Benton Co., AR - Biographies - William Stevens *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** William Stevens is a Kentuckian, whose birth occurred in 1830. His father, George Stevens, was a native and farmer of North Carolina, and was there married to Miss Ellen Hise, the mother of William Stevens. The latter's early educational advantages were quite limited. He continued to reside with his parents until he was married, in 1852, to Elizabeth Powell, who died in 1859, having borne two children. The same year Mr. Stevens married his second wife. Ardia Prior, by whom he became the father of seven children. This wife died in 1875, and he married his third wife, a Mrs. Smith. After leaving Kentucky Mr. Stevens removed to Indiana, but only remained there one month, when he removed to Illinois, and there resided three years. He afterward took up his abode in Missouri, and after seven years' residence in that State went to Kansas, where he made his home until the close of the war. In 1867 he came to his present home in Arkansas, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his valuable bottom land farm of 185 acres. He was not in active service during the war, but served in the State troops in the State of Kansas. He and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.