SAMUEL A. STEVENS,
Son of Samuel S. and Martha (Osgood) Stevens, was born in Ashburnham,
Massachusetts, May 11, 1836. His father, who was a son of Abel
Stevens, of Westford, Massachusetts, died December 1, 1874, aged
sixty-eight years. His mother is living in Baltimore, Maryland, now
aged eighty years. His parents moved from Ashburnham to Baltimore
in 1844, when he was eight years old, and he attended the schools of
the latter city until he was sixteen years of age, then took one year's
course at the Westminster Academy, Massachusetts, after that one
term at the Groten Academy, Groten, Massachusetts. From that time
until 1864 he was in business in Baltimore, then removed to Norfolk,
where, for twenty-four years he was engaged in the furniture business,
several years in his own name, then under the firm name of S. A. Stevens
& Co. He retired from active business on July 1, 1885, the firm
dissolving, and his son, Samuel S. Stevens, succeeding to the
business.
Mr. Stevens married, at Westminster, Massachusetts, June 15, 1857,
Frances S., daughter of Samuel S. and Fanny M. (Ames) Swan, both
now deceased. Mrs. Stevens was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Their
children are three. Samuel S., Fanny V. and Alice L.
The branch of the Stevens family from which the subject of this
sketch is descended settled in the colony of Massachusetts, Middlesex
county, in 1634, in the town of Chelmsford, where they are still represented.
They were prominent in all town affairs, the most of them living
to an advanced age, and a number of the name and family were
honorably prominent in the Revolutionary war. On the father's side,
Mr. Stevens is connected with the Putnam family, his father's mother
having been Betsy Putnam, a near relative of Gen. Israel Putnam, of
Revolutionary fame.
Mr. Stevens has been a member of the (Norfolk) city councils for fifteen
years; was recorder of Norfolk city for two years, and is now
president of the select council. During his service in the city councils
he was an advocate for introduction of aqueduct water into the city,
and was chairman of the com which introduced water into the
city of Norfolk. He also was prominent in inaugurating the present
system of sewerage. He has filled several other prominent positions in
the city, such as member of the school board, etc.
