582 STEVENSON. STOCRBRIDGE. After a severe illness and long confine- ment, he came to Boston, entered a com- mercial college, and fitted himself for an accountant. Subsequently, and for nearly ten years, he was employed as book-keeper, at the expiration of which time, January i, 1862, he established himself in business at Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, under the firm name of John L. Stevenson & Co., importers and dealers in wine, spirits, and liquors, where he has continued in business until the present time. Mr. Stevenson began his Masonic career in 1856, and has ever since been identified with that fraternity. He has passed through the chairs in various Masonic bodies, bring- JOHN L- STEVENSON. ing to his duties an intelligent and work- ful spirit, infusing earnestness of purpose and securing unusual prosperity. He was created a sovereign grand inspector-gen- eral for the thirty-third and last degree, and an honorary member of the supreme council, N. M. J., September 18, 1878. The honorary memberships conferred upon him best indicate the esteem in which he is held by his brethren. He is an honorary mem- ber of Mt. Lebanon Lodge, Boston; Ami- cable Lodge, Cambridge ; St. John's Lodge, Conception, Chili ; Boston Commandery, Boston ; St. John's Commandery, Phila- delphia ; Boston Lodge of Perfection, Bos- ton ; Mt. Calvary Chapter of Rose Croix, Lowell, and of the consistories of Vermont and Massachusetts. He was president of the Athenian Club in i88r-'82, and of the Boston Club in i882-'83; is a member of the New England and New Hampshire clubs, and one of the board of directors of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He also is a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and was its commander in 1 S77— '7S. Mr. Stevenson is a man of large frame, robust health, active brain, and generous disposition, best appreciated by those who are honored with his intimate friendship. His ability as an organizer appears in all matters to which he devotes his energies. His good judgment, indomitable will, and executive skill were especially conspicuous in conceiving and executing with absolute success the unparalleled pilgrimage of Boston Commandery to San Francisco, Cal., in 1883. In September, 1853, he married Ellen Bridge Hawkins, of Dover, N. H. His maternal grandfather was Captain Benja- min True, a soldier in the revolutionary war ; his father served in the war of i8i2-'i4 ; his brother, William Stevenson, served during the war of the rebellion, in the 2d N. H. regiment. Other members of the family also served the country in various New England organizations during the rebellion, and only for the disability incurred in 1852, he would also have been early in the contest. He has four children living : two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was four years at West Point Military Academy, and subsequently served on the staff of Governor Benjamin F. Butler of Massa- chusetts. STOCKBRIDGE, LEVI, was born in North Hadley, Hampshire county, March 13, 1820. He was educated in the public schools and academies of his native town. His tastes led him early to agricultural pur- suits, into which he threw the weight of his energies, and it was not very long be- fore the advantages of a scientific knowl- edge and the diligent application of scien- tific principles brought their legitimate reward to the faithful student. His researches in the line of plant life and growth, and his experiments prior to the establishment of experiment stations, brought him into notice as the scientist in agriculture, and led to his appointment on the state board of agriculture, where he
