William Stevens Jr. (1863 - 1907)

Born 3 Feb 1863 in Cambridge Township, Lenawee, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Edith Belle (Goss) Stevens — married 13 Feb 1889 in Charlevoix, Charlevoix, Michigan

Descendants

Died 9 Jul 1907 at age 44 in Bryson City, Swain, North Carolina

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Biography

William Stevens, Jr. was born on February 3, 1863 in Cambridge Township, Lenawee, Michigan. He is the son of William Stevens, Sr. and Caroline Gough. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1866 the family moved to near Phelps in Marion Township, Charlevoix, Michigan.

The 1870 Federal Census, taken August 11th, listed William Jr., age 7, as living with his parents William Sr. and Caroline, his brothers Charles Henry Stevens and Joseph Stevens, and his sisters Elizabeth Ann Stevens, Mary Stevens, Sarah Lavina Stevens, Caroline Stevens, and Ida May Stevens in Marion Township, Charlevoix, Michigan. ^[3]

The 1880 Federal Census, taken June 8th, listed William Jr., age 17, as living with his parents William Sr. and Caroline, his brother Joseph, and his sisters Caroline, and Ida May in Marion Township, Charlevoix, Michigan. William was working on his father's farm. ^[4]

William Jr. and his brother Joseph had a livery stable in Charlevoix. They both had fancy horses and very outstanding carriages, buggies and traps. ^[5]

In 1887, William was returning from Chicago with some horses for the business when the steamer Champlain, of the Northern Michigan line, caught fire at midnight June 16, between Norwood and Charlevoix. In ten minutes from the time the fire was discovered by the chief engineer, the entire vessel was in flames, and was headed for Fisherman's Island. She grounded about a mile from shore, and the passengers were forced into the water, many of them in the excitement jumping overboard. Twenty-two lives are known to have been lost. Those saved floated around an hour before they were rescued by a yawl and fishing boats from shore. Many were badly burned. ^[6] Evidently William saved the life of Mrs. Harrison Bedford. Later he became a partner in the Stevens-Bedford Lumber Company.

William Stevens, age 25, married Edith Belle Goss, age 22, on February 13, 1889 in Charlevoix, Charlevoix, Michigan by W. H. McCartney, Minister. His occupation was listed as liveryman. ^[7]

The 1900 Federal Census, taken June 12th, listed William Jr., age 37, as living with his wife Edith, his daughters Lila C. Stevens, Winifred M. Stevens and Marion E. Stevens and a servant Ella Brown at 513 Bay Street in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan. His occupation was listed as Lumber Dealer. ^[8]

The 1903 Petoskey City Directory listed William as a lumberman and living at 513 Bay Street in Petoskey. ^[9]

Circa 1905, the family moved initially to Ashville, Buncombe, North Carolina and then after William's business was well established, they moved to Bryson City, Swain, North Carolina. Bryson City is in the foothills south of the Great Smoky Mountains. ^[10]

In a July 15, 1907 newspaper obituary, it was stated, "Mr. William Stevens at Bryson City - Correspondence of the Observer - Asheville, July 12, - News has been received here of the death at Bryson City, Wednesday morning of William Stevens, manager of the Bedford & Stevens Lumber Co. Mr. Stevens had been ill with Typhoid Fever for ten days and the news of his death will come as a severe shock to his many friends in Asheville and other parts of western North Carolina. He came to this section of the State from Cross Village, Mich., about four years ago to engage in the lumber business. Prior to his coming to western North Carolina he had been a lumberman in his native state and was prominently identified with the trade. He was a man of large acquaintance and was held in respect and high esteem by all who knew him. Surviving are a widow and three daughters. The remains were taken to Michigan today for internment. ^[11]

William passed away on July 9, 1907 from Typhoid fever in Bryson City, Swain, North Carolina at age 44. ^[12]

On August 7, 1907, Edith made application before the Superior Court in Swain County, North Carolina to be appointed administrator of her husband William Stevens' estate because he died without a Last Will and Testament. She was so appointed by the Clerk of the Court on the same date. ^[13] Also on August 7, 1907, Edith made a true inventory of the estate; Real Estate Timber Land valued at $500.00 and Personal property consisting of household goods valued at $500.00 for a Total value of $1,000.00. ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Stephen Fritz, secondhand knowledge, Oct 17, 2012
2. ↑ FamilySearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/M7R1-WRG - Ancestral File for William Stevens, Jr.
3. ↑ ancestry.com - 1870 United States Federal Census - data found under Willie Stevens
4. ↑ ancestry.com - 1880 United States Federal Census - data found under William Stevens
5. ↑ Life Story of Lila Carolyn Stevens Price by William C. Price
6. ↑ gendisasters.com/michigan/5214/charlevoix,-mi-steamer - data found under William Stevens
7. ↑ FamilySearch.org - Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925 - data found under William Stevens, 1889
8. ↑ ancestry.com - 1900 United States Federal Census - data found under William Stevens
9. ↑ ancestry.com - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Petoskey, Michigan, City Directory, 1903 - data found under Will Stevens
10. ↑ Life Story of Lila Carolyn Stevens Price by William C. Price
11. ↑ newspapers.com - The Charlotte Observer (charlotte, North Caroline) 15 Jul 1907, Mon., Page 10 - data found under William Stevens
12. ↑ newspapers.com - The Charlotte Observer (charlotte, North Caroline) 15 Jul 1907, Mon., Page 10 - data found under William Stevens
13. ↑ FamilySearch.org - North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970, Swain, Orders and Decrees, 1873-1908, Image 171 of 177 - data found under Edith B. Stevens
14. ↑ FamilySearch.org - North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970, Swain, Accounts, 1877-1918, Vol. I, Image 205 of 289 - data found under Edith B. Stevens

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