Stevens, Jedediah

Other Events:

• Book: Stevens, Jedediah Diary Collection
• Reference Number: 98

Notes:

Book:
This collection is owned by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Archives Division. 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706. This collection is at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Area Research Center, Green Bay, WI 54311. The microfilm is also available in Madison. Negative Reel 1 : MAD 1V/Mss Box 88A; Call No. Green Bay Micro 52 Micro 270; Format 1 reel of microfilm (35mm)

Typescript diary of Jedediah Dwight Stevens, 1827-1830 and 1841, with reminiscences back to the first decade of the 1800s, edited and with additional information and reminiscences by daughter Salome E. Williams. Also included is genealogical information about the Stevens family and about Jedediah's wife Julia's family, the Egglestons. The genealogies include information from about 1776 to 1936. Stevens was a teacher/missionary to the Stockbridge Munsee Indians.The diary details Stevens' early life in Hamilton, N.Y.; his decision to become a missionary; work at Mackinac Island (Mich.); and later work in Wisconsin. The 1827-1830 diary was written while he was in Green Bay and Kaukauna, Wis. An excellent storyteller, his descriptions of the areas in which he lived, his work, and his view of Indian culture are vivid. Morality and the problem ofintemperance occupy much of his thoughts. Stevens later worked in Platteville, Wis. (which is not covered by the diary), although the 1841 diary details a trip he made from Wabaska to Galesburg, Ill. Available only on microfilm. Microfilmed by the Karrman Library, University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Find A Grave:
From Jedediah's Unpublished Diary
"My birth was on the Christian Sabbath, the 25th of March 1798 in the town of Hamilton, Madison County, State of New York. Was named Jedediah Dwight. Was baptized by the Elder Dr. Badger, father of Dr. Milton Badger, one of the first secretaries of the A.M.H.S. [American Home Missionary Society].
My father Deacon Jonathan Stevens was a native of Massachusetts, Town of Southwick, Berkshire County. My mother whose maiden name was Lucy Berry was a native of Meriden, Connecticut. They married in 1781 and lived together 53 years. They had 10 children, three sons and seven daughters."
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J.D. married 1st Julia Eggleston. She was born June 7, 1807 in Stafford, Genesee Co., New York, and died March 7, 1845 in Platteville, Grant Co., Wisconsin of pneumonia. Burial location in Grant county unknown. Seven children were born of this union. Three sons, J. Dwight, Henry G., and Evarts C. served the Union during the Civil War. J. Dwight and Henry G. died of disease.
J.D. married 2nd Esther Humphrey Nov 22, 1845 in Rock Co. Wisconsin. To this union were born five children, four of whom reached adulthood.
According to Oakwood cemetery records Jedediah died in Rockford, Illinois and was interred there (place unknown) until July 3, 1912 when he was removed to Oakwood Cemetery in Beloit. However, daughter Salome wrote in her diary that he died in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Jedediah — Eggleston, Julia. Julia was born 7 Jun 1807; died 7 Mar 1845, , , Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 98
• 1850 Census: 1850, Monroe, Green, Wisconsin, USA
• Military Service: Aft 12 Feb 1864; Civil War, Company B, 1st Wisconsin
• 1880 Census: 1880, Durand, Winnebago, Illinois, USA
• Obituary: Aft 1 Sep 1925

Notes:

1850 Census:
J D Stevens52
Ester H Stevens32
J Dwight Stevens19
Evarts C Stevens17
Julia A Stevens14
Henry A Stevens10
Salsame E Stevens7
Edwin H Stevens2

Military Service:
He was a veteran of the Civil War enlisting in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he was Village Clerk, February 12, 1864, with Company B, 1st Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Heavy Artillery. He was discharged and promoted November 30, 1864 to Second Lieutenant with Company F, 12th Regiment U.S.C.H.A. (U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery) organized at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. His name is displayed on the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington D.C., plaque No. B-27. (Note: marker inscription 52nd U.S.H.A. is incorrect.)

1880 Census:
Evarts C. Stevens48
Henry E. Stevens18
Maud Stevens16
Matie G. Stevens13
Paul B. Stevens2

Obituary:
E.C. was born at the Stockbridge Mission settlement near what is now Kaukauna Wisconsin on the Fox River abt 22 miles southwest of Green Bay. At the time of his birth his father, Jedediah, was a ABCFM foreign missionary to the Stockbridge Munsee Indians who came from New York and settled in the area. The Stevens family resided there from 1828 to 1833. His mother was Julia Eggleston Stevens who died March 7, 1845 in Platteville, Wisconsin, burial location unknown.
[From the Jedediah Stevens diary, Minnesota State Historical Society, he wrote: "Evarts Cornelius. Born 27 Sept 1832 at the Mission in Statesburgh, Michigan Territory". Note: The Wisconsin Territory was created in 1836.]
He was a Masonic veteran, joining as a young man first in Mineral Point Wisconsin Lodge No. 1, later belonging to lodges at Elkhorn No. 17 where he received his Royal Arch degree in 1861, and Delavan. Upon moving to Durand Illinois he joined the Durand Masonic Lodge No. 302 where he was Worshipful Master 1870-1881. He received his orders of Knighthood in Freeport Commandery No. 7, Illinois.
After moving to North Dakota he joined Minnewaukan Lodge No. 21 of Devils Lake and when Cyrene Commandery No. 7 was organized in 1893, he was a charter member and believed to be the first Captain General. Upon moving to Towner, McHenry County, he served as the first high priest of Mystic Chapter No. 13, and was the first Master of Mouse River Lodge No. 43 when it was organized in 1893. In 1897-98 Evarts became the 9th Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Masons and he was Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Masons North Dakota from 1904-05. He was a member and Illustrious Master of a Council of Royal and Select Masters organized in Towner. He also held membership in the Scottish Rite Bodies and was a charter member in the Sylvan Chapter No. 21 Order of the Eastern Star formed July 13, 1895. He was also a life long Presbyterian.
He was a veteran of the Civil War enlisting in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he was Village Clerk, February 12, 1864, with Company B, 1st Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Heavy Artillery. He was discharged and promoted November 30, 1864 to Second Lieutenant with Company F, 12th Regiment U.S.C.H.A. (U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery) organized at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. His name is displayed on the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington D.C., plaque No. B-27. (Note: marker inscription 52nd U.S.H.A. is incorrect.)
He was an agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad in Durand, Winnebago Co. Illinois and after moving to Towner, North Dakota, was engaged as a druggist there. As his father wrote in a July 1876 letter "my second son (Evarts) not liking farming, left".
Evarts first married Phebe A. Lawson, Sept 3, 1856, in Elkhorn, Walworth Co. Wisconsin.
He died at Towner at the age of 93. His body was returned to Durand, Illinois for burial.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 98

Salome married Bisbee, Horace 8 Jan 1876, Beloit, Rock, Wisconsin, USA. Horace was born 18 Aug 1811, , , Massachusetts, USA; died 5 Dec 1887, , , North Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]