John Caldwell Stevenson Biography

John C. Stevenson was born at New Petersburg, Highland County, Ohio, February 18th, 1838. Moved with the family of his father, Judge John Stevenson, to Berlin Cross Roads, in August, 1850. Worked on the farm till March, 1856, at which time he went to Washington County, Iowa, and engaged as teacher in a country school. Returned home late in October of the same year, and engaged for six months as teacher in a subdistrict southeast of Winchester. Taught in the same district the next year, at the close of which his services were requested for a third year; but he preferred the Berlin school, which was also offered to him at the same time. He subsequently taught in Winchester, Franklin Valley, Pleasant Grove, Fair View, and at three different sub-districts adjoining Jackson Court-house. In 1862 taught the Grammar Grade in the Jackson Union School till the holidays, at which Mr. Brown, then superintendent, resigned, and J. C. Stevenson was chosen superintendent of the schools for the ensuing four months. He was superintendent of the Mason City Graded Schools of five departments or rooms in Mason County, West Virginia, for two consecutive years. He has taken part in all the "Teacher's Institutes" from 1858 to the present time. Was one of the School Examiners of Jackson County from May, 1861, to May, 1865, and again from December, 1867, to November, 1868. During the first four years of his teaching, he spent his vacations in going to school at Jackson and Athens. Hon. J. W. Longbon was his favorite teacher. In April, 1860 he commenced the study of law under Hon Levi Dungan, and was admitted to the bar as attorney and counsellor-at-law and solicitor in chancery in May, 1862. At the age of twenty-one years, he was chosen county recorder during his absence from home by the County Commissioners to fill a vacancy in that office occasioned by the death of James Farrar. Stevenson accepted the office, permitting a son of the deceased, Asa Farrar (then a boy of twelve, but now, 1875, county recorder by election) to do the recording and receive the fees for the family of the deceased. May 1st, 1862, became editor of the "Jackson Express," now "Jackson Herald," and continued in that service until the following December. In October, 1862, he was elected prosecuting attorney over Hon. W. K. Hastings, but was defeated by the same gentleman two years afterwards. Although be continued to practice in the courts of Jackson County from 1862 until 1868, he taught school from six to nine months every year except two - from 1856 to 1875. At the close of the Jackson schools, in May, 1875 (wherein he had been engaged for two years), he determined to quit teaching, return to the practice of law, and devote this entire time thereto. In March, 1865, he volunteered in the U. S. Infantry service for one year, but, as the war closed soon after, he was discharged in May with the 198th O. V. I. October 4th, 1860, he was married to Miss Martha Callaghan, daughter of William O. H. Callaghan, of Madison Township.

Return to the biography selection page

Return to Jackson County home page