NEGenWeb Project
Boone County, Nebraska
George Albert Stevens
Submitted by
Randy R. Stevens
George Albert (Dick) Stevens was born March 17, 1869 in Springville, Linn County, Iowa to Amos and Sarah (Whitlach/Whitlatch) Stevens. Amos and his younger sister, Lucy M. Stevens accompanied their parents in moving from Linn County, Iowa to Woodville, Woodville Township, Platte County, Nebraska on March 12, 1882.
George (Dick) assisted his father in farming the local Homestead which had five (5) horse's, ten (10) cow's, and sixty-five (65) hogs. On August 02, 1887, George married Miss Clara Justus in Columbus, Nebraska. Clara Justus was the daughter of Ludwig and Mary (Sellers) Justus.
George and Clara (Justus) had three children from this marriage. They were Amos Earl Stevens born January 1888, Platte County, Nebraska; Arthur Ludwig Stevens born February 14, 1889 and Lucy Ellen Stevens born in 1892.
In 1889-91, George (Dick) moved with his family to the Village of St. Edward when his father sold the homestead and purchased the local harness and buggy shop.
Later on George (Dick) assisted his father in the local Dray Business (Freight Hauling).
George Albert "Dick" Stevens was a Drayman for the City of St. Edward starting around 1889 until the early 1900's. Several ledger books containing his bookkeeping have been found and passed down to family members. Several of these ledger books contain the daily drayman's business to include the weight of the cargo hauled, what type of cargo was hauled, the price of hauling the cargo from the Railroad freight office/Depot to the owner, and who ordered the freight hauled. These Ledger's range from the years 1894-1905 complete with the listing of local family names that the Stevens Dray Company hauled freight for.
Some paperwork lays out that the City Dray had been owned by Mr. J.R. Sheldon prior to George taking it over around 1890-1. Several key members of the early town of St. Edward are found in these ledgers.
George (Dick) continued to run the Drayman's business until he retired. George and Clara lived in the Hardy Place (South end of St. Edward near the present day K.W. Carter Grain Elevator) until his death on August 21, 1938 at the age of 69 and Clara's death in 1956 at the age of 86. Both are buried at the St. Edward Evergreen Cemetery.