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- John was born in New Jersey in 1813. He grew up in New Jersey and married his wife Mary Fichter there in 1837. He became involved in the iron industry, which he followed for a number of years there.
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The 1840 census shows a John F. Stevens in West Milford, Passaic Co., New Jersey. He was between 20 & 30. Also shown are a female age 20-30 (Mary?) and one son under 5 (Joshua?). He stated he was engaged in agriculture at the time. (p. 28).
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The 1850 census finds
John F. Stevens age 37 "a forge man" living in Roxbury, Morris Co., New Jersey with his wife
Mary age 32, sons;
Joshua S. age 11,
Henry age 8 and
John Jr. age 9 months, and daughters
Naomi age 5 and
Caroline age 3.
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He sailed to San Francisco, California in 1855, temporarily leaving his young family behind. He arrived in California with only $28 in his pocket and immediately engaged in the mining industry which was heavily involved in the gold rush at that time.
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John and son Joshua appear in Ophir (near Oroville) Butte Co., California in the 1860 census as follows:
John F. Stevens, 45, M, Farm Laborer, $400RE/$500P, b. NJ
J. S. Stevens, 21, M,Farm Laborer, b. NJ
(Series: M653, Roll: 56, Part:1, Page: 745 ).
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John is also shown in Butte, Sutter Co., California on the 1860 census;
J.F. Stephens, 47, M, Stock Raiser, $500 personal wealth, b. NY (actually NJ)
Mary ", 42, F, Domestic, b. NY (actually NJ)
James (Joshua), 21, M, Farmer, b. NY (actually NJ)
Noman (Naomi), 16, b. NY (actually NJ)
Caroline, 14, F, b. NY (actually NJ)
John, 11, M, b. NY (actually NJ)
A. ", 8, M, b. NY (actually NJ)
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Sometime around 1860 he had settled in South Butte, Sutter Co., California which is right on the southern edge of the Sutter Buttes (near Yuba City). The remainder of his family moved to California in 1860's, including his wife and the surviving 6 of their 8 children.
Source: [Sutter County Biographies] History of Sutter County, California, Thompson & West, 1879.
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The 1870 census shows John in Butte Township, Sutter Co., California (Roll 92 Book 1, Page 93b)
Stephens, J. F., 56, male, white, farmer, $3000 real estate, $1000 personal, b. NJ
- , Mary, 50, female, white, keeping house, b. NJ
- , J. S., 31, male, white, at home, b. NJ
- , A. B., 17, male, white, at home, b. NJ
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John F. Stevens took up 160 acres in Sutter Co., Issued February 10, 1873
Aliquot Sec/ Fract. Survey
# Parts Blk Twnshp Range Sect. Meridian State Counties Nr.
1 SW 10/ 15-N 2-E No MOUNT DIABLO CA SUTTER
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The 1880 census finds John F. Stevens living in Butte Township, Sutter Co., California. He stated he was age 66, a farmer, and that he and his parents were born in New Jersey. John had apparently become successful, as his residence shows a cook, two farmers, and 2 additional laborers. Mary A. Stevens age 62 stated she was keeping house and her parents were also born in New Jersey. Also at home was their son Anslom age 28, a farmer.
(June 4, 1880, E.D.134, p. 8).
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J. (T) F. Stevens is shown in the 1885 Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte, and Tehama Counties, California Directory. as a farmer in South Butte, Sutter Co., CA.
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