Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stevens, Elias L 1828 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

ELIAS L. STEVENS. The rural districts of Illinois are dotted with attractive 
homes; which in architectural design, neat and tasteful surroundings, and 
thrifty management are models of comfort and homelikeness. One of this class 
is located just outside the limits of the flourishing city of Joliet, and was 
for some years the home of the recently deceased Elias L. Stevens. That 
gentleman, as a contractor and builder, was capable of designing a dwelling 
which combined an attractive exterior and a convenient interior, while his 
wife possessed the housewifely skill and prudence without parsimoniousness, 
that insured to its inmates all the comforts of life in a true home. The natal 
day of Mr. Stevens was April 28, 1828, and his birthplace Saratoga County, N. 
Y. When about twelve years of age he went to Massachusetts, in which State he 
grew to manhood, and completed his education. In Sturbridge he wooed and won 
for his wife Miss Pamelia Childs, of that place, where their marriage was 
celebrated, he having first made her acquaintance in Holyoke, Mass., where he 
learned his trade. In a short time however, they removed to Wisconsin, 
locating in the vicinity of Kilbourne, where Mr. Stevens engaged in farming. 
The breaking out of the Civil War, roused him from the peaceful pursuits of 
that occupation to a desire to assist in upholding the Union, and he left his 
home for a life on the tented field. The name of Elias L. Stevens was placed 
upon the muster-roll of Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry, and until the 
cruel war was over he served faithfully and gallantly, patiently enduring the 
hardships of campaign life and the separation from those he loved. When his 
services were no longer needed by his country in contest with her enemies, he 
returned to his home and to civil life. Ere long he removed to the Prairie 
State, some time being spent in Morris and Henry, and then a settlement being 
made in Joliet. A residence was erected by Mr. Stevens on Union Street, which 
was his home for several years, and until his removal to the beautiful place 
before mentioned, outside the city limits. He engaged as a contractor on the 
Rock Island Railroad, afterward taking other contracts and continued in that 
line of business until his death. He erected several blocks in Joliet, among 
them being the Stevens Block on Chicago Street. Besides attending to many 
large contracts on the Rock Island Road, Mr. Stevens found time to attend to a 
few large contracts for masonry on other railroads. In the fall of 1883, in 
partnership with George Alexander, of Blue Island, he contracted to build 
seven immense piers for a bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky., for 
the Chicago, Louisville & New Albany Railroad Company. The average height of 
the piers was one hundred and fifteen feet, and it required seventeen thousand 
cubic yards of solid masonry. The great floods in the spring of 1884 
interfered with the work somewhat, but in 1885 it was completed. The cost of 
the masonry alone was $300,000. Subsequently Mr. Stevens had large contracts 
for changing the tracks and rebuilding the bridges on the Rock Island Road. 
These contracts extended from the main line to many branches, and cost the 
company nearly half a million dollars. He secured the respect and esteem of 
his neighbors and fellow-citizens, his dealings with mankind ever being 
honorable and straight forward. and his personal habits such as to entitle him 
to their good opinion. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the B. 
M. A., of Joliet. The loss which his own family suffered when he was called 
hence, September 11, 1889, can only be estimated by those who have had a 
similar bereavement. Mrs. Pamelia Stevens died at their home in Joliet, in 
March, 1876, leaving a daughter, Jessie F. who is the wife of A. C. Dillman. 
In 1880, the widower contracted a second alliance, celebrating, in Joliet, his 
marriage to Mrs. Frances Learnard, a sister of his first wife. This lady was 
born in Sturbridge, Mass., and was married, in Brookfield, to Waiter Learnard, 
who was also a native of the old Bay State. The union resulted in the birth of 
one son, Guy M., who is now a book-keeper for the Joliet Stone Company. In 
1876, Mrs. Learnard left her Eastern home, and a few years later became the 
wife of our subject, to whom she bore one son, Roland E. Mrs. Stevens still 
occupies the home in which her lately deceased husband died. She possesses 
more than ordinary intelligence, is amiable and companionable, and in the 
management of household and business affairs displays the prudence which might 
be expected of one born and bred in New England. She has many friends, in 
whose companionship she finds relief from the sorrows and cares of life, 
though her chief delight is in the rearing of her young son, and the society 
of the older members of her family. A portrait of the late Mr. Stevens appears 
in connection with this sketch.

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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