This is a collection of short biographical sketches submitted by individuals with a link to the Researcher. You are invited to send appropriate sketches of early Atchison County residents for inclusion on this page
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ABRAM STEVER
Abram Stever, one of the early settlers of Benton Township, Atchison Co., and now deceased, was born November 3, 1837, and departed this life on July 27, 1881. He was born in Schoharie Co., NY, a son of Abram and Nancy Stever, both of whom were born and reared in New York State, the father being a son of German parents, who were founders of the family in this country. Two brothers emigrated from Germany, one of whom settled in New York and the other made his home in Ohio. Abram was reared to young manhood in his native state and when twenty years of age migrated to the new state of Wisconsin, then in process of settlement. He became a farmer in Walworth Co. and cleared a home from the timber. Five years later he was married, and in 1867 came to Kansas, driving his movable possessions across the country, his wife and children going by train to St. Joseph, MO, where they crossed the Missouri River by ferry. The first location of the family was in Brown Co., KS, where they lived until 1874 and then came to Atchison Co., where Mr. Stever purchased 160 acres of wild prairie land in Benton Township one and three-fourths miles northwest of Effingham. He improved his farm, erected a good home and beautified the premises with fine shade trees and shrubbery. After his demise in 1881, Mrs. Stever made her home on the farm until 1893, when she removed to Effingham, and has since resided here with the exception of a five years' residence in Mankato, Jewel Co., KS, with her daughter, maintaining a permanent home in Effingham.
Abram Stever was married December 24, 1862, to Sarah Elecia BAILEY, of Walworth Co., WI. To this union have been born the following children: Leona May, died at the age of fifteen years; Jennie Bailey, died at the age of thirteen; Joseph Warren, died when twenty-two years old; Arthur Carlton, a clothing merchant at Wetmore, KS, who married Maud HAWK, of Effingham and they have one daughter, Leona May; Carrie Adella Stever, at home with her mother, a graduate of the county high school and taught for seven years in the Effingham schools and is a specialist in music, having graduated from Bethany Conservatory at Lindsborg, KS in 1906. She pursued a post-graduate course at Lindsborg during winter vacation and studied during one winter under William H. SHERWOOD, America's greatest pianist. She was for five years a successful teacher of music at Mankato, KS. Returning to Effingham in 1911 she became music director in the Atchison County High School, but resigned to take up studio work entirely: Ray Howard, conducting a suitatorium at Frankfort, KS, married Inez McFARLAN; Ralph Roy Stever, a teamster at Nevada, MO, married Treva SPELL, and has had four children: Lloyd Orr, Warren Clayton, Ralph Vern, Lola Esther, deceased; Ernest Clayton, a graduate of the county high school, proprietor of a suitatoriom at Macon, MO, married Charlotte HENDERSON, and has one child, Roy Estell; Frank Abram Stever, county high school graduate, located on the family estate in Benton Township, married Daisy McFarlan, and is the father of three children: Coral Nadine, Geneva Fay and Mildred Lorene. Mrs. Stever was born January 10,1843 on a farm in Walworth Co., WI, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (PERRY) BAILEY, natives Maryland and Dundee, IL, respectively. An uncle, Amos Bailey, was one of the first surveyors in the city of Chicago, and run the first line in what is now the City. Joseph Bailey was one of the first settlers in Walworth Co., WI at a time when there were very few people in the state and neighbors were twelve miles distant from one another. It was a common custom for a number of settlers to band together and market their produce together in the city of Chicago. Amos Bailey was the owner of several sections of land hear Lake Geneva, WI, which is now the great millionaires; resort, near Chicago. Joseph Bailey was twice married, his second wife being Mary Catharine SIPPERLY. It is also worth recording that a brother of Abram Stever, named Washington Stever, was a soldier in the Union Army and fought in the Army of the Potomac from the beginning to the end of the war. At the time of Mr. Stever's death, the oldest son was only thirteen years of age, and Mrs. Stever was left with a large family, the youngest of whom was six months old.
Abram Stever was a Republican in his political affiliations, but will best be remembered for his activity in behalf of the organization of the Presbyterian church in Effingham. He was one of three men who raised the fund to pay for the building of the First Presbyterian Church erected in Effingham, and was a deacon and trustee, having been one of the only two deacons ever installed in the early church. He was active in church work during his entire life and was a thoroughly honest, religious gentleman, who carried his belief into this daily life and in all his undertakings. He was a good husband, a kind parent and an excellent citizen, and loved by everyone who knew him.
Taken from:
History of Atchison County, Kansas
by Sheffield Ingalls - 1916
Submitted by:
Clemi Higley Blackburn, July 2001
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