Stevens Family of Steven's Pottery, Ga.
Henry Stevens
Founder of Steven's Pottery
Henry Stevens, was the founder of Steven's Pottery in Southwest Baldwin County.
He was born July 21, 1813, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Stevens of Cornwall,
England, where he began working at a local pottery at a young age. At the age of
18, he became a sailor on a merchant ship that sailed between Liverpool and New
York. At the age of 23 he went to Augusta and worked for the railroad as foreman
of hands that were building the railroad between Augusta and Union Point. That
work finished he was a railroad conductor for a few years. He, with his brothers
and parents, settled in Greene County.
On May 20, 1837 he married Matilda Stevens in Greene County. She was the
daughter of John and Martha Stevens formerly of N.C. Their eight children were:
Martha Jane, Walter Crawford, Annie E., John Henry, Fannie Matilda, Eliza,
William Park, and one who died as an infant.
He farmed and went into the sawmill business in Greene County selling and
erecting the Page Mill throughout Middle Ga. In 1854 he purchased a large tract
of land in southwest Baldwin County where he sat up a saw mill plant.The brick
and ceramic "pottery division" was started in 1858. Stevens Pottery was called
Whiting at one time. During the civil war he furnished the troops with knives,
shoe pegs and Joe Brown Pikes. Mrs. Matilda Stevens died in 1862, age 39. Mr.
Stevens married Caroline "Carrie" Torrance, daughter of William & Mary
Torrance, Feb. 28, 1865. They had no children
When Sherman troops came through in 1865 the mills were burned and the pottery
works leveled. After the war he rebuilt his business and it flourished. In 1871
he began making sewer pipe, pottery, stoneware and brick and his business was
known as Kaolin Pottery and Mills.
In 1876 Mr Stevens sold the business to his sons John Henry and William
Crawford and his brother William P. Stevens, a merchant in Sparta, who was made
general manager and treasurer. The company was called H. Stevens Sons Company,
Macon. When William P. Stevens died the company name was changed to Stevens Bros
Company
Mr. Stevens was a Mason and a devout Christian of the Methodist faith, a
steward nearly all his life and a trustee.
Henry Stevens died Jan. 16, 1883 and Carrie Stevens died June 10, 1883. He,
along with his 2 wives, and other relatives are buried in Matilda Chapel
Methodist Church Cemetery in Stevens Pottery. The chapel was named after Matilda
Stevens.
Walter Crawford Stevens
Born in 1846 in Green County, the oldest son of Henry and Matilda Stevens,
Walter was eight years old when the family moved to Baldwin County. He was
educated at Emory College in Oxford.
In 1872 he married Emma Heard Davis, daughter of Wilson and Mary Wright
Davis of Newton County. They had three children: Mittie Irene, Maria, and one
child who died as an infant. Mr and Mrs Stevens were active members of the
Methodist Church. Mr. Stevens was a steward in the church.
He joined with his brother John Henry Stevens and Uncle William P Stevens,
in 1876, forming the H. Stevens Sons Company, Macon. When William P. Stevens
died the company name was changed to Stevens Bros Company. In addition to the
pottery business they cultivated about 1,000 acres of land.
John Henry Stevens
Born April 5, 1851 in Greene County, the second son of Henry and Matilda
Stevens. John was 4 when the family moved to Baldwin County. He attended Emory
College in Oxford for two years. He married Julia Antoinette Webb in 1873. There
six children were Lemma, Henry A., John H. Jr., Maggie Mell, Julia Pearl and
Ruby.
After going in business for himself, he joined with his brother Walter
Crawford Stevens and Uncle William P Stevens, in 1876, forming the H. Stevens
Sons Company, Macon. When William P. Stevens died the company name was changed
to Stevens Bros Company. In addition to the pottery business they cultivated
about 1,000 acres of land. Around 1890 they built the Stevens home, which is
still standing, in Stevens Pottery.
Henry A. Stevens died as an infant in 1878. John Henry Stevens, Jr. died at
the age of 2 in 1884. Maggie Mell Stevens died at the age of 3 in 1888. Julia
Pearl Stevens died at the age of 14 in 1904. Mrs. Julia Stevens died Jan. 24,
1919 and is buried in Matilda Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery next to John
Henry Stevens who died Jan. 25, 1927.
William Park Stevens
Born in Baldwin county, Ga. March 31, 1859, of English parentage, and the
youngest of three brothers. His parents were Henry and Matilda Stevens (for
whose sketch see that of Henry Stevens, Baldwin county). After receiving a
through education, he crossed the water and visited his father's old home, and
spent quite a while prospecting among the clay industries of Great Britain. On
he return he accepted a position as superintendent for Stevens Bros. Co.,
Stevens Pottery,Ga., which position he held with credit until his father's
death, at which time he launched out on his own account, in the saw and planing
mill business and merchandising, in which he was successful and made money.
After cutting all the timber contiguous to his mills he disposed of his
interests in this line, formed a company, consisting of himself and two
brothers, W. C. and J. H Stevens, of Stevens Bros. Co., and built a sewer pipe
plant at Macon, Ga, and commenced the manufacture of sewer pipe, fire brick,
flue goods, etc. under the name of Henry Stevens Sons Co., the subject of this
sketch being elected general manager and treasuer.
By never-failing courage and tenacity, and not knowing what "fail" means,
mr. Stevens soon built and equipped a modern plant, furnished with the best
machinery, and by his shrewdness and foresight, the plant has been a success
since its inception, and has not shut down since it was started, except for
repairs.
Mr. Stevens married Miss Emma G. Stephens, a daughter of John W. Stephens
and C. A. Stephens. her father belonged to a well-known Mississippi family, and
died in Nashville, Tenn., while in the Confederate service. To them three bright
and beautiful children have been born: Estelle, born Sept. 2, 1885; Fannie, born
Aug. 27, 1888; and William Park, Jr., born June 25, 1892. Mr. Stevens claims
that to his wife is due a great deal of the credit for his successful business
career. he is charitable and courteous, but stern and positive in business
transactions; says "No" without changing, and is what all practical business
men, with whom he has dealings, term a shrewd and conservative business man.
Mrs. Stevens is a prominent member of the Methodist church.Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
Sources: Memoirs of Georgia, Southern
Historical Association; Marriage Records of Baldwin Co. Ga.;
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 Census Records; The Baldwin
Bulletin, May 1 2003; Acts of General Assembly March 3, 1875
Eileen Babb McAdams