Charlie's mother, Eloisa Michelena/Michalena / Eloisa Stevens:
- 1870 census - living in Tucson, Pima Territory, Arizona are 46 year old Trinidad Michalena (born Mexico), his 44 year old wife Anna M. (born Mexico), and seven children, from a newborn to twenty years of age. One of the children is 9 year old Eloisa Michalena (born Mexico about 1861): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC2K-QBS
1870 census takers worksheet - most of family - including Eloisa - have Sonora, Mexico as their birth location. Father Trinidad's occupation is "Laborer": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11074-154774-70?cc=1438024
- State of Arizona, Department of Health Services, had the death certificate on Elosie [sic] Stevens, about 75 years old, and she passed away in Solomonville, Arizona on December 30, 1936. Her Color/Race is listed as Mexican; born in Arizona in 1861; she was a widow; husband was Geo H. Stenves [sic]; father and mother are listed as unknown; death certificate informant was Al Stevens, Solomonville, Arizona (Al was her son Albert and Charlie's brother - more on him below): http://genealogy.az.gov/
- Find A Grave has a photo of the grave marker for Charlie's mother, Eloisa M. Stevens (1864-1937), who is interred at Solomon Cemetery, Solomon, Graham County, Arizona. The marker has her death date as December 30, 1937 while the death certificate has December 30, 1936: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=114048451
Charlie's older brother, Alberto/Albert Stevens (and note the names of his parents on the death certificate):
- World War I draft registration dated 1918 for Charlie's brother Albert - 32 year old Albert Stevens was born March 30, 1886 in Solomonville, Arizona; he lives and works in Safford, Graham County, Arizona and occupation is "Drugist [sic] - Safford Drug Co."; nearest relative is his mother, Eloisa M. Stevens, Solomonville, Arizona: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-26178-48721-44?cc=1968530
- Albert, wife Jessie and children in:
1920 census in Safford, Graham County, Arizona: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRV-SXH
1930 census in Solomonville, Graham County, Arizona: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBT-SC8
1940 census in Solomonville, Graham County, Arizona: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYWG-ZMQ
- State of Arizona, Department of Health Services, had the death certificate on 77 year old Albert G. Stevens who passed away on June 19, 1963 in Safford, Graham County, Arizona. He was born March 31, 1886 in Arizona; occupation was "Pharmacist"; parents were George Stevens and Eloisa Michelena: http://genealogy.az.gov/
- Jim Tipton's Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for Albert G. Stevens (1886-1963) who is interred at Solomon Cemetery, Solomon, Graham County, Arizona: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=114048390
Francisca Stevens, the first wife of Charlie's father, George H. Stevens:
The Arizona Historical Society Library and Archives, Tempe, Arizona has a photo of Francisca Stevens (1855-1882) with an unidentified male child: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/ahfsaints/id/18
The description with the photo reads:
"Several sources indicate that Francisca was the daughter of Es-Kel-Thes-e-la, hereditary Chief of the Coyotero Band of Apache Indians. It is said that her husband, George Stevens, married her for the protection it gave him during his travels in Arizona. Nevertheless, they married and were content until she died of spinal meningitis on December 19, 1882. Most of her married life she lived in the Solomonville area. She bore five children, four of whom reached adulthood."
George H. Stevens
George H. Stevens was born in Massachusetts about 1844. He served in the U. S. Infantry during the Civil War and was discharged at old Camp Goodwin, Pima Territory, Tucson, Arizona. He made his home in Arizona where he was a mail carrier, government scout, employee of the Indian Bureau, a cattleman and public official. He was a member of the legislature when Graham County was formed. George was twice the Graham County sheriff, and was secretary of the Board/Commissioners of the Yuma Territorial Penitentiary. His nickname was "Little Steve".
I found scant traces of Stevens on the free and subscription newspaper websites. But hit paydirt in the newspaper archives at the Library of Congress. Below are a few of many references/links to Stevens at the LOC.
In summary, George got into some political/money problems ... did a quick exit from Arizona and then disappeared ... wife Eloisa and family assumed he had died, or opted to have him declared dead to settle his estate and property ... George turns up owning a gambling establishment in Vancouver, British Columbia ... and he dies in 1920 in San Diego, California at age 76.
- The Arizona Journal-Miner newspaper from October 30, 1889 carried an article about George gone missing. Excerpts: "George H. Stevens ... friends are alarmed for his safety. He left his home in Graham some time since for the ... purpose of attending a meeting of the board of prison commissioners at Yuma, since when nothing has been heard of him. ... he was known to have had $6000 belonging to the territory ...": http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85032938/1889-10-30/ed-1/seq-1.pdf
- The Arizona Champion newspaper from November 2, 1889 had a lengthy article on George ... the missing money ... he missed the board of prison commissioners meeting at Yuma ... and his exit to British Columbia: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016246/1889-11-02/ed-1/seq-1.pdf
- There was another article in that November 2, 1889 Arizona Champion. Excerpt:"The absconding treasurer of the territorial prison commission, George H. Stevens, abandoned his wife and children in his hastey [sic] search for health along the northern coast.": http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016246/1889-11-02/ed-1/seq-2.pdf
- The Arizona Silver Belt newspaper from January 25, 1906 had an article about George in British Columbia. Excerpts: "George H. Stevens, known throughout the territory as 'Little Steve,' has been heard from. He is conducting a saloon and gambling house at Victoria, British Columbia. He was the first sheriff of Graham county, and also a member of the territorial board of prison commissioners ... He was indicted for misconduct while holding that office and left the territory to avoid prosecution.": http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84021913/1906-01-25/ed-1/seq-5.pdf
- The Tombstone Epitaph newspaper from March 19, 1911 had a listing of Probate Court filings. Appears that the Stevens family thought George had died - or wanted him to be pronounced dead - so that his estate could be settled. Excerpts: "Estate of George H. Stevens ... hearing to show cause why whole estate should not be assigned to family of said deceased.": http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060905/1911-03-19/ed-1/seq-4.pdf
- 68 year old Civil War veteran George H. Stevens (born Massachusetts) spent about six months at the Veterans Hospital in Sawtelle, California in 1912. His nearest relative is son James Stevens of Douglas, Arizona: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21062-28079-11?cc=1916230
- 1920 census - 76 year old George H. Stevens was born about 1844 in Massachusetts; is widowed; and resides in San Diego, California: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHWZ-1Z2
Ancestry had the 1920 census takers worksheet dated January 2, 1920: George H. Stevens lives alone and owns his home at 3750 Mission Avenue, San Diego, California. The columns for his occupation and business is blank - not suprising since he's 76 years old.
- The El Paso Herald newspaper from March 22, 1920 had a death announcement on George. Headline reads: "ARIZ. PIONEER DIES ON COAST" Article excerpt: "George H. Stevens, who died lately in San Diego, Calif., aged 76, was best known to pioneer Arizonans as 'Little Steve,' and was one of the most prominent of political figures in territorial days.": http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88084272/1920-03-22/ed-1/seq-11.pdf
- California Death Index has a record for 76 year old George H. Stevens and he passed away March 16, 1920 in the San Diego, California area.
|