Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of William A. Stevens, was born December
25, 1792, in Darien, Connecticut, and
died March 27, 1872. He lived in Stam-
ford, and was in business for himself as
a carpet weaver in Ridgefield. Mr. Stevens
was a licensed exhorter in the Meth-
odist Episcopal church and also, with his
wife sang in the choir. Their family
Bible is now in the possession of his
great-grandson, Alfred Wilmot Stevens,
of Springfield, Massachusetts. This Bible
was presented to Abner Stevens by the
choir of the church in 1836. Abner Stevens
married Abigail Wilmot, born May 30,
1779, in Greenwich, died June 20, 1870.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows
Lodge of Greenwich.
Alfred Stevens, son of Abner and Abi-
gail (Wilmot) Stevens, was born October
10, 1813, in Darien or Stamford, Connecticut,
and died January 3, 1891. He
was a brick stone mason and for many
years was engaged in business on his own
account, and some years before his death
retired from active business. He mar-
ried Amanda, daughter of Samuel Kel-
logg, of Ridgefield, and she died January
29, 1877, aged eighty-eight years, one
month and twenty-seven days. Her
mother's name was Laura Dauchey.
They were
church.
members of the Episcopal
Hiram Sylvester Stevens, son of Alfred
and Amanda (Kellogg) Stevens, was born
on West Mountain, in Ridgefield, June
16, 1847. He was educated in the district
schools and learned the trade of mason,
which he followed for about twenty-five
years, part of the time as journeyman and
part in business for himself. About 1887,
he started the first steam laundry in
Ridgefield and continued very success-
fully in this business for twenty years,
at which time he sold his interests to Al-
bert Avery. Mr. Stevens had built up a
good trade in the surrounding country
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
180
and after his disposal of the business he
still remained with the company to in-
struct the new owner about the work.
For many years now Mr. Stevens has
been retired, making his home in Ridge-
field.
Mr. Stevens married, June 16, 1869,
Lucy Jane, born June 16, 1851, died February
2, 1921, daughter of William and
Jane Ann (Clark) Webb, of Wilton, Connecticut,
and granddaughter of Jared and
Hannah (Scofield) Webb. Mr. and Mrs.
Stevens were the parents of six children,
four of whom grew to maturity. They
are: 1. William A., of further mention.
2. Samuel F., deceased. 3. Isabelle, de-
ceased wife of Matthew Nisbett of Ridgefield.
4. Caroline, married George W.
Chamberlain of Ridgefield. Mr. Stevens
and his family are members of St. Ste-
phen's Episcopal Church of Ridgefield, of
which he is vestryman, an office he has
held for some time.
William A. Stevens, son of Hiram S
and Lucy Jane (Webb) Stevens, was born
in WT
ilton, Connecticut, October 31, 1870,
and his education was obtained in the
public schools of Ridgefield and the surrounding
towns. Most of his boyhood
days were spent with his grandparents in
North Wilton, and until he was about
fifteen years old, was accustomed to help
his grandfather in the care of the farm.
His first position was with the Gilbert &
Bennett Company of Georgetown, manufacturers
of wire cloth, and he remained
with this firm until 1888. The years fol-
lowing, until his nineteenth birthday,
were spent in the employ of Dr. W. S.
Todd, of Ridgefield, and at that age he
entered the employ of the Ridgefield
Press, to learn the printer's trade. Mr.
Stevens was subsequently in the employ
of the Danbury "Daily Dispatch" and
with the Danbury Medical Printing Com-
pany. This brings us to the year 1898,