Welcome
To my Stevens Family Pages
This page is dedicated to my paternal grandfather, Harry E. Stevens.
Pull up the old rocking chair and let's visit.
Meet My grandparents
Harry, & Florence Stevens with their baby daughter,
Hazel Stevens. circa 1922 ~23
Photo Credit: Hazel Stevens Mize
Harry Eugene Stevens was born on May 24, 1891, in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., Vermont. His lineage is 4Harry, 3Orin, 2George S., 1Isaac Stevens.
His mother,
Loucretia Hartson Stevens, at 16
Photo credit, Rev. David Stevens
His father,
Orin Everett Stevens
Photo Credit, Hazel Stevens Mize
My grandfather told me he was very poor while growing up. His father, Orin, was a stonecutter who worked in the granite sheds in Hardwick, Vermont. In the early 1900's, Orin died of stone cutters' consumption. Harry was about nine. Orin's death left Lou a widow, with several young children to care for.
After Orin died, my grandfather (the oldest child) had to leave school and go to work to help support the family. He boarded at nearby farms during the week. He told me he only owned one "suit" (set) of clothes. He was allowed to go home on Sundays for a day off. He spent that whole day in bed, while his mother washed and dried his one outfit.
I've often wondered if he passed the time on those Sundays learning to play the harmonica. By the time I came along he was an expert at it. He played by ear. He only had to hear a song once and he could play it. One of my favorites is the one you are listening to. "Redwing." How I wish I had a tape of him playing it now.
My grandfather worked hard as a farmer all his life. He didn't marry until he was twenty nine. On January 8, 1920, he married Florence Louise Nelson in Cabot, Vermont. She was the daughter of Herbert Louis Nelson and Cora Louise Nichols Nelson. Harry and Florence were married for over fifty years. They had two children.
Hazel Stevens & my father,
Warren Stevens ca. 1928
Photo credit, Florence Stevens
My grandfather loved kids. When his daughter was a child, he often took her to the store and bought her two ice cream cones, one for each hand.
He loved music and he loved to walk. Around town, he was famous for wearing his rubber boots and walking everywhere he wanted to go.
He loved to buy things. Houses and "antiques" were his specialty. He had an antique bedroom set. It had elaborate carvings in the wood and the dresser tops were marble. He loved this bedroom set so much he always proudly showed it off to everyone who came to visit. I know he'd be thrilled that I can share its beauty with you here.
Harry Stevens - bed - dresser
He didn't have the opportunity for much formal education, yet I believe he was a wise man. He learned to be decent, honest and compassionate from the lessons of life. He didn't attend church, but I believe he was a religious man. He always read his New Testament on Sundays. He lost his only son, who was 21 years old. My grandfather explained this tragedy by looking to his Bible. He said, "The Bible says two men will be working in a field and one shall be taken."
Harry E. Stevens died on July 16, 1972 in
Manchester, Connecticut. He is buried in the Durant Cemetery in
Cabot, Vermont. He was much loved and is greatly missed. I
insisted he should be buried holding his harmonica in his hands.
Links
Margaret Joyal page - Wife of
Warren
Letters of Warren W.
Stevens
Stevens Genealogy
Nelson Family page
Piper Family page
Willey Family page
Clearly, I don't have a wealth of information on my Stevens ancestry. Isaac is my brick wall. If you have additional information, I'd very much like to hear from you.
To e-mail me, click the graphic below
Some graphics by
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