Edward Stevens was born November 26, 1847, in Chipstead, Surrey, England, the son of James Stevens (1820-1902) and Caroline Smith (b. 1824).
James and Caroline were married on April 21, 1844, in Hampton Wick, Middlesex, England. Edward emigrated to the United States, probably with Richard Stapleton and Margaret Stevens, and numerous older siblings, arriving in New York City aboard the ship America on January 18, 1854. Edward eventually made his way west, settling in Barry County, Michigan. In 1850 there was a 43-year-old Edward Stevens living in Leroy, Calhoun County, Michigan, and one Edward Stevens living in China, St. Clair County.
Edward stood 5’2” with black eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was an 18-year-old farmer possibly living in Rutland, Barry County, Michigan, when he enlisted in Company E on February 8, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Rutland, and was mustered the same day. He joined the Regiment on March 23, was on detached service in May, and probably still on detached service when he was transferred to Company E, 5th Michigan Infantry upon consolidation of the 3rd and 5th Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He was absent sick from September through November, and mustered out presumably on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.
After the war Edward returned to Michigan, probably to Barry County.
He married Michigan native Harriet Maria Wilkins (1851-1927) on August 13, 1867, and they had at least 10 children: Robert (b. 1868), Albert (b. 1869), Mary Emma (b. 1870), George E. (1872-1945), Caroline (1874-1956), Jennie (b. 1875), Ormond S. (1878-1899), Kitty (1880-1903), Edith May (1884-1967, Mrs. Lucas), and Merle Jean (1887-1957).
By 1870 Edward was working as a farm laborer and living with his wife and son in Hope, Barry County. He eventually moved to the northern part of the state was living in Chase, Lake County in 1890 and 1894. He probably spent the rest of his life in Lake County. He was working as a blacksmith and living with his wife Harriet and daughter Merle in Chase, Lake County in 1900. By 1910 Edward was working as a farmer and living with his wife Harriet, their daughter Merle and granddaughter Merle Wyman in Chase. He and Harriet were still living in Chase in 1920. By 1930 Edward was a widower living in Chase; his daughter Edith, a cook in a clubhouse, was also living with him.
In 1887 he applied for and received a pension (no. 1112104).
Edward was a widower when he died of a heart attack on September 11, 1934, in Chase, Lake County and was buried in Chase Township Cemetery.
Many thanks to Kirby Stevens for pointing me to Edward's listing on Familysearch.org!
1 comment:
Born 26 Nov.1847 in Banstead Downs, Surrey, England. Immigrated in about 1855. Because of his size he was called "Banty" and made a drummer but after losing many men and regrouped he was issued a Sharps rifle and made a sharpshooter. He was in the "hammering campaign" at Culpepper. He suffered sunstroke and and went to Davis Island in New york harbor. After the war he went to Alabama and then back to Mich. to work in the lumber industry. On 13 August 1867 he married Harriet Maria Wilkins. They had 3 sons and 6 daughters. worked in lumber and as a blacksmith.
He died 11 Sept. 1934.and is buried in Chase Bapist cemetery 4 miles west of Reed City, Mich.
This information is from a letter written by his Grandson James Stevens,son of George Edward Stevens. Photos are in www.familysearch.com, his id is: M5QZ Z49.
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