Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - William C. Stevens

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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William C. Stevens, farmer, was born December 7, 1840, and is a son of 
Joseph B. and Tilda (Hawkins) Stevens. James B. was born in Kentucky, 
and when a boy went to Alabama, in 1831, at the age of eighteen. He 
settled in this State, where Fayetteville now stands, before even a 
court-house was built there. Four years later he went to Madison 
County, and from there to Carroll County. At the commencement of the 
war he went to Texas, and four years later settled in this county. A 
year and a half later he went to Little River County, Ark., where he 
now lives at the age of seventy-six. The mother was [p.1196] born in 
Tennessee, and when about grown went to Madison County, Ark., where
she was married. To her seven children were born, four of whom are 
living: Amanda, Victoria, Arbelle and William C. Those deceased are 
Jack, Parthenia and Fidelia. The paternal grandparents went to 
Kentucky from Albemarle County, Va., about 1800, and from there went 
to Alabama, where the grandmother died, her husband afterward going to 
Texas, where he died, aged eighty-six. The maternal grandparents 
immigrated to Arkansas from Tennessee, and died in the former State. 
Our subject was born in Madison County, Ark., reared principally in 
Carroll County, and attended school but a short time at Berryville, as 
the country was but sparsely settled and schools were seldom taught. 
June 9, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth Arkansas, Col. Walker's 
regiment, Pierce's brigade, State troops, and after two months' 
service went to Missouri and took part in the Oak Hill battle. 
Returning to Arkansas, the company being disbanded, he re-enlisted in 
the Confederate service in McBride's brigade (a Missouri brigade, six 
months troops), and at the expiration of the term of service the 
conscript law was passed, and Mr. Stevens joined an Arkansas regiment 
of the Confederate army for three years, or during the war. In 
November, 1863, he was wounded in the right arm, and remained in the 
Carroll County mountains four months before being able to again enter 
the service. In the spring of 1864 he joined Company I, of Gen. Joe 
Shelby's brigade, Hunter's regiment, under Capt. Ricketts, and was 
with that command four months, or until Price's raid to Missouri. 
While with Shelby he was in the White River swamps, in the northeast 
part of Arkansas, fighting the Federals. After leaving the service he 
went to Texas, and in 1866 he came to Arkansas, but returning to Texas 
remained until 1868, when he settled in Crawford County. In 1870 he 
married Jane Spoon, daughter of John Spoon, who has borne him two 
children: Mary A. and Amanda, both of whom are living. Mr. Stevens has 
120 acres, thirty being cultivated, and located upon this place in 
1881. Mrs. Stevens belongs to the Christian Church, and Mr. Stevens 
belongs to the Farmers' Alliance. 

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