Rev. J. L. Stevenson deserves a place of honor among the many true and faithful Cumberland Presbyterian preachers, for his work's sake and for his faithfulness in every place he has filled since he entered the ministry.

He was born in Carborn Parish, La., July 27, 1856. He made a profession of religion at the age of eighteen and joined the Methodist Church. He lived in that church for eight years, but was never satisfied with its government. After a careful study of the doctrines and government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he found himself in full accord with its teachings, hence he cast his lot with our people in 1882, and was taken under the care of the Louisiana Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry in October, 1885. He was licensed to preach by the same presbytery in October, 1887. He entered school in Trinity University in 1889, and was ordained to full work of the gospel ministry by the Louisiana Presbytery in October, 1892, Rev. B. L. Boydston preaching the ordination sermon.

He has been continuously in the pastorate since he was ordained. From the time he was taken under the care of the presbytery until March, 1894, eight years, he labored in the Louisiana Presbytery, then moved to Texas and located in McGregor, in the bounds of the Waco Presbytery. He continued in this pastorate for seven years, and did a great work for the church and the cause of Christ, having increased the membership of the churches, built a church-house at McGregor, and a manse at Coryell City.

On account of his wife's health he had to give up his work in the Waco Presbytery, and moved to the Marshall Presbytery, locating near Marshall and took charge of a pastorate near that town. For five years he served this pastorate. He was successful in this field, having strengthened the churches both spiritually and numerically, and left a manse as one of the monuments of his work in that field.

About the time the union movement came, Brother Stevenson moved to Round Rock, and became pastor of the church at that place. In his work in the Austin Presbytery he assisted Rev. John Hudson in the fight against unionism. For the good work they did the memory of Hudson and Stevenson will live in that field for many years. No men in the church had a harder fight with the unionists and no men in the church were truer to the church and braver in the conflict than these noble men. Brother Hudson has gone to his reward in heaven, but Brother Stevenson lives to see the fruits of his self-sacrificing labors even in this world. At the end of the four years of hard and successful work in the Austin Presbytery, Brother Stevenson was called to the Whitney congregation in the bounds of the Corsicana-Waco Presbytery. He is now serving our people at Dawson.

I have known Brother Stevenson in all of his pastorates. As a man he stands four square for righteousness, as a Christian he is devout and earnest, as a pastor one of the best I have even known, as a preacher he stands in the front rank. He fights sin with God's word, never compromises with evil, and yet he commands the respect of the worst sinner, and is loved as a brother by all Christians.

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 166-168]