The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-02-11
COL. JOHN H. STEVENS.
a Pen Sketch of One Of Mime
##SS8 sOta's Sturdy Pioneer
Farmers.

a Pen Sketch of One Of Minne-
sofas Sturdy Pioneer
Farmers.
10 no man are the agricultural
interests Of the Northwest more in
debted than to Col. John H..
Stevens, whose portrait we pre-
sent. He pre-empted quarter
section where the finest buildings
Of the City Of Minneapolis now
stand, and for most of his mature
life has been a resident of this city,
and yet his best efforts have been
given to the encouragement and
development Of the farming inter-
ests of the State and the North
west, and his labors have always
been and are still labors of love.
At every State Dairymen's meet
ing, and at all gatherings Of
the Horticultural and Agricul-
tural Societies, he is a conspicuous
figure and his welcome is always
warm and heartfelt, and his re-
marks on these occasions are al
ways sensible, practical and. full of
the youthful enthusiasm that
makes everything relating to farm
ing and its kindred occupations of
deep and abiding interest to him.
John Harrington Stevens was
born in Lower Canada, June 10,
1920. His parents were natives of
Vermont and their ancestors were
Of New England stock, prominent
in their day and generation. His
grandfather served through the
Revolutionary War, and his father
was a man Of wealth and influence.
His mother was the only child of
DR.. John Harrington, a surgeon
in the War Of Independence. In
very early manhood, Col. Stevens
went to Galena, Ill, where he
several years. When war
with Mexico was declared he en-
tered the army and served in the
quarter masters department from
October, 1914, until the summer
of 1848, when he resigned on &C
count of i'll health and returned to
civil life, having been present at
the battles of .Contreras, San
Antonio, Cherrubusco, Molino del
Rey and Chepultepec. His resig-
nation was accepted with regret,
and the letters from his superior
officers fully recognized the valu-
able, honest and efficient services
rendered by him while wearing
the uniform Of the United States
army.
In May, 1850, Col. Stevens was
married, at Rockford, ILL.,, to Miss
Francis Helen Miller, daughter Of
Abner Miller, of Westmoreland,
New York, a descendant of Puri-
tan ancestors. Mary Elizabeth,
the first white child born in Min
neapolis, and their frst-born, died
in her seventeenth year. A second
daughte is the wife of Philip B.
Winston, now mayor of Mime
apolis. A son. and two younger
daughters are residents of their
native city. .>....
Col. Stevens was for three ses-
sions a prominent and useful mem
Der OF the lower house OF the
Minnesota Legislature, and for one
term a member of the senate. He
has been a brigadier-general of the
State militia, and has held many
minor Offices of honor and trust,
always with credit to himself and
profit to the State.
In 1850, Col. Stevens brought
to Minneapolis from Muscatine,
the first drove Of COWS Except
cattle for army use) ever landed
on the west side Of the river.
They were bought at seven dollars
per head, and shipped by water to
Fort Smelling at four dollars a
head. As the colonel was even
then a good judge of cattle, they
were a good lot, and many Of their
descendants are doing good service