Of the many pastors who have left an impress for good upon the religious life of Peoria, no one is held to more affectionate remembrance than Rev. Asahel Augustus Stevens, who, for more than forty years, was Pastor and Pastor Emeritus of the First Congregational Church in this city. He was of Puritan and Revolutionary stock, born at Cheshire, Connecticut, December 24, 1816, son of George and Sarilla (Hitchcock) Stevens, both his grandfathers having served in the army of the Revolution, one belonging to the “minute Men” at Connecticut. He was the youngest of four brothers, and, while yet in the paternal home, developed a character for uprightness and integrity which was a predominant feature of his afterlife. His academical education was begun at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, in the autumn of 1835, and continued there with some interruptions until 1839, when he entered Yale College. He did not, however, complete the course of studies there, but after being in the ministry for some years, he obtained the degree of Master of Arts from that institution in 1851. In 1847 he graduated at the Yale Theological Seminary and in September of that year, was married to Mary C. Bristol, daughter of Gideon and Julia (Parker) Bristol, of Cheshire, Connecticut. He began his ministry soon after leaving the seminary, his first charge being Center Church, Meriden, Connecticut. After remaining there one year he retired from the ministry, and for the ensuing year engaged in agricultural pursuits at his old home in Cheshire. From 1855 to 1856 he was Pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Newton, IA. In the autumn of 1856, the Main Street Congregational Church of Peoria being without a pastor, he was introduced to it by Rev. Flavel Bascom, who twenty-two years before had been present at and had assisted in its organization as a Presbyterian Church. Mr. Stevens’ coming to Peoria is thus described by himself in an address delivered at the semi-centennial anniversary of the church:

“In the autumn of 1856, twenty-eight years ago, after spending a pleasant Thanksgiving with the family of that patriarch of Illinois ministers, Rev. Flavel Bascom, I was conducted by him to this Central City and introduced to the family of Deacon Moses Pettengill. Partly in consequence of a night ride in the cars, and partly, perhaps, as a natural result of Thanksgiving festivities, I was not feeling well. It was, too, a time of depression in our political status, and of discouragement in the church; for our campaign, under Fremont as leader, had ended in seaming failure; and the church, after trial of three ministers in as many years, had been rent asunder and was left , not only greatly depleted in numbers and resources, but resting under a cloud as to its reputation and character. But the next day was the Sabbath, and we must “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” Casting around for a subject to meet in some good measure these conditions, this text seemed fittest of all for an introduction to this field: “The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice.” It enabled me to define at once my position, make known my principles, strengthen my faith and brighten my hopes, as well as comfort and encourage my brethren. I think it may truly be said that some degree of affinity and real friendship sprung up between us from that first hour of our meeting.

“After a few weeks further acquaintance, a call was given and accepted at a salary of $1,000, and we proceeded quietly to do our work and fulfill our mutual relations as well as we knew how. As already indicated, the church and congregation were small. Something over thirty names were on the books, but some of these were in a transition state, and some, I fear, in a state of suspended animation.”

His relations to the political events of those stirring times are shown by the following extract from the same address:

When the campaign of Lincoln came on, it began to be acknowledged that we were on the right side. When the Civil War began, it was declared emphatically that this church stood right in the matter. There was never any uncertain sound or holding back in respect to what the Government demanded or the cause of the oppressed required.”

The pastorate, commenced under the discouragements mentioned, continued for a period of ten years, when impaired health induced him to resign and to seek a less laborious field. Of the character of this period of his ministry the following testimony was borne by one of his successors, Rev. E. Frank Howe, on the same occasion:

“I will only say what he would not say--but what all of you who know him and are familiar with his labors here know to be true--that what this church now is, is very largely due to his patient and conciliatory spirit, his wise leadership, his great and general acceptableness as a preacher, and his character, which has won for him the heartiest respect and the warmest affection, not only of this church and congregation, but of entire community.”

He then for a time returned to his early and loved occupation of tilling the soil, occupying a small farm in the immediate vicinity of Peoria, where he commenced the raising of fruit, which he continued for many years thereafter. Having been in a measure restored in health he began, in the fall of 1866, supplying the Congregational Church at Lacon, where he continued to preach for over three years. In the fall of 1860, he was recalled to the pastorate of the Main Street Church, and continued to serve it as pastor until 1882. It was during this period that the union took place between the Main Street Church and the New School Presbyterian Church, out of which grew the present First Congregational Church of Peoria; and, during the same period their present elegant church was erected. Immediately after his second resignation, by a unanimous vote of the congregation, he was made Pastor Emeritus, which position he held until the time of his death, which occurred July 16, 1901.

At a commemoration service held on October 23, 1901, in addition to the adoption of a suitable memorial, it was resolved to place a tablet dedicated to his memory in the auditorium of the church.

Mr. Stevens was of medium height, rather slender, of exceedingly meek and quite demeanor, yet always standing firm for the right as he understood it, graceful but not florid in speech, convincing in argument and persuasive in his appeals. During a residence of nearly half a century in the city of Peoria, more than half of which was spent in the active ministry, no man of any calling commanded a higher degree of respect and confidence than he.

He was a man of remarkable foresight in regard to the future of Peoria, and, on one Thanksgiving occasion more than thirty years ago, when the city was confined between the bluffs and the river, he provoked the smiles of his congregation by his prediction that, on day in the not distant future it would extend its domain over the bluff as far as Dry Run, a prediction that is already fulfilled. Although of limited means himself, he had the happy faculty of so influencing the charitable inclinations of others as to direct them towards the formation of charitable institutions, and, were the whole truth revealed, it is not at all improbable that more than one of our most important charities would be found to have originated in his counsel and advice.

He was also an earnest advocate of popular education, as well as of every measure calculated to elevate the moral and intellectual tone of the community in which he lived, and to his end he took an active part in the organization and became a charter member of the Peoria Library.

His domestic life was one of great felicity. He and his estimable wife had the rare good fortune of celebrating both silver and golden weddings among the people whose warmest affections they so fully enjoyed. Soon after the golden wedding Mrs. Stevens died at the age of eighty years. There are four surviving children: Walter B., Mary E., Edward A. and Moses Pettingill Stevens--the first named being now Secretary of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, and formerly Washington correspondent of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, the second and fourth residing in Peoria, and the third in the State of Kansas.

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