Edward A. Stevenson: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Eary life==

Stevenson was born June 15, 1831 in [[Lowville (town), New York|Lowville]], [[New York]].{{#tag:ref|Some sources list [[Phelps (town), New York|Phelps]], [[New York]] instead of Lowville as the place of Stevenson's birth.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/>|group="Note"|name="BirthPlace"}} <ref name="McMullin & Walker 140">McMullin & Walker p. 140</ref> His family included several future politician, including his brother [[Charles C. Stevenson|Charles]], who became the fifth [[List of Governors of Nevada|Governor of Nevada]], his half brother [[John Stevenson (Canadian politician)|John]], who became the first [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]], and his cousin [[Adlai E. Stevenson I|Adlai]], who became [[Vice President of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Stevenson | first = John R. | title = The Family of Arthur Stevenson | journal = The Jerseyman | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 15-2015–20 | date = May 1903 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=hKI-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA17}}</ref><ref name="NYTobit"/> In 1839, his family lived in [[Canada]] for a short time before settling on a farm in [[Washtenaw County, Michigan]]. Stevenson received an education there, first in the local schools and then at Grass Lake Academy.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/>

==California==

Stevenson left home in 1849 as part of the [[California Gold Rush]].<ref name="ISHS">{{Cite web | author = Idaho State Historical Society | title = Edward Augustus Stevenson | work = Idaho State Historical Society's Reference Series | dateyear = 1971 | url = http://www.idahohistory.net/Reference%20Series/0551.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2009-11-24}}</ref> He soon became involved in politics, being elected [[Justice of the Peace]] for [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado County]] and to the [[California State Legislature]] in 1853 and 1854.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/>

Stevenson married Harriet Marcy on June 10, 1855. The marriage would produce three children: Frank, Harriet, and Wilmot.<ref name="genealogy">{{cite book |last=Spofford |first=Jeremiah |last2=Spofford |first2=Aphia Tenney|title=A genealogical record : including two generations in female lines of families spelling their name Spofford, Spafford, Spafard and Spaford, decendants of John Spofford and Elizabeth Scott, who emigrated in 1638 from Yorkshire, England and settled at Rowley, Essex country, Mass |publisher=A. Mudge & Son|location=Boston |dateyear=1888 | oclc = 80434037|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=2l1BAAAAYAAJ|page=296}}</ref>

The year after the wedding, the couple moved to a farm in [[Tehama County, California|Tehama County]]. Stevenson worked as an [[Indian agent]] for two years before his wife and children were killed by the Indians while he was away on official business.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/><ref name="French 85-6">French p. 85-6</ref>

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==Idaho==

Stevenson moved to Idaho Territory in 1863 during the Idaho [[gold rush]].<ref name="Limbaugh 171">Limbaugh p. 171</ref> He settled in the Boise Basin and soon acquired mining interests near [[Grimes Pass, Idaho]].<ref name="ISHS"/> The next year he reentered politics by becoming Justice of the Peace.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/> This was followed by 6 election runs for the territorial legislature, three successfullsuccessful and three unsuccessful.<ref name="ISHS"/> As result of his campaigns in 1866 and 1876 he served a pair of two-year terms on the [[upper house|Council]], while his election campaign in 1874 resulted in him becoming Speaker of the [[lower house|House of Representatives]].<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/>

In 1876, while also serving as a member of the [[Boise County, Idaho|Boise County]] [[County commission|Commission]], he began [[reading law]] and was [[admitted to the bar]] two years later.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/> In 1882 he moved to the Payette Valley and shifted his business interests from mining to farming.<ref name="ISHS"/>

==Governorship==

Based upon a recommendation from Territorial Delegate [[John Hailey]], Stevenson was nominated to become Governor of Idaho Territory by [[Grover Cleveland]] on September 29, 1885.<ref name="Limbaugh 171-2">Limbaugh p. 171-2</ref> Following confirmation, his term of office began on October 10, 1885.<ref name="ISHS"/> By this time, Stevenson was associated with the territory's agricultural interests and his nomination represented a change of national policy allowing for more local control within the territory.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/> He was Idaho Territory's only [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] governor and the first governor who resided within the territory at time of appointment.<ref name="LimbaughMcMullin 171-2& Walker 140"/><ref name="McMullinLimbaugh & Walker 140171-2"/>

Stevenson emphasized non-partisanship upon assuming office.<ref name="Limbaugh 177">Limbaugh p. 177</ref> He lobbied for expansion of the territory's mail routes and the size of the militia. Stevenson also opposed the burning of large sections of forest by the territory's Indian population along with other wasteful uses of natural resources. The new governor also lobbied for increases to the federally imposed limits to the territorial government's budget.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 140"/>

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==Later life==

After his term as territorial governor, Stevenson moved back to his farm. In addition to his farming activities, he won the contract for a profitable mail run.<ref name="McMullin & Walker 141">McMullin & Walker p. 141</ref> In 1894, he ran unsuccessfully for state governor.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The November Elections | newspaper = New York Times | pages = 28 | date = October 28, 1894 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9807EED71531E033A2575BC2A9669D94659ED7CF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title = Idaho Straight Republican | newspaper = New York Times | pages = 5 | date = November 7, 1894 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B03E1D61531E033A25754C0A9679D94659ED7CF }}</ref>

The strains of the campaign proved deleterious to Stevenson's health and he moved to Paraiso Springs in [[Monterey County, California]] in an effort to recover. The former governor died there on July 6, 1895 from a [[laudanum]] overdose and was buried at the Pioneer Cemetery in [[Boise, Idaho]].<ref name="McMullin & Walker 141"/><ref name="NYTobit">{{Cite news | title = The Late ex-Gov. Stevenson of Idaho | newspaper = New York Times | pages = 4 | date = July 12, 1895 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9803EEDB103DE433A25751C1A9619C94649ED7CF }}</ref><ref name="McMullin & Walker 141"/>

==Footnotes==

<div class="references-small">

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{{reflist|2}}

{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book |last=French |first=Hiram T |title=History of Idaho; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests |publisher=Lewis Pub. Co|location=Chicago |dateyear=1914 | oclc = 2739177|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WN8UAAAAYAAJ}}

* {{cite book |last=Limbaugh |first=Ronald H. |title=Rocky Mountain Carpetbaggers: Idaho's Territorial Governors, 1863-1890 |publisher=University Press of Idaho|location=Moscow, Idaho |dateyear=1982 | isbn = 0-89301-082-0}}

* {{cite book |last=McMullin |first=Thomas A. |last2=Walker |first2=David |title=Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors |publisher=Meckler Publishing|location=Westport, CT |dateyear=1984 | isbn = 0-930466-11-X}}

{{refend}}

{{IDTerrGovernors}}

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|PLACE OF DEATH= [[Monterey County, California|Monterey County]], [[California]]

}}

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[[Category:1831 births]]

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[[Category:Governors of Idaho Territory]]

[[Category:Members of the California State Assembly]]

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