Source: History of Bureau Co. IL;  H. C. Bradsby, Editor; Chicago: World Publishing Co.; 1885
Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Area Historical Society, www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page: 662

JUSTUS STEVENS was born in Boscawen, now Webster, adjoining Concord on the north, January 18, 1819. He was educated at Franklin Academy and Patridge's Military School at Norwich, Vt. In 1842 he settled in Illinois in the town of Princeton, Bureau County, where he has resided ever since. For nearly twenty years he carried on a large mercantile business, buying grain and shipping all kinds of agricultural products to St. Louis and Chicago.  His business extended over four counties and he was one of the best known men in his part of the State. At an early day he entered a large tract of land in Bureau County and in 1860 turned his whole attention to its improvement. He has 4,000 acres in one general farm, twelve miles northwest of Priniceton, and it is now devoted  principally to stock-raising. Mr. STEVENS has been thoroughly identified with all local interests such as the Princeton public schools, high school, etc. He was one of the first to move in organizing the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company, of which he was a Director for several years. He also had a contract on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Road. While Chairman of the Board of Supervisors he attended to the building of the jail and the purchasing of the County Farm. Mr. STEVENS was one of the first to advocate the use of gravel for the building of the roads in and about Princeton  and also supervised the drainage of the city. He was elected its first Mayor in March, 1884. Justus STEVENS was married June 9, 1842, to Lurena McCCONIHE, daughter of John McCONIHE, of Merrimack, N. H. They had eight children. Five reached maturity: Mandana, married to James W. TEMPLETON, Postmaster at Princeton; Fanny Harper, Darlene and Blanche Newcomb. Their only son, Justus Massillon STEVENS, was born December 30, 1846. He was educated at Racine College, Wisconsin. He was married to Mary Louisa KNOX, daughter of Judge S. M. KNOX, of Princeton, November 9, 1883, in London, England. J. M. STEVENS enterd into partnership with his father in 1872, and is general manager of the farm and business.