Frank Stevens

As printed in 1901

RANK STEVENS, a prosperous farmer O'f Keokuk township, Wapello county, Iowa, was born in Herkimer county, New York, SqDtember 6, 1840, and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Witherstine) Stevens, both descendants of Dutch ancestry.

Charles Stevens remained in the Empire State throughout his life, following the trade of a carpenter, in connection with farming. He was also a tavern keeper during the early days of stages. He and his wife became the parents of 10 children, as follows: George; Nancy; William; Frank; James; Margaret; Jane; Darius; Charles; and Edward. In religious belief they were Lutherans, while politically the father was a stanch supporter of Democratic principles. He died about 1861, at the age of fifty-three years, and his widow died in

Frank Stevens attended the public schools of Herkimer county, New York, and while the Civil War-as in progress moved to Ohio, where he accepted a position as foreman in construction work on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. He remained with that company seven years, at the end of which time he engaged in the same capacity with the North Missouri Railroad Company, whose road afterward became a part of the Wabash system, in whose employ he remained for five years. Later he was made foreman of a construction crew on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and continued with that company until 1881. While working for that company in Des Moines he and his crew were taking gravel from a bank, and unearthed the remains of Chief Mahaska, whose identity was established by a medal which they also found. The medal bore the inscription, — "Presented to Chief Mahaska by J. Q. Adams in 1825." It is said he was murdered by neighboring tribes for making a treaty of which they were not in favor. In 1881 Mr. Stevens engaged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, and worked in Colorado and New Mexico. He had previously purchased a farm in Davis county, Iowa, which he leased, and in 1892 he settled permanently in Wapelloi county. He had previously lived in Ottumwa while in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and Wabash Railroad companies. He and his son jointly own 360 acres of land, formerly owned by William Page. This is one of the best farming properties in the county, and is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. It is well improved in every respect, and is supplied with an abundance of pure water.

In 1862 Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Maria McMarra, a native of Ireland, -ho came to New York when nine years of age. Fler grandfather fought throughout the Revolutionary War, under General Schuyler. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens became the parents of two children, both of whom are living: James F., a record of whose life also> appears in this volume; and Emma, who married Hiram Lester, of Keokuk township, by whom she has two children— Frank and Gertrude. In political belief the subject of this sketch is a Democrat.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.