Hanson Stevens, his wife Lavina and seven children arrived in Oregon in the fall of 1852 after traveling across the country on the Oregon Trail. They began their journey from Keokuk, Iowa. Hanson settled on a Donation Land Claim on the west bank of the Pudding River in the Silverton, Oregon area. Hanson and Lavina had two additional children after arriving in Oregon, Emma and Martha “Mattie.” Lavina unfortunately died of breast cancer late 1859 leaving Hanson with seven children at home. In 1862, Hanson married Elizabeth Bentley who brought three children from a prior marriage. Hanson and Elizabeth added three more children between 1863 and 1866. Hanson and Elizabeth eventually moved to Thurston, Washington with Elizabeth’s three children from the prior marriage and their three children. A territorial census shows them living there in 1877. Isaac rented and maintained the land upon Hanson’s departure. Hanson passed away in 1883 in Bethany, Oregon. It appears he returned to Oregon in his later years, but it is not known exactly when he returned. Elizabeth’s residence sources have her living in Portland, Oregon in 1885.
Hanson and Lavina are buried together in the Bethany Pioneer Cemetery.
Hanson Stevens
- Born: 06 Mar 1815, Dearborn County, Indiana
- Married: Rispa Ringo: 01 Mar 1838, Ripley County, Indiana
- Married: Elizabeth Bentley:
- Died: 13 Mar 1883, Bethany, Marion County, Oregon, USA
- Burial: Bethany, Marion County, Oregon, USA
- Father: Obediah Stevens
- Mother: Mary
Wife: Mary Lavina Wickard
- Born: 20 Dec 1818, Ripley County, Indiana
- Died: 07 Nov 1859, Marion County, Oregon
- Burial: Nov 1859, Bethany Cemetery, Silverton, Marion County, Oregon
- Father: Joseph Bartholomew Wickard
- Mother: Elizabeth Watson
Children of Hanson and Lavina
1. Elizabeth Stevens
- Born: 17 Dec 1838, Ripley County, Indiana
- Died: 21 Oct 1840, Ripley County, Indiana
2. Isaac Stevens
- Born: 12 Mar 1840, Ripley County, Indiana
- Married: 09 Nov 1865, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 24 Mar 1920, Marion County, Oregon
- Spouse: Catherine McElfresh
3. Rebecca Stevens
- Born: 15 Aug 1841, Ripley County, Indiana
- Married: 28 Mar 1858, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 11 May 1936, Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon
- Spouse: Henry Duckwall Mount
4. Rispa Ann Stevens
- Born: 17 May 1843, Ripley County, Indiana
- Married: 18 Oct 1860, Gervais, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 19 Jan 1920, Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon
- Burial: Pioneer Cemetery, Brooks, Marion County, Oregon
- Spouse: Hamilton Hodge Ringo
5. Christina Stevens
- Born: 28 Dec 1844, Ripley County, Indiana
- Married: 24 Dec 1862, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 15 Jun 1923, Oregon City, Oregon
- Spouse: Alexander Esson
6. Sarah Ellen Stevens
- Born: 24 Feb 1847, Keokuk, Iowa
- Married: 14 Feb 1862, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 26 Apr 1943, Dayton, Columbia County, Washington
- Buried: 29 Apr 1943, Dayton, Washington
- Spouse: Samuel McCubbins
7. Millard Stevens
- Born: 27 Mar 1849, Keokuk, Iowa
- Spouse: Sarah M. Brown, 09 Dec 1875, Marion County, Oregon
- Spouse: Nancy Jane Gildow, 03, Jul 1892, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 12 Jul 1919, Salem, Oregon
8. Mary Stevens
- Born: 25 Feb 1851, Keokuk, Iowa
- Married: 12 Oct 1871, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 07 Jan 1923, Silverton, Marion County, Oregon
- Buried: Bethany Cemetery, Silverton, Marion County, Oregon
- Spouse: Jennings Smith
9. Emma Jane Stevens
- Born: 15 Sep 1854, Marion County, Oregon
- Died: 28 Mar 1868, Marion County, Oregon
10. Martha Ann “Mattie” Stevens
- Born: 04 Aug 1859, Marion County, Oregon
- Married: 22 Mar 1881, Dayton, Washington
- Died: 12 May 1939, Dayton, Columbia County, Washington
- Buried: Dayton, Columbia County, Washington
- Spouse: Addison “Add” Cahill
Hanson and Elizabeth Bentley
- Wife: Elizabeth Jane Bentley
- Born: 14 Nov 1822, Indiana
- Married: 07 Apr 1862, Yamhill County, Oregon
- Died: 29 Jan 1889, Bucoda, Thurston County, Washington
- Burial: Tenino, Thurston County, Washington
- Father: William Bentley
- Mother: Jane McDowell
Children of Hanson and Elizabeth
1. Keithley Bales Stevens
- Sex: Male
- Born: About 1863, Oregon
- Died: 19 Feb 1908, San Francisco, California
- Spouse: Esther (surname unknown)
2. Lyman Davis Hall Stevens
- Sex: Male
- Born: 26 Jun 1865, Salem, Marion County, Oregon
- Married: 28 Feb 1905, Olympia, Lewis County, Washington
- Died: 21 Feb 1932, Bucoda, Thurston County, Washington
- Burial: Tenino, Thurston County, Washington
- Spouse: Eliza A. Wilkinson
3. Alice Fidelia Stevens
- Sex: Female
- Born: 14 Jul 1866, Oregon
- Married: 1890
- Died: 03 Apr 1959, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
- Burial: Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
- Spouse: Mathew Alexander Dixon
STEVENS FAMILY 