The community quickly thrived and virtually all of its needs were fulfilled by 1851. Its name Mount Vernon honored George Washington’s home. A network of roads made travel possible to Eastchester, Yonkers, Bronxville and other outlying communities. Records show that at least Fourth, Sixth and Eighth Avenues had been properly graded and drained.

The minutes of meetings of the Industrial Home Association No. 1, which continued to be held for a year or more after the family arrived in Mount Vernon, go to prove that during this period there were many duties claiming the attention of John Stevens and that much of his time must have be given to the work which devolved upon him as president of the Association, whose members in March 1852 presented him with a gold watch and chain as a mark of their grateful appreciation.

As a matter of first importance after the founding of the village was the establishment of schools, and in this John Stevens had a personal interest as he wads the father of three young children. In matters relating to education one may assume that he might have felt certain sympathy with the progressive ideas now in vogue. In July 1853, he became a member of Mount Vernon’s first Board of Education and was elected its president.

John Stevens was a great lover of children and had a special gift for contributing to their happiness and would draw quaint and amusing pictures, followed by descriptive verses which were dear to the hearts of his children and later on to his grandchildren. Another source of amusement to them was the tops which he turned out be the score, cleverly whittled out of spools. These brightly colored, made a pretty picture when spinning, six or eight at a time on the floor.

In addition to his many other interests and activities, he found time to start his garden, and in 1855 he organized the Mount Vernon Horticultural Society. As his youth had been spent on a farm, it was natural that when offered opportunity he should turn his attention to the cultivation of the soil and, with evident success, as in October 1855 he was awarded a prize for some of his garden products by the Horticultural Society.

1853 also found the settlement proving its success with John Stevens purchasing an additional 100 acres of land lying to the north of Mount Vernon, and in September of that year a constitution and by-laws were adopted for “the sequel to Industrial Home Association No. 1.” The newly acquired land was named Fleetwood.

Between the years 1860 and 1865, he was three times elected a village trustee, servicing as president for the year 1861 – 62.

John Stevens died in 1882.