Alameda
County
Biographies
JOHN
THOMAS STEVENSON
A notable example of a man poor in
worldly goods, yet rich in ambition and perseverance, working his way to a
prominent place as a land owner and rancher of Alameda county, is found in the
late John Thomas Stevenson, whose death, June 24, 1894, terminated a career of
forty-two years in the west. Mr. Stevenson, whose life work gave stability to
the vicinity of Centerville, was a native of New York City, and was born
January 10, 1823. His father, Haye, and his mother,
Maria L. (Stoutanberg) Stevenson, were both natives
of the east, the latter probably of New Jersey. The elder Stevenson kept a
store in New York City for many years, but after removing to Michigan about
1832, devoted his energies entirely to farming. At the time of the family
removal John Thomas Stevenson was nine years old, and he readily recalled the
trip in later years, dwelling with particular stress on the primitive means of
travel, and the presence, with other family possessions of a family colored
slave. The trip was made to Buffalo by way of the canal, the Stevenson horses
assisting in the pulling of the slow moving craft. With his team Mr. Stevenson
penetrated the timbered wilds of Michigan, pitching his tent in Washtenaw county, where he cleared a space and put in his first year’s
crops. All was desolation and loneliness, for they were among the first
arrivals in that region. Mr. Stevenson lived to be about forty years old. He
was descended from John Stevenson, who, with his brother Thomas, came from
Scotland and settled in New York at a very early day.
Young as he was when he arrived in
Michigan, John T. Stevenson helped to fell the trees of the forest, and to
build the humble home in which his family lived for many years. When (sic) arrived
at twenty years his ambitious nature craved release from the wood bound region,
and in 1852 he invested his earnings in a ticket to California by way of
Nicaragua. His ambition was to make a fortune in the mines, but like the
majority he was doomed to disappointment, and after but a few days of trial
determined to return to the occupation of other years. Settling in the vicinity
of what is now Centerville, Alameda county, he worked
on a ranch until 1864, at which time he found himself the possessor of a neat
little sum of money, with which he purchased three hundred and eighty acres of
land at eighteen dollars an acre. This land was on the Alveza
grant, one mile west of Centerville, a barren field, destitute of fences or any
improvements, and not very promising in aspect. A few years later, after
laboring diligently to improve his land, Mr. Stevenson found that his title was
insecure, and he was obliged to pay for it again. This proved the nucleus for
extensive possessions, and he consecutively added three hundred and eighty,
thirty, one hundred and sixty, and three hundred and twenty acres, in time
owning eleven hundred and sixty acres, all in the rich and productive valley. He
was a painstaking, economical, and practical farmer, living always within his income,
and never branching out into more luxurious modes of living. As he had begun,
so he ended, always careful of his earnings, and always sure of his
investments. His credit was unequaled in the community, and his word was as
good as his bond.
Since the death of Mr. Stevenson his
wife has managed his estate, which was left entirely to her, to be disposed of
as she willed. In this phase of his will Mr. Stevenson sounded the keynote of
his character, which was ample appreciation of the woman who began with him
when he was a poor man, and who has aided him with her ceaseless devotion to
his family and interest. Mrs. Stevenson has developed strong business traits,
and to the property left by her husband has added a farm of one hundred, of one
hundred and forty, and of forty acres, all in the vicinity of the original
property. She has given farms to her three children, yet still has valuable
possessions, which she manages with the caution and care born of long
experience, and long economy. She has a pleasant home in Centerville, where she
has many friends, and the good will of the entire community. Her eldest son,
John William, owns a large dairy ranch in the vicinity; Eugene H. owns the
homestead of three hundred and eighty acres, valued at three hundred and fifty
dollars an acre; and Carrie L. is the wife of Dr. Henry Emerson, whose sketch
appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Stevenson is a member of the Catholic
Church.
Transcribed by: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 608-611. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.
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