My Genealogy Hound

Capt. A. M. Stevens, lumber manufacturer, of Dyersburg, was born in Windsor County, Vt., in 1823. His father’s name was John Stevens, and his grandfather’s, Simon Stevens. The latter was a member of the Continental Congress, and was one of the earliest settlers west of the Connecticut River. He was captured at three different times by the Indians and escaped as often. On one occasion he was about to be put to death by scalding in a kettle of boiling water prepared for the purpose. He snatched a papoose from the arms of an old squaw and threw it into the kettle, and upon the Indians making a rush to get it out, he made good his escape. At another time being a prisoner he was allowed to go hunting, after being cautioned not to go far, which opportunity he took to escape. After traveling all day as fast as he could, at night worn out with fatigue and hunger he crawled to a hollow log for rest. The Indians followed him and traced him to the hollow log; but seeing a spider’s web woven over the entrance they concluded he was not there, and after hacking on the log with their tomahawks they left and he made good his escape. The father of Capt. Stevens was a physician, and passed his life in the practice of medicine. He married Fanny Nichols, a native of Champlain County, N. Y., by whom he became the father of nine sons and four daughters, only three of whom are now living. Capt. Stevens when about eleven years of age removed with his mother to Hamilton County, Ohio, and thence to Sangamon County, Ill. In 1846 he established a saw-mill, which three years later he brought to Dyer County, and began business at Dyersburg. For several years he was associated with his twin brother, Alfred, in operating the mill. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry, as a musician, and served as drum major of the regimental band. He was present at the battles of Shiloh, Perryville and Murfreesboro, and other engagements, returning home in 1864. In 1874 he built a steamboat which he named “Alf. Stevens,” in honor of his brother, and during the next eleven years was engaged in manufacturing and shipping lumber. In 1855 he erected a steam grist-mill at Dyersburg, having a capacity of 150 barrels per day. This he continued to operate until 1886, when it was destroyed by fire. In November of the preceding year he lost a planing-mill recently erected in the same way. The latter he has replaced at a cost of about $5,000. Capt. Stevens erected the first saw-mill in Dyer County, and since that time has operated one or more mills continuously. In addition to his mill property, he is also one of the largest land owners in the county. On September 1, 1852, he was joined in marriage with Virginia A. Richardson, by whom he became the father of six children, four of whom are now living: Georgia, now Mrs. J. M. Brackin; Fanny, now Mrs. George E. Scott; Myra, widow of William Harris, and Mary, wife of Edward King. Mrs. Stevens was born in Lauderdale County, Tenn., in 1832, and was the daughter of Dr. Stith and Emiline Richardson. She died in 1878.