California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


RICHARD HUBBARD STEVENS. The family represented by the late R. H. Stevens of 
Visalia was among the earliest to settle in New England, where several successive generations 
lived and labored. Thoroughly loyal to the locality where destiny had placed them, they showed 
no desire to drift into the outside world until the middle of the nineteenth century, after which they 
became scattered into various parts of the United States, retaining in every locality the honorable 
traits characteristic of them in the old state of Vermont. The twelve children of Solomon 
Stevens sought homes and fortunes in various places, but he was content to pass his entire life 
in his native town of Barnet, Caledonia county, Vt., where he worked as a tanner and currier in 
early manhood, and then conducted a saddlery business in addition to owning and superintend- 
ing farm land. His wife, Sallie, who was also a life-long resident of Vermont, was a daughter 
of Clark Cushman, and descended from Robert Cushman, one of the passengers of the historic 
Mayflower. 

The youngest among the children of Solomon Stevens was Richard Hubbard Stevens, who was 
born in Barnet, Vt., April 30, 1841, and received an academic education at St. Johnsbury. For 
three years he was employed as a clerk in a brother's store in Lacon, Ill., but returned to Ver- 
mont to take charge of the property and business of another brother who went to the front with 
the Green Mountain boys in the Civil war. In 1863 he came to California and after some years 
of following various pursuits, but meeting with success in none, he came to Tulare county in the 
fall of 1869, seeking employment in any capacity that offered. At Visalia he secured a clerkship 
with Douglas & Co., and in 1871 purchased a one-fourth interest in the store. Later, the firm 
meeting with reverses, he purchased an additional 'interest, and in 1885 became sole owner 
of the store. The following year he took into partnership Abraham Hamerslag and the two re- 
mained together until 1891, when Mr. Stevens sold his interest and retired. During his con- 
nection with the establishment it had developed from a small country store to an important enter- 
prise, with a large and valuable stock, and occupying commodious quarters. The successful 
development of the business was due largely to his capable business methods and untiring energy. 
The first substantial business block erected in Visalia was built by Mr. Stevens, who with a 
firm faith in the future of the city believed that its prosperity could be promoted by the develop- 
ment of its business property. In addition he erected one of the finest residences of which the 
town boasts and devoted considerable attention to the grounds surrounding the house, thus adding 
greatly to the beauty of the homestead. At different times he acquired a number of ranches in 
Tulare county, some of which were utilized for the raising of horses. In disposition he was char- 
itable, large-hearted and kind to those in distress, and his genial and whole-souled qualities caused 
him to become known as "Uncle Dick" among the people of all this section of country. In 
physique he was of commanding appearance, six feet and one inch in height, and weighing about 
two hundred pounds. Rugged health blessed his years in Tulare county. Previously, however, 
while in San Francisco, he had suffered much from ill health, but after coming to this part of 
the state he became robust and stalwart. Before old age had come to him, however, he was 
stricken with paralysis, which resulted in his death January 9, 1894, at his Visalia home. The 
interment of his body was conducted with Masonic honors, for he had been active in that order 
as a member of lodge, chapter and commandery, and had passed all the chairs in the chapter, in- 
cluding that of high priest. In politics he favored Republican principles. His wife, who is admin- 
istratrix of the estate and a woman of excellent business ability, bore the maiden name of Mattie 
M. Roberts, and was born at Macomb, Ill. The Roberts family is of eastern extraction. Her 
father, James C. Roberts, a native of New York, went to Illinois during the pioneer days of the 
latter state and settled in McDonough county, where he followed the trade of carpenter and 
builder. When advanced in life, having long since retired from all active labors, he came to 
California to see the country and visit his daughter at Visalia, and here his death occurred in 
1901, when he had attained the age of eighty-seven years.