Stevens was born on August 29, 1848, in
Moira New York, the son of Simon Dwight Stevens and Susan Burdick. His brother was newspaper publisher and assemblyman
Halbert D. Stevens. Stevens moved with his parents to
Bangor, Maine, when he was a few months old, later returning to Moira. At a young age, he started working as a store clerk in Moira. He then worked as a traveling salesman. He then became a commercial traveller for the wholesale crockery house Abram, French & Co. In 1874, he moved to
Malone, became the senior member of the firm Stevens, Bowen & Co, and opened a hardware store. He later formed a new partnership with W. F. Symonds and opened a dry goods store. He disposed of his interest in 1889, when he was elected to the Assembly.
1890, and
1891. While in the Assembly, he obtained appropriations for the
Northern New York Institute for Deaf Mutes, which he helped found and took a deep interest in.
1895,
1896, and
1897. In between Assembly sessions as financial clerk, he worked as a salesman for the Lawrence-Webter Company of Malone. In 1873, he married the eldest daughter of Wallace H. Webster. Their children were Mabel, Jennie, Susie, and Wallace H. He was buried in
Morningside Cemetery in Malone. == References ==