STEVENSON, WILLIAM

William Stevenson was mayor of Guelph in 1885 and again in 1886. He was born in a tiny village in England named quaintly, Thurmpton. It is said to be close to the old home of Lord Byron. The house of his birth, very old even when Mr. Stevenson was born, is described as being of red brick and having a plate set into the side with the date of its erection.

He married Isabella Clark of whom little is known. They had six daughters named Miriam, Belva, Laura, Carrie and Clara. There was one son, the Rev. E. B. Stevenson.

Their home was "Maplebank", an attractive house that still stands on the north-west corner of Grange and Stevenson Streets, the latter street getting its name from this outstanding family.

1877 he built a frame house on Tiffany Street 18 by 20 feet that cost $500.

The girls were all musical and the family were at different times conected with Norfolk Street Methodist Church, Dublin Street Methodist Church, Knox and St. Andrews Presbyterian Churches, singing in the choirs at different times.

Before the turn of the century a talented singer who was known to audiences across the continent, Maud Stevenson is all but forgotten today. She belonged to a family that exemplified the spirit of their times with strong ties and devotion to each other.

Clara, their daughter, was honored by having Clara St, named for her. She married a Mr. C.W. Harrington and year later, after being long widowed, married again. Her second husband was J. W. Lyon who was well known as a publisher and for his connections with Sir Adam Beck in the development of hydro.

One of his other daughters Belva is the wife (1935) of Gilbert H. MacIntyre,

Carrie married Thomas H. McIntyre Toronto and in 1880 was Choir leader and organist continuing for the better part of the 1880's. Norfolk Street Church was rarely without some members of this family to lead in sacred song, the second generation following in the footsteps of the first.

His son the Rev. Ephraim B. Stevenson was in his younger days a member of the famous Maple Leaf baseball team of Guelph. In 1880-1881 and 1904-1906 Ephraim B. Stevenson was minister at Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church in Nichol Township. He is buried in Bethesda United Church Cemetery, Ancaster, Wentworth

A newspaper clipping mentions that William Stevenson greatly objected to the trees in the Stevenson St. section being cut down by the city. In some instances he paid the city money to leave the trees standing.

In 1854 he was the secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society.

Mr Stevenson was one of the earliest settlers of Guelph, a member of it's first council (1851 & 1854), at one time mayor 1885-1886, liquor inspector and owned the Maplebank Nursery.

He was greatly interested in Norfolk Street Methodist Church, and took an active part in civic life, doing much to promote Guelph.

In 1871 Rev. Samuel Fear writes: "Mr. Nankeville had a class of young men, under training for usefulness, two of whom, at least, labored in the itinerant work usefully - the one for a few years, and the other is now a respected supernumerary: these were William Stevenson and Edward Sallows. The former might have made an eminent preacher had he begun early, and continued in the work."