About James B. Stevens

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Napa State Asylum                      Mattie (Gordon)

   for the Insane                                  Stevens

 

 

From The History of Northern California, published by Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago, Ill, 1891:

 

James B. Stevens, Secretary of the Napa State Asylum for the Insane, has held that position for nearly 15 years. He was

born in Hamilton County, Ohio, near the city of Cincinnati in 1841. His parents were James H. and Ann F. (Glass) Stevens,

his father a native of Kentucky and his mother a native of Ohio. His ancestors were among the very early early settlers

of Kentucky. His parents came to California in 1852, crossing the plains with their five children, James being the oldest.

 

The family first settled in Santa Cruz,, and later in Watsonville, removing in the fall of 1853 to Oakland, where they

remained until 1854; when they removed to Ione, Amador County, where James acquired most of his education. In 1857 he

began to learn the blacksmith's trade, working at it for three years, when receiving  an injury, he gave up that business and

returned to school. He entered the law office of John C. Geer in 1861, but the death of Mr. Geer dissolved that arrangement

after about one year.

 

Following various pursuits until about 1865, he served as deputy county clerk for the next two years,

and then entered the office of Senator Farley, acting as notary public and searcher of records, and at the same time doing

clerical duty for the senator. He filled the position of clerk of the Board of Port Warden, in San Francisco, for a time, and

then returned to Ione to engage in the business of keeping a hotel. He was elected Minute Clerk of the State Senate for the

session of 1869-70, meanwhile resuming his labors in the office of Senator Farley while not engaged in the Senate.

 

In September, 1873, he was elected County Clerk of Amador County, and held that office until appointed to his present

position. He was married in 1866 to Miss Mattie M. Gordon, daughter of M. W. Gordon, for many years County judge

of Amador County.

 

They have two children: Augusta, now wife of W.W. Hollister of Santa Barbara, and Henry G. Stevens.

 

Mr. Stevens is a member of Yount Lodge, F. & A.M., and of the Golden State Commandrey, Knights Templar of San

Francisco. He resided many years at the asylum, but of late he occupied his beautiful home at the corner of First

and Seminary Streets in Napa City. His parents are still living in Santa Barbara, where they celebrated their golden

wedding anniversary on September 17, 1889.

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Additional Facts:

We know he was a school trustee in 1875 and involved in buying the lot and the building of the Bnai Isreal in Jackson.

 

Mattie Gordon, who was 21 in 1870,  was born in Missouri.

In 1870 they had a  2 year old daughter, named Mattie A. Stevens, born in California.

 

By 1881 he was a member of the Royal Arch chapter of the Masons.

 

Henry G. Stevens was 38 years old in the 1910 census.

 

By 1910 he was 69 years old, living in Sausalito, California, with his wife and son, now called Harry.