FREDERICK HOBSON AND MARIE HALL STEVENS

Frederick Hobson Stevens

Frederick Hobson “F.H.”Stevens was born 19 May 1854 in England. He married Maria “Marie” Hall in 1878/1879 in England. Marie was born on 17 December 1848 in England.

F.H. and Marie had the following children:

1. Ada Stevens was born 3 November 1879 in England. She married Judson Lowry on 19 January 1898 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan. Ada died on 1 November 1969 and is buried in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.

2. Grace Stevens was born 14 September 1881 in England.  She married William C. Shea.  Grace died on 18 March 1963 and is buried in Mt. Olivvet Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

3. Frederick Hobson Stevens Jr. was born 29 March 1883 in England. He married Blanche Morrison. He died 12 September 1958 in Flint, Genessee County, Michigan. Frederick is buried in Forest Lawn, Saginaw, Michigan

4. Bertha Stevens was born 9/19 April 1885 in Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan. She married Ernest Gulick on 2 November 1940. She is buried in the Roselawn Memorial Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

5. Mable R. Stevens was born 29 January 1888 in Lakefield Township. She married Frank Minard on 11 January 1911. Mable died on 28 April 1970 and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

6. Henry Hall Stevens was born 21 May 1889 in Lakefield Township. He married Anita Dever on 20 August 1913. Henry died on 6 April 1969 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Flint, Genessee County, Michigan.

7. Maria/Marie Stevens was born 19 November 1894 in Lakefield Township. She married Arthur Boyd.

F.H. owned and operated 117 acres in Section 4 on Meridian Road between Ederer and Swan Creek Roads in Lakefield Township.

According to the book “Looking Backward” History of Merrill and Jonesfield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan written by W.G. Shannon on pages 11 and 12 states the following: In 1883 an Englishman named Frederick Hobson Stevens, landed in Merrill with his family. After looking around the town he purchased forty acres, that would later become the Zazo farm, for the purpose of raising flowers and vegetables. Mr. Stevens was the father of the Stevens family known for moving whole households in a matter of hours. He was a real gardener. Too bad he was born thirty years to soon. About 1894, the elder Stevens bought the lot next to the Starkweather Building, where he opened floral and “garden sass” shop. He did fairly well for awhile, but he eventually accepted that Merrill was to small to support such a venture. Stevens closed the store and moved to Saginaw where he purchased forty acres along what is now Superior Street. He opened another plant breeding store and eventually developed a BLACK tulip? Stevens was apparently offered quite a sum and sold the rights to the colored flower.”

By 1910, F.H. and his family are living in Ward 20, Saginaw, Michigan.

F.H. died on 9 December 1930 and Marie died 23 November 1941. They are both buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

SOURCES: 1896 Lakefield Township Plat Map; 1900, 1910, 1920 Federal Census; Henry Steven's marriage record; Bertha Steven's birth record; Mable, Henry, and Marie Steven's Lakefield Township birth record; Ada, Grace, Bertha and Mable's obituaries; The book Looking Back written by W. G. Shannon; Find-A-Grave – Theresa Jackson contributor.