GEORGE STEVENS

    George Stevens was a farmer.  The progenitors of the Stevens family were of English stock.  The first of the name in the United States, was Prince Stevens, the grandparent, who made a permanent settlement in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where be died.  The maternal head, Joshua Lawrence, was English born, and served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. Charles Stevens, the father of George, was a native of Vermont, and his wife, Hannah Lawrence, was born in Massachusetts.  They subsequently moved to East Montpelier, Vt., where they both died.  The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was horn in Plainfield, Vt., in 1811.  He was married at East Montpelier, Vt., to Miss Cairn Edwards, who died with her first-born child, and both were laid at rest in one grave.  In 1835, Mr. S. came to Union County, after laboring at the shoe bench some years, had by close, economy, saved a small sum of money.  In looking over the wooded scenery of Union County, he resolved to invest his last dollar, and accordingly invested his entire capital, $47 in cash, for twenty acres of his present farm.  Here he cleared a spot, built his cabin, and went to work, binding his energies and his time in founding a home.  By hard labor, economy and perseverence, he was soon enabled to make additions to his little home, and long ere the hand of time had silvered his hair with its threescore and ten, the rude cabin had given place to a commodious farmhouse, from which the eye could trace the boundaries of 700 acres of land composed of the rich and productive soil of Darby plains.  This accumulation has been secured through hardship, and the privations incident to pioneer life.  He subsequently contracted and graded a portion of the Pan Handle Railroad, and for a number of years has dealt largely in stock.  His second marriage occurred January 3, 1837, to Miss Emily, daughter of E. C. Smith. and a native of Plainfield, Vt. Of the children born to this union, two are living, viz.: George W., who married Miss Nancy Ketch, by whom he has three children, viz.: Fanny, Harry and Ebbin E.; Mary E., wife of P. B. Ferris, presents one grandchild (Flora E.) to the joy and comfort of the household.  The family are connected with the Church Universal of Plain City.  Since the compilation of this sketch, we learn with sorrow of the death of George Stevens, February 18, 1883.