Posted on: Bates County Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mo/BatesBios/12 Surname: Stevens, Requa, Showalter, Keller ------------------------- Bates County, Missouri HISTORY OF BATES COUNTY MISSOURI (Page 1325) (Obtained from Bates County in June 1995 by Wayne & Lina Gale Albright of Tyrone, OK) CAPTAIN WILLIAM STEVENS is among the substantial and enterprising farmers of this township. He is a native of Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, and was born April 28, 1836. His parents, Halsey and Elizabeth (Halleck) Stevens, were also natives of New York. His mother was a niece of General Halleck. William Stevens was reared on a farm, attending the common schools in his native county. When eighteen he went upon the water as a sailor and followed that trade for two years. In 1856, going to Minnesota, he located in Winona County, where he was occupied in farming for about five years. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and went on the frontier against the Indians under Colonel Marshal and helped capture and execute thirty-nine Indians atMankato in the fall of 1863. His regiment then moved south and served till the close of the War, partricipating in the battles of Nashville, Spanish Fort and Mobile. Mr. Stevens was discharged at St. Paul, MInnesota, in August, 1865. After his discharge he remained in Minnesota till the following spring and then returned to Long Island where he spent the summer. In the fall of 1866 he came to Missouri and located on the farm where he now resides on section 18. He owns 300 acres of land with 220 acres under fence and well improved. There is a fine orchard of 800 bearing and 1,200 young trees on the place. The past season he harvested 2,000 bushels of apples. He is also largely engaged in potato growing; the crop of 1881 reaching 1,500 bushels and of 1882 over 2,000 bushels. Mr. Stevens was married February 25, 1868 to Miss Sophia S. Requa, a native of Bates County, and a daughter of the Rev. William Requa, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have two children: Milton A. and Norman H. They also have one adopted daughter Maud B. Mrs S. is a member of the M.E. Church. YAKIMA, WASHINGTON BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM STEVENS William Stevens, his wife Sophia and son Norman came to the Yakima Valley about 1886 accompanied by his first cousin once removed, * Mahlon Stevens. The reason for their move to Washington is not known except that land was plentiful and inexpensive. The following is a biographical sketch of William Stevens printed in "An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties" Interstate Publishing Company, 1904. (With an outline of the early history of the State of Washington). " Captain William Stevens, one of the leading farmers of the Toppenish country, is a native of Suffolk County, New York, where in the year 1836, he was born to the union of Halsey and Elisabeth (Halleck) Stevens. The father was also a native of that state, and died there in 1888. His ancestors for several generations were citizens of Connecticut.* The mother, who died in 1898, was a niece of General Halleck, and had two other uncles who served with distinction in the Revolutionary War. The son, William, was occupied with attending school, farming, and sailing on the Atlantic coast until eighteen years old, when he settled in Winona County, Minnesota, filing on government land. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, the date of his enlistment being August, 1862. This regiment went to Fort Snelling before going south, and while stationed at that post was called upon to quell the Indians around Fort Ridgely and in Dakota. The Indians were captured, and thirty-nine were executed at Mankato. During the Civil War Mr. Stevens was in many battles, the last being that at Spanish Fort, Mobile, Alabama. He was mustered out at Minnehaha Falls, August, 1865, and immediately engaged in farming and stock raising in Bates County, Missouri, remaining inthat section for twenty years. Upon his return from the war he was elected captain of a militia company, and this fact, together with the fact that when a young man he was captain of a boat, has conferred the title of captain upon him in private life. In 1888 he came to Yakima county, purchasing a farm near North Yakima(now Yakima), and living a portion of the time in the city. The next twelve years we find him engaged in raising alfalfa, melons, etc., and breeding thoroughbred Plymouth Rock chickens. However, in 1900 he left the Yakima valley and leased a quarter section of land two miles and a quarter northwest of Toppenish, and on this place is now living, engaged in general farming and breeding Plymouth Rock chickens. ** Mr. Stevens was married in Missouri, 1867 to Sophia Requa, daughter of Rev. William Requa, a Presbyterian missionary in Missouri and Arkansas. He was of French descent; the mother of scotch. The father died in 1895. Mrs Requa died five years previously. Mrs. Stevens was born in Missouri and died in 1895 in the city of North Yakima, leaving, besides her husband, one son, Norman, to mourn their loss. The Captain is an enthusiastic Republican, and is, of course, justly proud of his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He is respected as a pioneer, a veteran of the Civil and Indian wars, and a substatial citizen, and is favorably known in his community. Sophie Stevens died in Yakima on 15 May, 1894. She is buried at the old Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima, WA. Nothing further has been found pertaining to her son Norman thereafter. Yakima County, WA Marriage Records show him married to Louisa Washburn 12 Apr 1900 in the Methodist Church. He listed himself as "Capt.". William and Louisa were divorced at Yakima, 16 April, 1903.