Born: Titus County, Texas, 27 December 1857.Died: 1934.
Born: Titus County, Texas, 27 December 1857.
Died: 1934.
JOHN ALPLIN STEVENS is a native Texan. He was born in Titus (now Morris) county, December 27th 1857. His early educational facilities were limited; but he improved them to the best advantage, and, by dint of energy, obtained a fair education and a good store of general information. (He is a great reader). In 1877 he became a member of a Baptist church, and was for a short time a Baptist preacher; but before the time came for his ordination, Ezzell's "Great Legacy" fell into his hands, from which he learned to study the New Testament in a manner to him unknown before. The result was a complete revolution in his religious views. In 1880 he united with a church of Christ in Titus county, known as Centre Grove, under the preaching of Ephraim H. Smith, who had traveled the same road before him. He preached some in 1882, and in 1883 was regularly set apart to the work, since which time he has preached almost constantly. After serving churches in Morris and Hopkins counties for awhile, he entered the field as an evangelist. In 1885, after a successful meeting at Texarkana, he became State evangelist of Arkansas, which position he held two years; and after entering on his third year, he resigned to accept a call to the church at Russellville, Ark., where he still resides and preaches. On the 31st day of January, 1886, he was married to Miss Jennie Kelly, daughter of Col. W. R. Kelly, of Texarkana. Bro. Stevens is a very fluent speaker; and a successful recruiter. About a thousand have been added to the church through his ministry.