Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Stevens, Chauncey 1846 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 5, 2007, 7:37 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

CHAUNCEY STEVENS, a farmer and lumberman of Vienna Township, Genesee County, was
born in Genesee Township, this county, September 21, 1846. His father, Peter
Stevens, was born in 1803, in Genesee County, N. Y., and died in 1865. Previous
to coming to Michigan he lived for a time at Hull's Prairie, Ohio, but in 1842
he settled in Genesee County, this State, buying a farm of the Hon. Josiah W.
Begole, which, after partially clearing, he sold to the ex-Governor and bought a
farm in Mt. Morris Township, on which he resided the remainder of his life. The
mother of our subject, Betsey E. (Rose) Stevens, was born in Canada, and was of
Dutch descent. She died in 1863, leaving four children, of whom our subject is
the youngest.

  When fourteen years old Chauncey Stevens began working for himself, and for
two years did a man's work on a farm for $7 a month, taking full charge of Fred
Walker's farm of ninety-seven acres. At the age of sixteen he went into the
lumber woods and squared timber and otherwise worked at lumbering for a few
years, and in 1873 he bought his present farm and milling property, running1 it
under the firm name of Stevens & Hunt until 1884.

  In 1874 the first mill burned without insurance and the loss was heavy, not
only in the building and machinery but in stock. The second mill was built in
1875, and was operated in partnership with Sanfred Hunt until 1884, since which
time Mr. Stevens has been carrying on the business alone, doing a general custom
business and manufacturing lumber for shipping, in both of which branches he has
been successful.

  Our subject was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary A. Phillips, of Vienna
Township, and they have had five children, viz: Clarissa B., born in 1872; Ida,
in 1874; Charles C., in 1877, and two who died in infancy, The surviving
children are all still beneath the parental roof. While Mr. Stevens believes in
the doctrines of Christianity he has never united himself with any church. He is
a popular man and enjoys a reputation truly enviable. In politics he is a
Republican and is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees and the
Independent Order of Foresters.

  Betsey E. (Rose) Stevens, the mother of our subject, was born in 1807, and was 
living near her parents near a fort during the War of 1812. As the Indians were 
approaching this place of refuge, the people fled to seek a stronger fort some 
distance away, but on their way they were surrounded by Indians and about three 
hundred men and women were taken prisoners, among whom was the father of this 
little five year-old girl, who escaped with her mother to the stronghold, but 
who never heard of her father again.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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