THE FIRST 100 YEARS
OF
SACRAMENTO LODGE No.40
DANIEL ST. CLAIR STEEVENS
Daniel St. Clair Steevens, an
original petitioner of Sacramento Lodge was born on the British Island of Malta
in the Mediterranean Sea in about the year 1830. From Malta he came to
Sacramento, arriving probably in 1850. From April 1851 to April 1852 he was
Deputy County Recorder of Sacramento County, subsequently going into business
as Searcher of Records and continuing in this vocation either individually or
as a member of the firm of Stanley and Steevens during his stay in
Sacramento. He was author of Search Book of Sacramento by the aid of
which he was able to trace the chain of title under John Sutter to any parcel
of ground within the city limits and to show the adverse claimants of all lots
within the Corporation of Sacramento. On May 28, 1853 he married Miss Jane
Fallon in Sacramento. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. J. A. Benton.
He was naturalized August 21, 1855, in the Court of the 6th District,
Sacramento. Moving to San Francisco in 1874 he accepted a position as clerk in
the Land Office of the Central Pacific Railroad. In 1877 he was promoted to
Chief Clerk and maintained that position until 1885. (This latter is assumed
since his name does not appear in 1885-6 San Francisco Directory). Brother
Steevens was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason, Jan. 27, 1853, passed to
the Degree of Fellowcraft, Feb. 24, 1853, and raised to the Sublime Degree of
Master Mason, March 31, 1853 in Washington Lodge No. 20 F. & A. M.,
Sacramento. An original petitioner of Sacramento Lodge he assisted in its
organization in July 1853 and became the First Senior Deacon of Sacramento
Lodge U. D. He was granted a dimit by Washington Lodge No. 20 on September 15,
1853. He served as Secretary of Sacramento Lodge U. D. from December 13, 1853
to March 3, 1854. On December 1, 1853 the motion by Washington Lodge No. 20
granting Bro. Steevens a dimit was reconsidered by that Lodge and he was
declared a member and on Dec. 22, 1853 was installed Secretary of Washington
Lodge No. 20. He dimitted from Sacramento Lodge No. 40 Aug. 4, 1854. Thus for a
short time he was not only a member but also Secretary of both Lodges. He was
an excellent penman and his minutes are beautifully written. Brother Steevens
was Junior Warden of Washington Lodge No. 20 during the year 1855, Senior
Warden in 1856 and Secretary in 1857 until June 4 of that year. On Feb. 3, 1859
his membership in Washington Lodge No. 20 was terminated.
Transcribed by Sally
Kaleta.
Proofread by Betty
Vickroy.
© 2007 Sally Kaleta.