Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stevens, Capt Robert 1802 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:12 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

CAPT. ROBERT STEVENS is numbered among the pioneers in Will County, in which 
he settled in the spring of 1831. Those who have never visited a frontier 
settlement, but who have been accustomed from childhood to the surroundings of 
our present civilization, can have but a faint conception of the life of the 
pioneers or of the credit due those who led the way in the development of the 
country. Nowhere has greater enterprise and sturdy manhood been exhibited than 
throughout the Mississippi Valley, during the early days of the various grand 
States into which its fertile expanse is now divided, and in no life are the 
more rugged virtues of character and the milk of human kindness more rapidly 
developed than in the primitive scenes of a new country. Among those to whom 
this section owes much, we might say all, of its present prosperous condition 
and advanced development, Capt. Robert Stevens occupies an important place. 
Not less worthy of honor than her husband, is the widow of Capt. Stevens, who 
began her residence in this county in 1830, and who as a young lady, as a 
wife, mother and neighbor, has earned the deep respect of those among whom her 
life has been spent and a place side by side with her husband on the roll of 
the pioneers. They endured privations and toils, such as try men's souls, 
cheered by their belief in a bright future and by mutual sympathy, their 
labors being rewarded by worldly prosperity, a happy home and friendly feeling 
from without. In Mason County, Ky., July 20, 1802, the eyes of Robert Stevens 
opened to the light. He was a child two years of age when his parents removed 
to Ohio, where he grew to man's estate, being apprenticed at the age of 
sixteen years to learn the trade of a tanner and currier. On the expiration of 
his apprenticeship he went to Indiana, where he labored until he took up his 
residence in Will County. Here he settled on a tract of land just east of 
Joliet, developing a fine estate and in the course of years becoming the owner 
of four hundred acres in one body, all of which was put in a fine condition 
and thoroughly improved. Although his services were desired in a public 
capacity he found that his time was fully occupied by the conduct of his 
personal affairs, and to his farm he devoted himself almost exclusively. The 
first wife of Capt. Stevens was Miss Lydia Ann Pence, who died in 1833. She 
had borne three children, all of whom are deceased. In what was then Cook 
County, but is now Joliet Township, Will County, October 29, 1835, our subject 
contracted a second matrimonial alliance. His bride, Miss Nancy Kercheval, was 
born in Preble County, Ohio, October 28, 1814, but had resided in this county 
since she was sixteen years old. The happy union was blessed by the birth of 
six children, named respectively: Lewis, Thomas J., James, Sarah A., Mary A., 
and Albert. The husband and father was removed by death January 6, 1864, all 
the efforts put forth by his devoted wife and loving children having been 
fruitless to prolong his life. His mortal remains were deposited in Oakwood 
Cemetery, being followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of 
citizens, to whom the pioneer had endeared himself and who sympathized deeply 
in the bereavement which had come upon his family. Capt. Stevens took an 
active part in political affairs, being deeply interested in the welfare of 
the country and anxious that proper men should be elected to office. For a 
short time only he served as Sheriff, having been the first one elected in 
Will County, but giving up the position because his farm required his 
attention. He also held the office of Highway Commissioner. Since his death 
his widow has remained on the homestead. She possesses an abundance of 
vitality, keenness of judgment and energy, and both looks and acts much 
younger than her years. She has been a member of the Methodist Church since 
1834, her confession of faith being but the initiatory step in a life of 
consistent Christianity.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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