Centennial history of Rush
County, Indiana
Edited by A. L Gary and E. B. Thomas
Rushville, Ind.
In Two Volumes
Illustrated
VOLUME II
1921
HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS

BEN STEVENS, who was formerly one of the active and enter- prising farmers of Noble township, is now practically retired from active work and is enjoying the fruits of his former years of labor. He is a member of one of the old pioneer families of this section and has enjoyed an enviable standing in the community where he has spent his entire life. Mr. Stevens was born in Noble township ou January 24, 1862, and is a son of Mack and Phoebe (Sutton) Stevens, both also natives of Rush county. Mack Stevens was the son of Isaac Stevens, who came to Rush county in an early day, entered land and remained here during the rest of his life. He received a common school education and after his marriage he acquired a farm, which he operated up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. To him and his wife were born three children, Clara, Jesse and Ben. After the death of Mr. Stevens, his widow became the wife of Levi Bartlett, to which union were born three children : Ida. Rhoda, and John. Ben Stevens received his educational training at the old Pinhook school house, and then turned his attention to farm work, being employed by the day up to the time of his mother's death, at which time he inherited a part of the home place. He then bought out the other heirs, giving him possession of thirty-two acres of land, which he cultivated for about a year. He then sold the home place and bought another farm of fifty acres, to which he devoted his labors until 1904, when he bought the place which he now owns and which comprises 108% acres of fine, fertile land. He put many good improvements on this place and cultivated it successfully until 1910, when he retired from active work and rented the farm. Among the improvements on the farm are two sets of farm buildings and in other ways the place ranks as among the good farms of the township. Ben Stevens was married to Laura C. Logan, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah 0. (Le Forge) Logan. They have one child, Roscoe, who married Alma Dearmond and has one child, Lloyd Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Salem, and both occupy official positions in that organization, Mr. Stevens being a steward and trustee and Mrs. Stevens being president of the Ladies' Aid Society. Politically, Mr. Stevens gives his support to the Democratic party.