STEVENS, Emilie (Harris) 1823 – 1913

STEVENS, HARRIS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/28/2024 at 14:07:43

Source: Decorah Republican August 21, 1913 P4 C1

DEATH OF PIONEER MOTHER.
Mrs. E. E Stevens Resident of Washington Prairie in 1857, is Called Home.
The Waukon Democrat of last week recorded the death, on August 10th, of Mrs. E. E, Stevens, mother of the late “Vic” Stevens and an early day resident of Winneshiek county. She was about ninety years of age. After commenting on the fact that there was little data at hand concerning her life, the Democrat said:--
We have learned that her maiden name was Emiline Harris. She was married to George H. Stevens, presumably in the forties in Connecticut. There two children were born, Frank and Victor H., the latter in 1855. The family came to Washington Prairie Winneshiek county in 1857, and to Waukon in 1862 Mr. Stevens enlisted in the Union service, became captain of Co. K. Fifth Iowa Infantry, died at Port Hudson, La., in 1863 and his remains rest in southern soil. He was an able man, a scholar and orator. He made an address at the laying of the corner stone of our court house in Waukon in 1859. In 1858 he gave a 4th of July oration at Decorah and the Waukon glee club, nearly a score attended. He made a fine record as a military man. Since his death Mrs. Stevens has lived largely to herself and with her family a woman of much force of character and independence of spirit. Her ability and worth were recignized{sic} by the people and the government and she served as post mistress of Waukon for over eight years, 1871-79.
After the death of the son Frank whose condition required her almost continuous personal attention and Victor H. had gone into business at Waterville after 1878, she lived a retired life mostly with her fine library of the best literature. Her bright intellectuality always made her welcome in social circles, She died in the assurance of Christ as her accepted Savior.
The funeral was held at the residence Tuesday, the 12th, at 10 o’clock a. m.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows her name as Emilie. She was born in 1823 and died Aug. 10, 1913. She is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, IA.