Obituary - George W. Stephenson

Died, at his residence on Douglas Island, on Monday, March 5th, 1900, Mr. George W. Sephenson, of pneumonia, aged 47 years and 10 days, after an illness of three weeks.

George W. Stephenson was born in St. Louis, Mo. February 23, 1853. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Ohio, where he lived until his 18th year. At that time he came west and located in California, engaging in the business of mining which he has followed ever since. At the age of 36 he went to Venezuela, South America, where he lived for about 7 years, at the expiration of which time he returned to California. He came to Douglas Island in 1896, accepting the position as foreman of the Mexican mine in which capacity he was acting when stricken down by his last illness.

Mr. Stephenson was married in South America and his wife and four children, one boy and three girls, survive him. He was a member of a number of fraternal societies among which are the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias. He was not only popular as a lodge man, but he was generally known as a big hearted man, and many an eye that has been a stranger to tears for years, became moist when the news came that George W. Stephenson had passed away. A kind parent and loving, patient husband, industrious and generous to a fault, who will say that his life's work has ended? The entire community joins with the weeping widow and fatherless children in their sorrow for the departed.

The funeral services were held today in the Congregational church, at 1:30 o'clock p.m., Rev. H. Hammond Cole officiating. The interment was at the Evergreen Cemetery, Juneau. The funeral was perhaps the largest ever held on Douglas Island.

Source: Douglas Island News, 7 Mar 1900
Contributed 13 Jul 2019 by Norma Hass

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