Francis M. Stevens, William L. Stephen
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The Stephens Family book says William Lafayette Stephens, residing in Denver, was the son of Asbury Stephens and Orlevia Cannon, born in Cadiz, Indiana, married Mary Chestnut, and had Wallace Asbury Stephens Sept 25, 1869, and Charles Thomas Stephens July 24, 1879. Sister Eliza Jane Stephens married Josiah A. Hard in 1866 and resided in Denver. The book said Asbury born May 8, 1819 died in Kansas. He's probably the one buried in Miami County, Oakwood cemetery - born May 8, 1819, dying Dec 21, 1869, per FindAGrave 31587561.
On August 30, 1856, the Battle of Osawatomie, the most memorable battle of the Border War, was fought. Capt. John Brown, Dr. Updegraff, and Capt. Cline commanded the defense, and Gen. John W. Reid the attacking party of 400 Missourians. One of the skirmishes "forming a line from O.C. Brown's house to William Chestnut's premises - the high ground west of where the 'John Brown monument' now stands." Only four houses remained unburned - so William's was one of those burned.
The first step toward the erection of an asylum for the insane of Kansas was the passage of the act of March 2, 1863, naming William Chestnut of Miami county, I. Hiner of Anderson county, and James Hanway of Franklin county as commissioners "to determine the location of the State Insane Asylum of the State of Kansas." The commissioners were somewhat restricted in the selection of a site, the act confining them to "some point within the township of Osawatomie township, in the county of Miami."
WILLIAM CHESTNUTT, SR., one of the early pioneers of Miami County, now
resident of California, was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1816. He was a weaver
by trade, and followed that business until 1842, when he immigrated with his
family to America. On arriving in this country he made his home in Connecticut,
where he worked at his trade til 1854. He then immigrated to Kansas Territory
and located on the southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 18, Range 22 east;
a portion of which tract was platted and is now a part of the village of
Osawatomie, Miami County, and built the first frame house in that town. The
greater part of the original claim is now property of his son, John C. Mr.
Chestnut although an earnest believer in the principles of the State's rights
men did not take a conspicuous part in the struggles of his first years in
Kansas. He was a lover of peace and was not in sympathy with the many violent
scenes occurring about him. At the first election he was the only Free-state man
on the Board of elections. As a great number of fraudulent votes were polled he
refused to sign the returns. He was a member of the Free-state Military Company
and twice elected a member of lower House of the Kansas Legislature. His
principle business was farming but believing that the manufacture of salt could
be profitably conducted here He engaged extensively in that business, being the
first to undertake such an enterprise in this section of the state. The venture
proved unprofitable and the business was abandoned after a trial of three years.
In 1874 he moved to Chicago and from there to California in 1880.
In 1865 Miami County Kansas, Mary Chestnut, born in Connecticut about 1846, is with William 49 and Rebecca 36., and four siblings. Rebecca (Stark) Chestnut 1828-1865 is buried in Oakwood, Miami County
In 1870 Miami County, Kansas, W.L Stephens is 26, a druggist, with Mary 22 and Wallace eight months.
In 1880 Rio Grande County, W.L. Stephens is a druggist, 35, Mary 34, with Wallace A. 10 and Charles F. eleven months. His sister R.C. Carter, 32 is visiting with her two daughters Emily B. 13 and Bessie B. 11.
Wallace was a senior at Denver High School in 1889
1889 "Died: Josiah Hard, son of Oliver Hard, both once well known in Lawrence circles, died of heart disease at Denver, Colorado, last week, aged 44 years 3Ir. Hard had for several years been superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph company's office at Denver, where his skill and ingenuity made his services peculiarly valuable. He leaves a wife and two children."
William cash-claimed a quarter in 26, 7N 48W in 1890 - in a section near Francis'
In 1897 Wallace A. Stephens was one of the incorporators of the St. Elmo Recovery company, to treat low grade ores by an improved process. The operations were to be carried out in Arapahoe and Chaffee counties and the principal office was to be maintained in Denver.
William L. Stephenson is in Denver in 1900, a mine owner, born Aug 1844 in Indiana, with Mary C. Nov 1845 Connecticut. They have Wallace A. Sep 1869 Kansas, his wife Eugenia M. Apr 1875 New York, and son Charles T. July 1879 Colorado.
In 1910 Denver all five are still together "Stephens" their last name, the two sons both mining engineers.
In 1909 the Mining Review said that Charles T. Stephens was going to be in charge of a branch office in Salt Lake "formerly with the firm of Henry E. Wood & Co. of Denver, and comes to Salt Lake highly recommended."
Eugenia is widowed in 1920 Denver, age 44.
In Crown Hill, Wheat Ridge, FindAGrave has a William L. Stephens 1844-1932 and a Mary C Stephens 1845-1923.
Wallace A. 1869-1917
Class of 1893, Colorado School of Mines
Eugenia M. Stephens married Edwin Mitchell June 22, 1926, recorded in Denver County
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1888 - Chenoa column in the Holyoke newspaper "Miss Stevens is teaching in the new school house recently erected in 7-48."
In 1890 F.M. Stevens was selected as a petit juror in Logan County.
1890 Sterling "The Republican primary for Precinct 9 will be held at the Stevens school house, at 2 p.m. Sept 12. - J.H. Coleman, Committeeman"
Francis proved up 120 acres in 29, 7N 48W in 1891.
He might be the Francis Stevens in 1870 Vernon County Missouri, 6, born in Kansas, with Robert and Emeline Stephens, both 41.
In 1880 McDonald County, Missouri, Francis M. is 16, one of many kids of Robert and Emeline.
1890 Sterling newspaper - Chenoa section "Mr. F. M. Stevens has gone to Nebraska on business."
F.M. Stevens marrying Martha Ogelsby, 30, in Searcy County Arkansas March 27, 1892. She was 30, residing in Newton County, Arkansas, and he was 28, from Searcy County. Francis' sister Elizabeth also married in Newton County.
In 1900 Searcy County, Frank M. Stevens, born Dec 1863 in Missouri, is widowed, farming.
Francis - per FindAGrave 108291579 - and Martha are the only two interments in Stevens Farm Cemetery, Searcy County. It says Lester Lee Stevens was born in Searcy County July 10, 1893, married Maude Lee Houston, and died July 2, 1957 in Mansfield, Texas, buried in Keene, Johnson County, Texas.