Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stevens, William W 1832 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

WILLIAM W. STEVENS, editor and proprietor of the Joliet Record, assumed the 
duties of his present position in the spring of 1880, at which time he 
purchased the business and plant of the Record, which was established in 1870. 
The Record is a bright and newsy paper, devoted to the interests of this 
county, is intelligently conducted and has unquestionably become a permanent 
institution. The subject of this sketch is a native of Maine, and was born in 
Oxford County July 14, 1832. His parents were Bernard C. and Esther A. 
(Lufkin) Stevens, and the father was born in Salisbury, N. H., which was the 
birthplace of Daniel Webster, and with whom he attended school in his boyhood. 
The father of our subject was born in 1800, and remained under the parental 
roof until reaching his majority. He was the son of Jonathan Stevens, an early 
pioneer of that part of the Granite State. Upon leaving home he went to 
Rumford, Oxford County, where he met and married Miss Esther A. Lufkin, in 
1825. They settled upon a farm and Mr. Stevens confined his attention to 
agricultural pursuits until 1834. He then removed to Dover, and subsequently 
to Springfield, N. H., where his death took place in October, 1874. With the 
exception of a short time spent in Maine, he passed his entire life in his 
native State. Five children were born to the parents of our subject, three of 
whom are still living: James D. was a soldier of the Mexican War, and was 
killed in 1847, at the storming of Chapultepec, Mexico; the eldest, Mary, is 
the wife of Dudley Folansbee, of Joliet; William W. is the next in order of 
birth; Reuben F. is also a resident of Joliet; Vina, the first wife of Dudley 
Folansbee, died in 1880. The wife and mother was born in 1793, and was the 
daughter of Benjamin Lufkin, a Revolutionary soldier who received an honorable 
wound at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mrs. Esther A. Stevens died April 19, 
1849, at her home, in Springfield, N. H. The subject of this sketch remained 
with his parents in Dover and Springfield, N. H., until a man of twenty-three 
years. He received a good education, completing his studies in Andover Academy 
in the class of 1854. Subsequently he engaged in teaching three years, in the 
meantime having, in October, 1855, emigrated to Joliet, Ill., where he taught 
two years. In March, 1857, he entered the law office of Parks & Elwood, of 
Joliet, and confined his attention to the study of law until admitted to the 
bar in 1860. Soon afterward he associated himself in partnership with Benjamin 
Richardson and they practiced together for three years, after which Mr. 
Stevens followed his profession singly and alone. In the meantime, in 1863, he 
was elected City Attorney, and held the office several terms by re-election. 
He also operated as an insurance agent from 1868 to 1873, when he sold out the 
business which he had built up in this line, and thereafter devoted his time 
and attention exclusively to his law practice until 1880, when he turned his 
attention to newspaper work. While keeping himself thoroughly posted upon 
current events, Mr. Stevens has never been an office-seeking politician, 
although filling many positions of trust and responsibility. For three or four 
years he officiated as School Inspector, at the same time being Secretary of 
the School Board, and exercised a perceptible influence in the encouragement 
of educational matters. In 1856 he identified himself with the Masonic 
fraternity, and for six years was Master of Mt. Joliet Lodge; he is also a 
Royal Arch Mason, having been High Priest of the Chapter for six years, and is 
also a member of Joliet Commandery No. 4. In the Commandery he has held most 
of the offices, being Prelate for ten years altogether. On the 6th of 
September, 1859, the subject of this notice was joined in wedlock with Althea 
H. Hawley, and they are the parents of seven children, all living. Ada H. 
became the wife of C. M. Becker, who died leaving one child, a son, Claude W.; 
Kate E. is at home; Will H. is Route Agent on the Chicago & Milwaukee 
Railroad; Ella V. is the wife of Will S. Hamm, of Chicago; Jennie M., Frank M. 
and Winnie Wallace, remain under the home roof. Mrs. Althea (Hawley) Stevens 
was born in this county just outside the city limits of Joliet, April 13, 
1839. She was the daughter of Judge O. L. Hawley, one of the earliest pioneers 
of this county and who came here about 1834. Judge Hawley was one of the 
prominent men in the early days, presiding over the county court. He is now 
deceased, having died November 8, 1861. Miss Hawley was given a good 
education, completing her studies in Lombard University, at Galesburg, and 
remained with her parents until her marriage. Her mother bore the maiden name 
of Nancy A. Burdge, and she was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., August 18, 
1819. The Judge was a native of New York State, and was born in Schoharie 
County, in 1809. He was the son of Lyman Hawley, who came to Illinois in 1835, 
and subsequently laid off the town of West Lockport, building the stone 
gristmill, the first of its kind in this region. He engaged in milling and 
farming until resting from the active labors of life. Judge Hawley assisted 
his father in the mill during his early manhood and, in 1849, was elected 
County Clerk, when he removed to Joliet, discharging the duties of this office 
two terms. He was next elected Judge of the Probate Court, which office he 
held until his death. The mother of Mrs. Stevens was his first wife. Of this 
marriage there were two children, a daughter, Mrs. Stevens, and Martin J., a 
resident of Bloomington, Ill. The two children of the second marriage are 
Alice C. and Antonia E., who are now residents of Lockport, Ill.. Judge Hawley 
was a member of the Universalist Church, and for many years prior to his 
decease, was identified with the Masonic fraternity. In politics, he was first 
a Whig, and after the abandonment of the old party, wheeled into the 
Republican ranks, where he remained until his death. Mr. Stevens, politically, 
is a Democrat, and the Record naturally reflects his political sentiments. He 
is ably assisted by his wife, Mrs. Stevens, who is associate editor, and who 
gives personal attention to the general make up of the paper.

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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