BIO: William Henry STEVENS, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 160, 164-164. __________________________________________________________________ REV. WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, Meadow Gap, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born near Shirleysburg, Pa., December 12, 1831. He is a son of Benedict and Eve (Ow) Stevens. His grandfather, Benedict Stevens, Sr., was born near Shirleysburg, Pa., a descendant of Scotch settlers in America. He was a farmer, and for many years justice of the peace. He was twice married; the first time to Miss Gilbert; their children were: David, died near Altoona, Pa.; George, also died in Altoona; Benedict; William, resided at Rock River, Ill., where he died; he had in early life resided for many years at Birmingham, Huntingdon county, following the calling of a plasterer; Asa, went to Ohio after marriage with his second wife, and died there; Polly, married Adam Miller, and lived and died near the base of Jack's Mountain, in Huntingdon county; Rebecca, married Henry Laughlin, resided for years at Rockhill Furnace, the removed to Mill Creek, Pa., where they died, leaving a large family. The second wife of Benedict Stevens was Mary Prosser; their children were: James, resided after his marriage for the greater part of his life at Newton Hamilton, Pa., where he died; Daniel, is a retired merchant, residing at McVeytown, Pa.; Giles, was a boatman, lived for years at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and died there; Henry, went in his youth to Kansas, where he married and died, was a farmer; and Nancy, also went to Kansas, was married and died there. Benedict Stevens was an influential and greatly respected member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years a class-leader. His brother, David Stevens, was among the first itinerant preachers in this part of the country. Another brother, Giles, lived and died in Bedford county, Pa. Benedict Stevens, Jr., was born February 28, 1802, in Shirley township, Huntingdon county. He possessed but few books, and enjoyed small educational advantages; but he had so well improved those which he had, and was so well qualified in the more important requisite of character, that he was acceptable as a teacher. He was sensible, and in all practical matters was well trained. His wife, Eve, was the daughter of Rev. Herminius Ow, of the United Brethren church, a German by birth, who had been brought to this country in his childhood by his parents. For several years Mr. Stevens rented a farm, but in 1836, he bought 159 acres in Springfield township, a part of the old Captain Crogan survey. A small log house stood on the place; it was one and a half stories in height, having one room in each story, communicating by means of a ladder. In the upper room the whole family slept. After a while, the old log house was remodeled; and in 1841, the circumstances of the family continuing to improve, Mr. Stevens built a frame house, which is still the home of his son, Rev. W. H. Stevens. In all the labors of the farm, from the preliminary clearing off of the brush and timber, Mr. Stevens was assisted by the faithful and industrious boys he had reared. He served the township for many years as justice of the peace. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are: Asa S. was at first a tailor, but was employed on the railroad as a boatman, was also in lumber and mercantile business, and is now retired, married Elizabeth Adams, of Duncansville, Pa., who shortly after died at Wilkes-Barre, after which he married Sarah Parsons, of Mill Creek, Huntingdon county, and now resides in Lancaster, Pa.; Hannah J., married Henry Stains, of Altoona, Pa., and died while on a visit at Three Springs, Pa.; David W., enlisted in 1862 in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves, was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania C. H., Va., and buried on the field of battle, leaving a wife and four children; Samuel Ow, drowned in Aughwick Creek at the age of sixteen; George H., enlisted for the war of the Rebellion, but was rejected on account of ill health, and died before the close of the war; William Henry; Catherine G., widow of Nathaniel Covert, at Three Springs, Pa.; Rachel B. (Mrs. Daniel M. Heck), of Three Springs; Benedict T., hardware merchant at Three Springs, married Mary Heeter, served in the war of the Rebellion; Rebecca J., married first to Abraham Corbin, afterwards to Samuel Weight, and now resides in California, whither they removed in 1886; Frank, enlisted in 1862, in Company I, Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves, was wounded at Fredericksburg, was twice captured, and spent ten months in prison, was promoted to lieutenant; Wesley Lee, enlisted in 1861, in the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, served in three different regiments, was eight months in a cavalry regiment, and when discharged, returned home and enlisted in the Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served until the close of the war; Belle, married Harrison Heeter, removed in 1895 to Long Beach, Col., where they now reside; and two that died while infants. Benedict Stevens, Jr., was from about 1820 until his death a member of the Methodist church, faithful and devout. He was of a liberal, charitable disposition. In 1861 or '62, he retired from business, and in 1868 removed to Three Springs, where he died in 1884. His wife preceded him in death by about ten months; she was born in 1804, and died at the age of seventy-nine. William Henry Stevens, at the time of his father's removal to Springfield township, was two years old. Until he attained the age of nineteen, his occupations were varied. His school education was obtained in winter terms of three months each. During the summer and fall, he was generally at work on the farm, swinging the old-fashioned flail on the threshing-floor at the end of every year's harvest. He assisted in clearing the land and preparing the soil. Of cord wood, he has chopped for the furnaces over 600 cords. He taught school for one term, and for one term attended Cassville Seminary, the walls of which institution he helped to plaster. His desire to study theology was very strong. Having confided this wish to the presiding elder, Rev. Elisha P. Phelps, and told him that he would like to prepare by attending school, that old sage answered that in the saddle-bags was the place to get such education as he needed. Mr. Stevens began preaching in 1854, and entered the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1855. He spent seven years in Bedford county. August 8, 1862, Mr. Stevens was mustered in as second lieutenant of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers; after serving one month with that rank, he was appointed chaplain of the regiment, which was General Beaver's. Rev. Mr. Stevens served until the close of the war, and was present, in the front line, at the surrender of General Lee. Being discharged June 3, 1865, he returned to his family. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Stevens bought a half interest in his father's farm, and purchased the remaining half in 1867. This farm is now managed by his son, Ambrose Stevens. Rev. Mr. Stevens is on the superannuated list of clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political opinions were formerly those of the Whig party; he is now a Republican. He was elected to the state legislature in 1889, and has the honor of having been the only member from Huntingdon county who declined to be a candidate for re-election. He has served his township for many years as school director and as supervisor. Rev. William Henry Stevens was married February 18, 1858, to Margaretta, daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Miller) Sheffler, who was brought up in Franklin county, Pa. Their children are: Emory M., minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Bedford Station, married to Julia Leader, of Springfield township; Watson S., died aged five years; William H., house carpenter, living near Chicago, married Elizabeth Handy, of Ohio; and Ambrose, at home, married Ida Hamilton, of Saxton, Bedford county, has been a teacher from his early youth. Mrs. W. H. Stevens died in February, 1895, and is buried at Three Springs. She was a faithful and zealous Christian, a good wife and mother, and of a benevolent disposition; her loss was deeply felt.