Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Stevens, Francis A. 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 23, 2006, 11:20 pm Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) FRANCIS A. STEVENS, of Worthington, is court commissioner for Nobles county. He has resided in the county thirty years. He is a native of New Hampshire, born at Charleston Sept. 21, 1835, the son of Henry and Dorothy (Gove) Stevens, natives of the same state. In the schools of his native state Frank Stevens received his education, and when about twelve years old was employed in a cotton mill, which occupation he followed two years. He next worked, at the cutler's trade, being employed in a shop for several years. Mr. Stevens came west in 1860, and located at Claremont, Dodge county, Minn. There he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1878. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in the Second light battery, Minnesota Volunteers, and served in the war until the fall of 1865. The battery took part in several important battles of the war, including Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga. After his discharge from the army Mr. Stevens returned to Dodge county and again took up his farming duties. In 1878 he came to Nobles county and settled in Leota township, taking as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 10. He farmed that property until the beginning of the year 1887, when he moved to Worthington, which place has since been his home. He was elected clerk of court in 1886 and served twelve consecutive years, having been reelected in 1890 and 1894. During his residence on the farm he took an active part in local politics. He assisted in the organization of Leota township, and held several offices under the township government. After his last term of office expired, Mr. Stevens held the office of justice of the peace in Worthington village for a number of years, and during the last nine years has been court commissioner. He is a member of Stoddard Post No. 34, G. A. R. Mr. Stevens was married at Croydon, N. H., July 4, 1856, to Helen M. Mitchell, a native of that state. She died at Worthington Jan. 31, 1891. Five children were the result of the union, of whom the following three are living; Herbert E., Henry and Nellie M. Mr. Stevens was married the second time to Hannah Hoynes, of St. Paul, in 1895. To them was born one child, a son, who died. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/stevens159gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 3.0 Kb