Varney Andrew Stephens |
| Posted 2018-07-09 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Arizona Weekly Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, September 28, 1904, page 7, column 4 The Passing Of An Old Pioneer Death of Varney A. Stephens Wednesday. Came to Arizona in Eighteen Sixty Four and Resided Here Ever Since Varney A. Stephens died on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21, at 2 o'clock at the age of 84 years. He had been in ill health for several months, and for some time had been unable to recognize anyone, even his own relatives. He is survived by a widow, three daughters and a son, being Mrs. W. N. Kelly, Mrs. B. H. Weaver of Prescott, Mrs. W. C. Potts of Jamestown, California and John Stephens of Prescott. Mr. Stephens was one of the old timers, having come to Arizona in 1864, when new comers had to blaze their own trails as well as to prepare the way for those which afterwards followed them. He was born in Kentucky but came with his parents to Missouri, afterwards removing to Texas whence he came to Arizona. Like all the early Arizona settlers he had many thrilling experiences with Indians who molested, and murdered the settlers of northern Arizona until 1872, when General Cook cleaned them out, and since then they have not given any trouble in Northern Arizona. In 1865, W. N. Kelly arrived in Prescott, and formed a partnership with Mr. Stephens, and in 1865 Mr. Kelly married his partner's daughter. The first business engaged in by the firm of Kelly and Stephens was freighting and afterwards they engage in the stationery business finally adding clothing, and they continued in business until the big conflagration of 1900 when their building and entire stock of goods, as well as a mineral cabinet, the most valuable in the territory, belonging to Mr. Kelly, were consumed by the fire, and Mr. Stephens did not afterwards engage in business. The funeral was delayed until Sunday in order that his daughter, Mrs. Potts might arrive from Jamestown, California. It took place at 4 o'clock on the afternoon of that day and the procession which followed the remains to their last resting place was one of the largest seen in Prescott in many months. Transcriber's note: Mr. Stephens is buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project |
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