OBIT: Adie Allen STEVENS, 1917, Tyrone, Blair County, PA

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TYRONE LOSES IN PASSING OF A. A. STEVENS
Eminent Blair County Lawyer and Business Man Dies at His Home
WAS A STAUNCH PROHIBITIONIST
Liberal Giver to Church and to Temperance Cause - Largely Concerned in 
Business and Civic Interests of his Home Town

  In the death of Adie Allen Stevens, esq., which occurred at 6.30 
o'clock last evening at his home on South Cameron avenue, Tyrone, Blair 
county lost one of its foremost citizens, and Tyrone one of its 
staunchest and most revered citizens.  Mr. Stevens had been failing for 
a number of years past, but his condition became critical only on 
Sunday, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis and had since been 
unconscious.  Several years ago, he suffered a general breakdown of the 
system and, although he consulted with eminent specialists at different 
times, his general condition showed little improvement.  Yet he 
continued active business duties until his shattered constitution 
forced his retirement, and he had been confined to his home for several 
weeks past.  The immediate cause of death was arrero [sic] sclerosis.
  Deceased was the son of James and Catherine Stevens, pioneer 
residents of Blair county, who were settlers in Antis township.  He was 
born August 20, 1845.  His mother's maiden name was Catherine Agnew.  
His father passed away when Adie was a babe one year old.  His mother 
of venerable years died about two years ago in her nineties.  Two 
children were born to James and Catherine Stevens; Finley, who died for 
his country at the battle of Fort Wagner during the Civil war, and Adie 
Allen.  After the death of his father, he was raised at the home in 
Antis township and secured an education at Tipton, Charlottesville and 
later in Altoona.  He was a resident of the latter place when it was 
first laid out as a town.  He volunteered for service in the Civil war, 
enlisting in the First Pennsylvania infantry, later re-enlisting in the 
Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry.  He remained in the service of his 
country until the close of the war, making an enviable record.  He 
never spoke of his war service, although he affiliated himself with the 
Grand Army of the Republic and remained a member of the Tyrone post 
until his death.
  Mr. Stevens was one of the pioneer photographic artists of this city 
and devoted himself to the business of preserving the lineaments of his 
contemporaries for the five years between 1865 and 1870.  He then 
entered the law offices of Neff & Riley and having completed his 
studies was admitted to the bar in 1872.  He immediately located in 
Tyrone where he began the practice of his profession.  He took high 
rank almost at once and for many years was one of the leading members 
of the bar, not only of this county, but also of the state and federal 
courts.  Industrious and untiring, Mr. Stevens devoted himself to the 
interests of his clients and was unusually successful in his practice.  
For a score of years he served as president of the Bar association of 
Blair county and only declined re-election several years ago on account 
of impaired health.  After a number of years' practice here, he 
associated in law with the late G. Lloyd Owens, under the name of 
Stevens & Owens, and later William L. Pascoe, esq., was admitted to the 
firm, carrying the name of Stevens, Owens & Pascoe.  Upon the death of 
Mr. Owens some few years ago, Mr. Stevens and Mr. Pascoe continued the 
business under the name of Stevens & Pascoe.  Of late years, Mrs. 
Stevens has given up most of his law practice and handled only such 
large cases as he felt required his attention.
  It was in the year 1873 when Mr. Stevens conceived the idea of 
organizing a water company in Tyrone, then one of the town's greatest 
needs, and through his efforts, the Tyrone Gas and Water company was 
formed and has expanded with the town's growth, the source of the 
supply coming from the famous Sink run, noted for its purity and high 
quality.  He was president of this company since organization.  He was 
also active in the organization of the Home Electric Light company, now 
a constituent part of the American Railways company.  It was also on 
the suggestion of Mr. Stevens that the paving of the streets of Tyrone 
was started.  He was one of the organizers and builders of the Tyrone 
opera house, and one of the founders of the First National bank, and 
for a number of years past has been its vice president.  He served many 
terms as a member of the Tyrone school board.  He was a member of the 
Tyrone club, also of the Fairbrook Country club, being a charter member 
of both organizations.  Some years ago, Mr. Stevens became interested 
in limestone quarries throughout Central Pennsylvania, and was at the 
time of his death vice president and general manager of the American 
Lime and Stone company, with large holdings throughout Blair and Centre 
counties.  He also held large coal mining interests in this section.
  He was president of the Juniata Realty company, with large real 
estate holdings in Juniata borough.  He was also one of Tyrone's 
largest property owners and taxpayers, and owned outright more property 
in Tyrone than any other citizen.
  As a townsman, he was always identified with any project that meant 
the advancement of the community and leaves many monuments to his 
memory.  Among these are Stevens park, a large acreage near the 
reservoir property which he built at great personal expense and gave to 
the town as a recreative spot, and for years past the part has been the 
mecca for picnics and outings.  As a memorial to his son George Black 
Stevens, he purchased a valuable plot of ground on Logan avenue several 
years ago, and presented it title free to the Tyrone Young Men's 
Christian association, his son having been foremost locally in Y.M.C.A. 
work.  About a year ago, he also presented to Tyrone borough two 
handsome fountains, with a perpetual water supply, free of all tax, one 
of these being on the corner of Lincoln avenue and Fifteenth street and 
the other in front of the Y.M.C.A. building.
  Mr. Stevens always had decided convictions concerning the political 
incidents of the day.  For some years he was affiliated with the 
Republican party, but for a long time before his death was an active 
member of the Prohibition party, taking a strong interest in the 
nation-wide fight against intemperance.  During his life he gave large 
sums toward the cause of prohibition and one of his last acts in life 
was a large contribution made to the National Prohibition fund on 
Saturday last.  For years, he was a regular attendant at the National 
Prohibition conventions and often mingled with the country's foremost 
exponents of this political belief.
  He was a Methodist nearly all his lifetime and was an active and 
influential member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Tyrone 
during his residence there.  He contributed liberally to the 
benevolences of the church and gave several thousand dollars to the 
fund for the maintenance of the retired ministers.  He was also one of 
the most liberal contributors to his home church and was for many years 
a trustee.  He was a sincere Christian and one of the best read Bible 
scholars in the community, and for many years conducted a large Bible 
class of men in his church.  His interpretations of the Scripture were 
wonderful.  He was fond of helping the deserving and the needy, but 
most of the good he did was done by stealth.  Tyrone and Blair county 
have lost a great citizen. 
  On May 31, 1863, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Miss Emma 
Howe, daughter of Maxwell Howe, of Altoona.  Four children were born to 
this union: George Black, Emma May, Irene and James.  Of these one 
survives: Mrs. May Brantly, of Tyrone.  Mrs. Stevens died January 9, 
1899.  George B. Stevens died in September, 1907; Irene died at the age 
of 3 years, and J. Howe died March 30, 1914.  He was married the second 
time June 12, 1899, to Miss Sarah Cochran, of Tyrone, who died January 
27, 1904.  On April 29, 1909, he was again married to Mrs. Mary 
Hazyard, of Monongahela City, who survives.
  Funeral services will be conducted at the mansion home, Rose Lawn 
Terrace, on Lincoln avenue, Tyrone, at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, 
in charge of his pastor, Rev. George M. Glenn, assisted by Rev. Herbert 
W. Bieber, D.D., pastor of the Presbyterian church.  Interment in Grand 
View cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday Morning, January 2, 1917