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St. Andrews Beacon, Jan 23, 1890Hon B. R. Stevenson Dead
A Brief Sketch of his Career
Buried with Masonic Honors
The deceased was in his fifty-fifth year, having been born in St. Andrews, April 10, 1835. The grammar school here supplied him with his early education. In 1854 he graduated from the university of New Brunswick with the degree of BA. Six years later he was called to the bar of the Province. In 1867 Mr. Stevenson resigned his position of registrar of probates for Charlotte county and accepted nomination for a seat in the Local Legislature, to which he was elected. He was returned in 1870 and in 1871 he was appointed a member of the executive council of the province with the position of surveyor general. He occupied that important position until 1878, when he resigned, but continued a member of the executive council until 1879, when he resigned and accepted the speakership, a position he filled with ability and satisfaction until 1883, when he retired from public life with the office of Judge of Probates of his native county.
The deceased was married in 1866 to a daughter of the late Mr. William Bolton, who, with a son and daughter, survives him. In everything pertaining to the welfare of his native place, he took an active interest. For a number of years he was president of the Charlotte County Agricultural Society. As a trustee of schools, he was largely instrumental in bringing the schools up to their present high standing. He was prominently identified with the Masonic body, having occupied the responsible position of Grand master. In the Anglican Church, he was one of its foremost men, and was a constant attendant at the deliberations of the Synod and Diocesan Church Society. At the time of his death and for many years before, he was a warden of All Saints Church St. Andrews, and contributed largely of his bounty to the support of the church. He was deeply interested in railways, being one of the largest stockholders in the Saint John and Maine Railway. In the schemes of the advancement of St. Andrews he took a leading part, being at the time of his decease solicitor of the St. Andrews Land Company.
A man of sterling integrity, of generous, charitable disposition he attracted around him many warm friends who will sincerely deplore his all too early death. The interment of the deceased took place on Saturday afternoon, being under the auspices of St. Marks' Lodge, of St. Andrews. . . . The procession was one of the largest ever seen in St. Andrews. The services in the church were conducted by Rev. R. E. Smith, in consequence of the illness of Rev. Dr. Ketchum. The church was almost completely filled.. . . .