Alexander Stevenson

 

Alexander Stevenson was born November, 1831, in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, his parents being Alexander and Letitia (Wallace) Stevenson. His grandparents on both his father’s and mother’s side came originally from Scotland. Those on the paternal side emigrated to the United States prior to the Revolutionary war, and located in Virginia.  Some time after, while they were making a tour through Ireland, Alexander, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. The grandfather was a soldier in the war, and his wife was a nurse and helped to care for the wounded soldiers. His mother’s grandfather Wallace came to the United States, remained awhile, then returned to Scotland, where he died.  Two of his sons located in Maryland, where the mother of our subject was born. Alexander Stevenson, Sr., with his wife and family moved in 1839 or 1840 from Dutchess County, New York, to Michigan, locating in Oakland County. Mr. Stevenson died there August 15, 1848. By trade he was a miller, which business he followed till he went to Michigan, after which he engaged in farming. Mrs. Stevenson died February, 1849, after the death of her husband. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Alexander is the only member of the family who came to California. He was quite a child when taken to Michigan, where he attended school for a short time, but most of his education was obtained by practical experience. After the death of his parents he ran the home farm and cared for the younger members of the family. Finally, being somewhat ran down in health, he determined to seek a change of climate and of scenery; accordingly, on the 25^th of March, 1852, he set out for California. The members of the party with which he went were all strangers to him, with the exception of one person; but, notwithstanding that, they all became the best of friends and made the whole of the journey together, ¯ cooked their meals together and slept together. He had not a quarrel or difference among them. They traveled through the State, and on the 5^th of May crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, and went into camp two miles out. They traveled from Fort Laramie to Green River; at this place they were overcharged by the man who ferried them across. A trial was given him at Salt Lake City, which resulted in their getting back the money paid for ferrying. They stayed at Salt Lake fourteen days; left there July 10. On reaching the borders of the desert they encamped for the night, and the next evening at 4 o’clock started across, arriving in Carson Valley next morning. They struck Carson River, reached Hangtown on the 25^th of September, all healthy, hearty, and feeling fine. They had no trouble whatever on the journey. Once they came near having trouble with the Pawnee Indians, but by taking the advice of Mr. Stevenson to treat them kindly, got through the difficultly all right. On the evening of the day of their arrival, they bought picks, pans, rockers, and everything necessary to commence mining the next morning, the whole seven of them being in partnership. They worked fifteen days, and at the end of that time had an auction, took the gold dust to Hangtown and sold it, then divided the proceeds ($16, 000) among them. Then they separated, each going his own way. Mr. Stevenson sold his wagon and team of four horses, and continued mining until November 5, when he was taken sick and had to go to Sacramento. He was there during the fire of 1852, and remained there until 1853, when he went back to mining. In March he came to this valley and located on a place a little south of where he now lives. From that time he has been engaged in farming, interspersed with mining at odd times. In 1860 he bought his present place of 330 acres, situated in San Joaquin Township, nine miles from Sacramento, on the upper Stockton road. He has been a land-owner since March, 1853. He has been operating in the mines to a considerable extent up to within the past three years. As long as he was mining in Placerville he made money.  In Virginia City, Nevada, he was operating in both mining and milling, and claims with good success. In Arizona, however, he met with reverses, having put in about $20,000 from time to time. He has some mining interests there now, but according to Mr. Stevenson’s own views there is not a very flattering prospect. In 1859 he was married to Miss Louisa Foulks, a native of Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. They have two children: Josephine F., born December 11, 1862, and Alfred, born January 26, 1863. Politically Mr. Stevenson has never taken an active part, but is Democratic in his views.