Bio: Stevens, Elias W. & Mary R. (Clark)

 

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

Surnames: Stevens, Barney, Clark, Carlisle

 

----Source: Spencer Advance, 3 Feb 1881, pg. 1, Federal Census Records

 

Spencer Advance, Spencer, Wisconsin (20 Jan. 1881 - 14 Jul 1881), Elias W. Stevens, publisher; Elbert E. Stevens, Local Editor.

 

Rev. Elias W. Stevens, a minister of the Free Will Baptist Church, became the first publisher of Spencer, Wis. in 1879 when he began setting type and publishing "The Spencer Advance."  It was a six column weekly production featuring both local and national news.  E. W. was an experienced newspaper man, having run the Portage, Wis. Advance for a long time in the interest of the Temperance Movement which was also a prime concern in the local church where he served as minister.  Supporters of Temperance sought moderation or complete abstinence of consumption of intoxicating liquors. It's ranks were mostly filled by women who, with their children, had endured the effects of unbridled drinking by many of their men folk. At that time, alcohol was blamed for many of society's demerits, among them severe health problems, destitution and crime. The temperance movement crested with 18th Amendment to the Constitution (Prohibition, 1919-33) but was later repealed by the 21st Amendment when the movement lost steam.

 

Rev. Stevens had also been connected with to Randolph Enterprise, and just prior to his move to Spencer, he ran the Independence at Madison., Wisconsin.  The Independence was known as a "Greenback" publication because it promoted that American political party platform and a movement which began in Ohio and was active between 1874 and 1884.  It advocated government-issued currency.  It advocated the withdrawal of currency from all national and State banks and corporations, a paper currency issued by the Government, and that coin should only be paid for interest on the national debt when so specified. They also demanded an eight-hour law, the prohibition of Chinese immigration, of land grants to railways and of special grants to corporations and bondholders. In 1878 they elected fourteen Congressmen. Their national convention was held at Chicago, on June the 9th, 1880.

 

Albert, the son of Elias, were employed by his father as the local editor and both were first class newspaper men.
 

Publishing of the Spencer Advance was short-lived and the endeavor ceased after 6 months, perhaps because of too many "preachy" editorials and limited advertisements.  Shortly after its demise, the Spencer Tribune came into existence, featuring a wide array of ads, including those for saloons and billiard halls.  It was written in a casual style interspersed with w humor and liveliness that seemed almost a retaliation of the previous style.  A lawyer from Mayville, Wis., A. B. Barney publish it, quickly expanding it to 8 pages, requiring payment in advance for a subscription and hiking the price to $1.50 per year. The cost was $2.00 per year if paid incrementally causing some to regret the loss of the Spencer Advance.

 

United States of America Civil War Index

 

Name: Elias W. Stevens
Name Note:
Also Known As:
Also Known As Note:
Event: Military Service
Rank In: Private
Rank In Note:
Rank Out: Chaplain
Rank Out Note:
Side: Union
Side Note:
State (or Origin): Wisconsin
Military Unit: 44th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Military Unit Note:
Company: F
Company Note: Company also F&S
General Note:
NARA Publication Title: Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Wisconsin.

 

1860 Federal Census, Dodge, Wisconsin

 

Name: Elias W Stevens
Ward: The Town Of Westford
Age: 27 years
Estimated Birth Year: 1833
Birthplace: New York
Gender: Male
Page: 136
Family Number: 10

 

1880 Federal Census, Spencer, Marathon, Wisconsin

 

Elias W. Stevens
Birthdate: 1833
Birthplace: New York, United States
Spouse's Name: Mary R. Stevens
Spouse's Birthplace: Vermont, United States
Father's Birthplace: Connecticut, United States
Mother's Birthplace: New York, United States
Race or Color (Expanded): White
Ethnicity (Standardized): American
Martial Status: Married
Age (Expanded): 47 years
Occupation: Minister Of Gospel
Household 
Head: Elias W. Stevens M 47
Wife: Mary R. Stevens F 45 (1835), b. VT, parents b. VT
Child: Lura M. Stevens F 11 (1869), b. Wis.
Child: Elma A. Stevens F 3 (1877), b. Wis.

 

1895 Minnesota State Census, Minneapolis city, Ward 11, Hennepin, Minnesota

 

Head: Elbert Stevens
Titles & Terms (original):
Age: 32y
Estimated Birth Year: 1863
Place of Birth: Wisconsin
Race (original): W
Gender: Male
Line Number: 12
Family Number: 9
Page Number: 82
 

1910 Federal Census, Minneapolis Ward 5, Hennepin, Minnesota

 

Name: Mary R Stevens
Birthplace: Vermont
Relationship to Head of Household: Mother
Marital Status: Widowed
Race : White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Family Number: 81
Page Number: 5
Household Gender Age
Head: Elbert E Stevens M 49y
Wife: Capitola G Stevens F 47y
Child: Granville C Stevens M 25y
Child: Mabel A Stevens F 25y
Mother: Mary R Stevens F 75y
Single Male: Nels Ryberg, b. MN, parents b. Sweden

 

1920 Federal Census, Hennepin, Minnesota

 

Elias Elbert Stevens
Estimated Birth Year: 1862
Age: 58
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Birthplace:
Household
Head: Elias Elbert Stevens M 58y
Wife: Capitolla Stevens F 59y
Child: Granville Clare Stevens M 34y
Daughter-in-law: Mable Alice Stevens F 38y
 

Minnesota Death Records

 

Name: Elias W. Stevens
Event: DEATH
Event Date: 13 Aug 1899
Event Place: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Street Address:
Gender: Male
Age: 66
Marital Status: Married
Race: w
Occupation: clergyman
Birthplace: NY
Estimated Birth Year: 1833
Cemetery: Lakewood
Father: N. Stevens
Father's Titles & Terms:
Father's Birthplace: NY
Mother: S. Stevens
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: NY
Additional Relatives:
Spouse:
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Volume/Page/Certificate Number:
 

Name: Mary R. Stevens
Event: DEATH
Event Date: 04 Jun 1913
Event Place: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Residence:
Street Address: 1057 15th Av. S.E.
Gender: Female
Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: W
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Vermont
Estimated Birth Year: 1835
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Cemetery: Lakewood Cem.
Father: Thomas Clark
Father's Titles & Terms:
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother: Athela Carlisle
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Additional Relatives: X

 

 

 


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