlas Township, 
Genesee County, was born November 12, 1841, at Mendon, N. Y., and 
departed this life July 14, 1886. His parents, Joel and Betsey Stimson, 
brought him with them at the age of six years to Oakland County, this 
State, where his father died. A few years later he removed with his 
mother to Lapeer County, where he grew to maturity. His education was 
received in the public schools of Michigan and he early became a 
farmer.

   Mr. Stimson was married November 12, 1864, to Roxana Stocker, and to 
them were horn four sons and two daughters. Mrs. Stimson was born in 
Canada, March 29, 1842, and is a daughter of Dennis and Laura A. 
(Barnum) Stocker. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stimson are Grant, Ida, 
Lois, Joel, Milo and Alberto. Ida is now the wife of Herbert Pierson. 
It was in 1871 when he removed to section 1, Atlas Township. At his 
death he left a fine estate of one hundred and seventy acres, the 
result of his life labor. His first purchase was fifty-six acres when 
he was in his eighteenth year, and to this he added from time to time 
until he had ac-cumulated the handsome property which he has left to 
his family.

   We copy the following from an obituary notice published at the time 
of Mr. Stimson's demise: "Brother and Sister Stimson were both 
converted to God nine years ago, and both united with the Free 
Methodist Church at that time. In his death the church will feel a 
great loss. Brother Stimson has been a great sufferer for over a year. 
He was confined to his bed the last six months of his life, and was 
wholly unable to help himself. He was much blessed during his entire 
illness, and with all his suffering he seemed to bask in immortal 
sunshine. His room was continually thronged by the unsaved; neighbors, 
pilgrims and strangers received words of exhortation or warning as the 
Lord seemed to direct him. He especially urged his unsaved brothers to 
flee to Christ. Frequently during the paroxysms of pain he would pray 
the Lord to give him rest and immediately rest would come to his 
suffering body."

   "During the last visit of his physician he questioned him, desiring 
to know just what he thought of his case, and said, 'Doctor, I am ready 
to go or stay.' The Doctor, although somewhat skeptical, replied, 'I 
have no doubt of it.' Before his departure he called the family to his 
bedside, talked to them as only a dying husband and father could talk, 
commending them to God, and sealed the last farewell with an impressive 
kiss. His last prayer was 'Father, let Thy blessings rest upon my 
family when I am gone.' His last audible utterance was 'I am going 
home.' "

   "Brother Stimson is dead and yet he lives, not only in the hearts of 
the community and his bereaved sorrowing family, but in the heaven 
prepared for the redeemed of earth. Services were held in his own 
house. He had chosen his pall bearers, and requested the writer to 
officiate at his funeral. A large concourse of neighbors, relatives and 
friends gathered, and fifty carriages followed his remains to the 
village cemetery, where they quietly laid him to rest."



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