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Children of Hanson and Lavina Stevens

Hanson and Lavina’s Trek to Oregon

In the spring of 1852, Hanson and Lavina Stevens and their 7 children, ages 15 months to 12 years old, left an extensive family in Keokuk, Iowa with an ox-drawn wagon and joined the multitude of other Oregon Trail travelers on a 6-month trek. They traveled during the Oregon Trail’s most dangerous migration year ever recorded. The trail was clogged with wagons heading to the gold mines in California, cholera was rampant, forage and water for the oxen was scarce. They joined the Dickson¹ wagon train, and at Fort Bridger, Wyoming there was a split with wagons heading either to Oregon for donation land claims, or California for the Gold Rush. By oldest son Isaac’s account² (age 13 in 1852), the train began with 50 ox drawn wagons, and most headed to California at the split. Rebecca³, second oldest daughter (age 11), recalled that the train was unwieldy, and split into two with 23 wagons heading for Oregon at Fort Bridger. Rebecca recalled that Hanson stood on one side of the street and Dickson on the other and Hanson invited those who wanted to continue to Oregon to come over to his side and they ended up with 23 wagons. Rebecca also recalled that they connected with a train at the Snake River, which would have been Three Island Crossing in Idaho. We will never know the exact story because no diaries were written and memories fade with time. We do know for certain that at Fr Bridger, the Stevens family, devoted Methodists, chose to farm and raise their family in Oregon, and headed out for the “Promised Land,” as described by their friends who already made the trip.

Hanson’s plan to claim land through the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 and become a farmer became a realization. He was eligible for 320 acres if he were a resident in Oregon, over the age of 21 and married. Hanson, Lavina, and, thankfully, all of their children arrived in Silverton, Oregon, in October 1852 with $5 remaining of their savings (the equivalent of about $200 today). A bushel of wheat was $5 and a bushel of potatoes $3. Hanson began splitting rails to support the family after building a cabin on his property. One can only imagine how difficult it must have been for them while getting established in Oregon. 

The immigration of 1852 was retarded all along the way . . The very multitude of people served to make hast [sic] very difficult. Disease and death, too, halted wagon trains for a total of many days, so that by the middle of October fully one half of the immigrants were still east of The Dalles and many of them were wholly or nearly destitute of provisions. The late rains added to their difficulties and their sufferings. 

. . .relief parties were organized, but the provisions dispatched were inadequate and further help was appealed for. . .

 . . .the family arrived in Oregon in October, 1852, and Mr. Stevens secured a donation land claim of 320 acres in sections 17 and 18, in township 6 south and 1 west on which he began the cultivation of the soil as required by the Donation Act, June 15, 1853. . . .

The History of Silverton Country, Robert Horace Down

Map of Stevens Family Trek

Details of their preparations and journey and history of the family and their descendants are contained in the Stevens Family History: Hanson and Lavina Stevens (2006). A copy can be found at the Oregon Genealogy Society.

The Stevens family contributed to the growth of the territory, and State of Oregon and their descendants are proud to carry the torch into the future.

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Stevens Family Reunion

Preserving Oregon’s Pioneer Heritage: The Story of the Stevens Family Heritage Roses

1. Family records show the spelling as Dickson or Dixon. ↩︎
2. The Hanson Stevens Farm by Loris Stevens (Isaac Stevens grandson) ↩︎
3. Fred Lockley interview with Rebecca for Oregon Journal article, Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man, June 21, 1927 ↩︎