Napa County Biographies

James B. Stevens

Transcribed by:  Kathy Sedler, September 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


James B. Stevens, Secretary for the Napa State Asylum for the Insane, has held 
that position for nearly fifteen years.  He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
near the city of Cincinnati, in 1841.  His parents were James H. and Ann F. 
(Glass) Stevens, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Ohio.  His 
ancestors were among the very early settlers of Kentucky.  His parents came to 
California in 1852, crossing the plains with their five children, James being 
the eldest.  The family first settled in Santa Cruz, and later in Watsonville, 
removing in the fall of 1853 to Oakland, where they remained until 1854; when 
they removed to Ione, Amador County, where James acquired the most of his 
education.  In 1857 he began to learn the blacksmith�s trade, working at it for 
three years, when, receiving an injury, he gave up that business and returned to 
school.  He entered the law office of John C. Geer in 1861, but the death of Mr. 
Geer dissolved that arrangement after about one year.  Following various 
pursuits until 1865, he served as Deputy County Clerk for the next two years and 
then entered the office of Senator Farley, acting as Notary Public and searcher 
of records, and at the same time doing clerical duty for the senator.  He filled 
the position of clerk of the board of port wardens, in San Francisco, for a 
time, and then returned to Ione and engaged in the business of keeping a hotel.  
He was elected Minute Clerk of the State Senate for the session of 1869-�70, and 
again for the session of 1871-�72, meanwhile resuming his labors in the office 
of Senator Farley while not engaged in the Senate.  In September, 1873, he was 
elected County Clerk of Amador County, and held that office until appointed to 
his present position.  He was married in 1866, to Miss Mattie M. Gordon, 
daughter of M. W. Gordon, for many years County Judge of Amador County.  They 
have two children:  Augusta, now wife of W. W. Hollister, of Santa Barbara, and 
Henry G.  Mr. Stevens is a member of Yount Lodge, F. &  A. M., and of Golden 
Gate Commandery, Knights Templar, of San Francisco.  He resided for many years 
at the asylum, but of late has occupied his beautiful home at the corner of 
First and Seminary streets, in Napa City.  His parents are still living in Santa 
Barbara, where they celebrated their golden wedding on September 17, 1889.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 
1891, pages 365-366