Independence Stevens born on July 4, 1875 on the family farm in Montgomery Co, Iowa was named for the holiday on which he was born: Independence Day.

On Feb. 25, 1901, Inda married Margaret D. Burris, daughter of Hiram and Eliza Martin Burris, who had a neighboring farm in Grant Twp. Marriage records list him as a salesman. The couple had 3 daughters: Mary Lucile (called Lucile) b. Aug 27 1903, Red Oak, IA; Margaret Dean b. Mar 4 1909 Red Oak, IA; and Evelyn Jean Stevens b. Jul 18 1913 Red Oak, IA.

Inda served as Chief of the Red Oak Fire Department 1904-1906 and co-owned the Stevens Brothers Star Laundry with his brothers, Harry and Delano. In 1911, Inda and brother Delano bought a laundry in Webster City, Iowa, which Delano managed and sister, Della, worked as the bookkeeper. Inda and Harry continued to operate the Red Star Laundry in Red Oak until about 1918 when Harry sold his share. The 1920 census shows Inda as a real estate salesman in Red Oak. That same year, he moved his family to Oglivie, Minnesota and later to Des Moines by 1930. He died there in on New Years day, 1960.

~ Contributor Sara Patton past4me@comcast.net