Sophia A. KENNON

1841 - 1889  (48 years)

• Name	Sophia A. KENNON
  Birth	1841	NY
  Gender	Female
  Census	9 Jun 1880	Chicago, Cook, IL   [1]
  	1880 census at Chicago, Cook, IL shows: Sophia Stephenson (sic), 36, married, b. NY, parents b. CT/NY; children b. NY, parents b. NY/NY: Albert, 10; Sophia, 8; Pierre, 2.
  Note	Sophia Kennon was born about 1841 in Chazy, Clinton, New York. She was the daughter of David and Fanny (Fillmore) Kennon. She grew up in Plattsburgh, Clinton, New York. By the age of 18 or 19, in 1860, Sophia was found living in the household of her step-sister, Mary E. Luther and her husband Alexander North in Chazy, Clinton, New York. Sophia married John Stevenson (1840-1890), also from Chazy, Clinton, New York, about 1861 or 1862. They were found living in John Stevenson's brother's home in New York City in the 1870 census. Sophia and John had at least five children: Grace Isabel, John Lennox, Albert North, Sophia Mary (known as Sophie), and Pierre R. (also seen as Pierce). Grace and John died as infants before 1870. The remaining three were born in New York between 1870 and 1880. Her daughter Sophie was born in Chazy, New York, in August 1872. In 1880, Sophia (without husband John) is found with her children, Albert, Sophia and Pierre in Chicago, Cook, Illinois at 94 Walnut Street. That was most likely just a short trip and not a relocation. Sophie may have had her sister Helen living in Chicago (John F. Russell and daughter Natalie - this relationship is not yet proved). Sophie's brother, Albert, and his family were also by then living in Iowa. Sophie's son, Albert Stevenson, was enumerated for a second time in 1880 with his uncle's family in Iowa. Sophia died young at 48 on Oct 13, 1889. She was then back in New York City at her home, No. 21 East 114th St. She was buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Chazy, Clinton, New York._____Dates for Sophie vary leading one to believe that she may have shaved off a few years here and there during her life during various censuses. However, given that she was listed as nine years old in the 1850 census (assuming her parents gave the information and also assuming they wouldn't have reason to fudge her age) and that her grave stone which cites that she died on Oct 13, 1889 at the age of 48, these would point to her birth being about 1841. Sources on the internet also cite Sophia Kennon and John Stevenson's marriage date as 1852. Even in the mid-1800's, it seems unlikely that a girl and boy would have been married off at 11 and 12. In death, there is some lasting confusion as to who Sophia really was. In the Riverview Cemetery in Chazy, Clinton, New York, Sophia is noted on the south side of the Alexander North monument as Sophia A. Stevenson Died Oct 13, 1889 Ae. 48 yrs. Immediately following is, Sophia A. Luther, wife of John Stevenson. Luther was the maiden name of Sophia Kennon's half-sister Mary E. Luther who married Alexander North (the one that the monument is named after). One can imagine that Mary or Alexander North went to the gravestone cutter and said that they wanted to have Mary's sister's information engraved as well. The engravers may have assumed by hearing 'sister' that the last name was Luther when it was instead Kennon. There is enough evidence to support that Sophia and John Stevenson's children knew their mother's maiden name as Kennon. Sophie Mary (Stevenson) Stetson used the name Sophia Kennon in her DAR application 104625, 'I was born in the village of Chazy, County of Clinton, State of New York and am the daughter of John Stevenson of New York born 1840, died 1890 and his wife Sophia Kennon of Chazy, N.Y. born 1843, died 1889, married 1861. 'Albert Stevenson wrote in affidavits for his sister regarding their childhood and who their parents were. (23 Feb 2000 AT)Sophia married John Stevenson (1840-1890), also from Chazy, Clinton, New York, about 1861 or 1862. They were found living in John Stevenson's brother's home in New York City in the 1870 census. Sophia and John had at least five children: Grace Isabel, John Lennox, Albert North, Sophia Mary (known as Sophie), and Pierre R. (also seen as Pierce). Grace and John died as infants before 1870. The remaining three were born in New York between 1870 and 1880. Her daughter Sophie was born in Chazy, New York, in August 1872. In 1880, Sophia (without husband John) is found with her children, Albert, Sophia and Pierre in Chicago, Cook, and Illinois at 94 Walnut Street. That was most likely just a short trip and not a relocation. Sophie may have had her sister Helen living in Chicago (John F. Russell and daughter Natalie - this relationship is not yet proved). Sophie's brother, Albert, and his family were also by then living in Iowa. Sophie's son, Albert Stevenson, was enumerated for a second time in 1880 with his uncle's family in Iowa.
  Death	13 Oct 1889	Manhattan, New York, NY
  Burial	Riverview Cemetery, Chazy, Clinton, NY   [2]
  	Find A Grave e-Memorial
  Person ID	I5391	MM
  Last Modified	3 Oct 2022

  
  

  Father	David KENNON,   b. Abt 1786, MA d. Aft 1870, Beekmantown, Clinton, NY (Age > 85 years)
  Mother	Francis Hough FILLMORE,   b. 27 Jun 1801, Chazy, Clinton, NY d. 9 Jul 1869 (Age 68 years)
  Family ID	F323	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	John STEVENSON,   b. 24 Jul 1840, Chazy, Clinton, NY d. 9 Jan 1890 (Age 49 years)
  Marriage	23 Mar 1862	Kane Co., IL   [3]
  Married	4 Apr 1884	Manhattan, New York, NY   [4]
  	This marriage make absolutely no sense given their eldest child was born in 1865 and their youngest 1878. The form states it is a second marriage for both. The parents listed for each are correct.
  Children	1. Grace Isabel STEVENSON,   b. 27 Jan 1865, Chazy, Clinton, NY d. 17 Mar 1865, Chazy, Clinton, NY (Age 0 years)   2. John Lennox STEVENSON,   b. 3 Feb 1869, Chazy, Clinton, NY d. 26 Mar 1869, Chazy, Clinton, NY (Age 0 years)   3. Albert North STEVENSON,   b. 22 Sep 1870, NY d. Sep 1966 (Age 95 years)   4. Sophie Mary STEVENSON,   b. 19 Aug 1872, Chazy, Clinton, NY d. 21 Oct 1954, Manhattan, New York, NY (Age 82 years)   5. Pierre R. STEVENSON,   b. Aug 1878, NY d. 1915 (Age 36 years)
  Family ID	F1795	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Jul 2023

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1841 - NY Marriage - 23 Mar 1862 - Kane Co., IL Census - 9 Jun 1880 - Chicago, Cook, IL Married - 4 Apr 1884 - Manhattan, New York, NY Death - 13 Oct 1889 - Manhattan, New York, NY Burial - - Riverview Cemetery, Chazy, Clinton, NY  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S1880] 1880 United States Federal Census, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D. C., 1880), 1880. [S673] McLellan, Hugh and Charlse, Riverview Cemetery, (ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com, 1943), 673. [S225] Illinois Marriage Index, 225. [S1342] New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-193, 1342.