Napa-Santa Cruz-Alameda County CA Archives Biographies.....Stevens, James B. 1818 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 30, 2006, 5:22 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

JAMES B. STEVENS, Secretary for the Napa State Asylum for the Insane, has held
that position for nearly fifteen years. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio,
near the city of Cincinnati, in 1841. His parents were James H. and Ann F.
(Glass) Stevens, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Ohio. His
ancestors were among the very early settlers of Kentucky. His parents came to
California in 1852, crossing the plains with their live children, James being
the eldest. The family first settled in Santa Cruz, and later in Watsonville,
removing in the fall of 1853 to Oakland, where they remained until 1854; when
they removed to Ione, Amador County, where James acquired the most of his
education. In 1857 he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, working at it for
three years, when, receiving an injury, he gave up that business and returned to
school. He entered the law office of John C. Geer in 1861, but the death of Mr.
Geer dissolved that arrangement after about one year. Following various pursuits
until 1865, he served as Deputy County Clerk for the next two years and then
entered the office of Senator Farley, acting as Notary Public and searcher of
records, and at the same time doing clerical duty for the senator. He filled the
position of clerk of the board of port wardens, in San Francisco, for a time,
and then returned to Ione and engaged in the business of keeping a hotel. He was
elected Minute Clerk of the State Senate for the session of 1869-'70, and again
for the session of 1871-'72, meanwhile resuming his labors in the office of
Senator Farley while not engaged in the Senate. In September, 1873, he was
elected County Clerk of Amador County, and held that office until appointed to
his present position. He was married in 1866, to Miss Mattie M. Gordon, daughter
of M. W. Gordon, for many years County Judge of Amador County. They have two
children: Augusta, now wife of W. W. Hollister, of Santa Barbara, and Henry G.
Mr. Stevens is a member of Yount Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Golden Gate
Commandery, Knights Templar, of San Francisco. He resided for many years at the
asylum, but of late has occupied his beautiful home at the corner of First and
Seminary streets, in Napa City. His parents are still living in Santa Barbara,
where they celebrated their golden wedding on September 17, 1889.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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