Hester B. Stevens
Nov. 21, 1828-April 23, 1915
Berrien Springs Era, Thursday, April 29, 1915 page 1
Angel of Death Takes Two Highly Respected Pioneers of Central Berrien County.
Mrs. Hester B. Stevens Came to This Place in 1830, Funeral Held Monday. Chester Fisher Came to Berrien Township in 1845, Funeral Tomorrow Afternoon, Lutheran Church
Friday evening death took from this place Mrs. Hester B. Stevens, the oldest resident of this county. She came to this county in 1830 at the age of two, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kimmel, she being the youngest of a family of 10 children.
The history of Mrs. Stevens is full of interest to the people of this township. She was born in Stoystown, Pa., November 21, 1828, and was the daughter of George and Mary Kimmel and the youngest of ten children. In 1830 her father came to Berrien county with his family, locating at Berrien Springs and purchased several thousand acres of land. He built the old colonial mansion on the bank of the river just north of the village, which later became known as the “Shaker Farm,” and was one of the show places of Berrien county. The big house with its large family of children is well remembered for its hospitality by the old residents of this vicinity.
In 1847, her father deeded to her 400 acres of land half a mile north of the village between what is known as the St. Joseph road and the river and she owned more than 100 acres of this land at the time of her death, and for the past 15 years has lived in the old farm house there. This is the largest tract of land in Berrien county that has been held by the same owner for a period of 68 years. She was greatly interested in her farm and so cleared it up and improved it that it became one of the best in the county.
In 1845 at the age of 17 she was married to Thomas L. Stevens, a pioneer merchant of this place, and moved to Niles in 1850, where he became president of the First National Bank, dying about five years before its failure, and as one fo the stock holders, she lost a considerable amount of her personal propery[sic].
Mrs. Stevens was an active member while in Niles of the Episcopal church from which place burial took place, Monday afternoon.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Gertrude Lewis of this place, Mrs. Fitsgerald of Nevada, and two sons, Fred and Wirt of Washington.
About twenty years ago, Mrs. Stevens moved back to this place and has since made this her home. She was related to all of the oldest families of this locality.
