Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Mrs. Nancy STEVENS, farmer; P. 0. Joliet; the widow of Robert STEVENS, resides just east 
of the limits of the city of Joliet; she was the daughter of Lewis KERCHEVAL and was born 
in Ohio, and came to Illinois when 16 years old, with her father's family, in the fall of 
1830 ; she remembers vividly the winter of the " deep snow " and its accompaniment of 
severity. In 1835, she was married to Robert STEVENS, whose portrait is found on another 
page of this work; Mr. STEVENS was born in Kentucky, but reared mostly in Ohio, and at an 
early age immigrated to Indiana, where be remained several years, coming to Illinois, and 
to Joliet Twp., in 1831, and settled upon the place where his widow still lives; Mr. S. 
was Captain of a military company in Bartholomew Co., Ind., until he removed to Illinois, 
in 1831, and retained his sword and uniform until the time of his death, which occurred 
Jan. 6, 1864; he was elected the first Sheriff of Will County, but, not desiring office, 
refused to qualify; during the fright occasioned by the Sac war of 1832 Mr. S. took his 
family to Danville, Ill., and sent them, under safe escort to the Indiana settlements, 
while he returned and raised a crop on his claim. Mr. S. was twice married, his first 
wife was Lydia Ann Pence, and three children were the fruit of this marriage - all dead; 
by his last wife, who survives him, he had six children - Lewis K., Thomas J., James, 
Sarah Ann, Mary A. and Albert.