Herman B. Stevens Biography This biography appears on pages 1149-1150 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm HERMAN B. STEVENS. Herman B. Stevens is conducting a photographic studio at Hot Springs and his artistic nature, finding expression in his work, has brought to him growing success. He was born in Fort Edward, New York, April 17, 1871, a son of James A. and Sarah J. (Bentley) Stevens, both of whole were natives of the northern part of the state. In early life the father engaged in farming and later turned his attention to railroad work, in which he continued for a number of years. He then resumed agricultural pursuits. While connected with railroad interests he was with the Central Vermont at Rutland and afterward removed to southwest Nebraska, where he again engaged in farming from 1883 until his life's labors were ended in death in January, 1896. His wife survived him for about ten years, passing away in 1906. Herman B. Stevens was the second born of four children. He attended school at Rutland, Vermont, and afterward was a pupil in the district schools near his father's home in Nebraska, At the age of eighteen years he engaged in farming in that state on school lands and devoted ten years to tilling the soil. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Beatrice Creamery Company, with which he continued for two years and then again gave his attention to farming for three years, during which time he cared for a widowed sister and her six children. He next took a position with the large wholesale hardware concern of Wright & Wilhelmy as a packer and the recognition of his ability won him promotion to the position of assistant foreman in the house. His spare moments were given to gaining knowledge and experience in photographic work. He continued with that firm for six years and then removed to Hot Springs, where he arrived in May, 1911. At that time he turned his full attention to photography. For two years he was engaged in view work and Kodak finishing and at the end of that period purchased and opened for business the studio in which he is now located and which is equipped according to the most modern methods and is first class in every particular. He still makes a specialty of finishing amateur work and in this is an expert. He also does portrait and commercial work and, in fact, is acquainted with every phase of the photographic business. He is likewise a landowner, having an excellent fruit ranch at Payette, Idaho, his home in Hot Springs and other property in the same city. On the 21st of August, 1907, Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Evangel Livingston, who was born at Missouri Valley, Iowa, a daughter of Abner and Augusta (Titus) Livingston, both of whom were natives of New York, whence they removed westward to Iowa. The father engaged in railroading but is now practically retired, making his home at Hot Springs, South Dakota. He served as a soldier in the Civil war in a New York regiment. In politics Mr. Stevens is a republican, but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring always to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and the care and management with which he has controlled his interests and directed his activities have won for him a substantial place among the business men of the Hills country.