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Rufus Miller Stevens

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Rufus Miller Stevens

Birth	:	15 Dec 1862 Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	2 Oct 1950 Cashmere, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.3450012, -120.0117035
Description	:	Rufus (he did not like that name, he told me so) Miller Stevens was born in the family home near Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. His father was school teacher Delorma Theodore Stevens, born in Canada. His mother was Sarah Ann Conger from Pennsylvania. When Miller was seven, the family lived on a farm in the Caldwell Township in Appanoose County, Iowa. (1) Ten years later, they made their home on a farm in Cunningham Township, Chariton County, Missouri. (2) In the 1880 census, he was living with his parents in the Cunningham Township of Chariton County, MO. In... Read More	Rufus (he did not like that name, he told me so) Miller Stevens was born in the family home near Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa. His father was school teacher Delorma Theodore Stevens, born in Canada. His mother was Sarah Ann Conger from Pennsylvania. When Miller was seven, the family lived on a farm in the Caldwell Township in Appanoose County, Iowa. (1) Ten years later, they made their home on a farm in Cunningham Township, Chariton County, Missouri. (2) In the 1880 census, he was living with his parents in the Cunningham Township of Chariton County, MO. In 1883, when Miller was 21, the family moved to Dayton, Washington Territory, and stayed with Miller's older brother Gifford while their father scouted government land in the area. They found a suitable 160 acre parcel near Pampa, Whitman County, Washington Territory not far from the Palouse River. The family built a small house on the claim. There Miller, and his brother Frank, worked with their father, in starting a wheat ranch. (3) He was listed in the 1885 and 1889 Columbia County Washington State Census as R. M. Stevens born in Iowa about 1863. Miller's parents were both in poor health. In a letter dated January 17th, 1886 to relatives in Canada, Miller's brother Frank wrote ".. .father can't get up by himself nor dress himself...we are having a rough time of it for mother is sick and has been for some time..." Miller's father died in August of 1888. His mother was able to get title to the government land, sold the land and went back to Missouri. Miller, now 26, set off on his own.(4)( 5). He headed north to the Alaska Gold Rush.(6) He found enough gold to travel to California and get into some high stake poker games. He won a race track. He operated the race track for a year, then lost it in another poker game. He journeyed back to eastern Washington to visit his brothers. In Wenatchee, Washington, he got a job as a deck hand on the City of Ellensburg, a paddle-wheel steamboat that worked between Wenatchee and Brewster, up the Columbia River. The steamboat would remain overnight at Brewster and the crew would stay at the Gamble Hotel. Dan Gamble , the owner of the hotel, and Miller, became good friends probably because both had Canadian roots.(7) In 1900, Dan Gamble, who was on the city council, nominated Miller, now 38, to be the new City Marshal. He was selected. Brewster was a typical frontier town. Its chief distinction was being at the head of navigation on the Columbia River and near the mouth of the Okanogan River. Two saloons were licensed. Two large livery stables did a big business, especially in caring for the two -, four- and six-horse freight teams. Three different stage lines and two steamboats "put up" in the town overnight. There were times the streets were crowded with teamsters, farmers, cowboys and Indians . Drunkenness was not a disgrace, gambling was considered a respectable business, and a house of prostitution stood on the outskirts of town.(8) When an Indian became overcome from drink, Miller, now Marshal Stevens , would put the Indian on his pony, lead the animal out of town, then pull the Indian off his mount and leave him sleeping on the ground. If a white man got too hilarious, Stevens, who had handcuffs, but no jail, would put the handcuffs on the culprit and fasten him to the wheel of a freight wagon, no matter whether day or night. When the man sobered up, he would get turned loose, after he had promised to behave himself.(9) On October 14th, of 1901, Marshal Miller Stevens married Marie "May " Curtis in Conconully, the Okanogan County seat.(10) Marie was 19 years his junior. She was born November 19th, 1881 near Ellensburg, Washington Territory, the daughter of James Henry Curtis and Samantha Ann Wheeler. The couple had two sons. Virgil Truman, born in Brewster on January 30th, 1904, and Francis Eugene "Jack" who was born January 19th, 1907, also in Brewster. Miller and Marie separated before 1910 and divorced. Marie remarried in 1911. Miller never remarried , and raised his two sons alone.(11) The job of Brewster City Marshal, especially in the years the town had no doctor or fire department, had other aspects. An Indian named Timintwa Jim got into a knife fight with another Indian and nearly had his wind pipe severed. Marshal Stevens, with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Gamble, and a curved wheat sack needle, successfully sewed the Indian back together.(12) On August 8th, 1903, Brewster had its greatest calamity - a fire that destroyed 22 buildings - about three fourths of the town. Miller was badly burned on the arms and shoulder while saving the Gamble Hotel by keeping water on bedding that was spread over the roof.(13) On the 16th of April, 1907, he bought 160 acres of government land. This land was in Township 30 North/Range 24 East - SESE part of section 10, SWSW part of section 11, NWNW part of section 14, and the NENE part of section 15. The government patent was number 2865 issued by the Waterville Land Office. In this document he is listed as Ruffis M. Stevens. The BLM serial number of this sale is WAWAAA 043511. Miller Stevens resigned as Marshal and went into business with Ed Sweaney. They operated a livery stable and a dray business. The coming of the railroad was the demise of the steamboats and two of the stage lines. Automobiles started replacing horses and livery stables became obsolete. For 28 years, first by horse and wagon, and later by truck, Miller had the contract to haul the mail between the post office and the railroad depot. From 1913 to 1923, there were four trains a day to meet. Later, only two trains a day. He had injured his hip in a fall from the livery stable roof. This injury, plus age, led him to retire in 1941, as he needed a crutch to walk safely.(14) He died in October 2nd 1950, in a rest home, in Cashmere, Washington . His death was ruled a homicide.(15) He had tried to be a peacemaker in a disturbance at the rest home and was struck in the head by a heavy walking stick. He is buried in the Cashmere City Cemetery.(16) From highway 2 (highway 97) turn at the N Division Street exit into Cashmere. Continue down N Division Street, it will turn into S Division Street. Continue down S Division Street until it forks. One half continuing up a steep hill the other going right onto Pioneer Ave. Continue down Pioneer Ave. The cemetery is on the right side of the road. Turn right on Evergreen Drive for access to the cemetery. The cemetery is large and easily visible from Pioneer Ave. 1950 October 3: Cashmere. Rufus M. Stevens, 87, died at his home in Cashmere Monday following a short illness. Born in the state of Iowa, on December 15, 1862, he came to the state of Washington in 1890, settling near Dayton. In 1902, Mr. Stevens moved to Okanogan County. He was married to Mae Curtis at Conconully and they lived in Okanogan County until 1945. Following Mrs. Stevens' death, he moved to Cashmere to make his home with his son. Surviving are two sons, Virgil Stevens of Cashmere and Francis Stevens of Ellensburg: five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the Kuelbs and Braun funeral home with the Rev. Max Wills officiating. During the service, Berm Simpson will sing, accompanied by Mrs. Simpson. The body will be sent to Seattle for cremation. (1) 1870 Federal Census of Iowa (Population), Appanoose County, Caldwell Township, Unionville Post Office, page 372. (2) 1880 Federal Census of Missouri, (Population), Chariton County, Cunningham Township, Enumeration District 176, page 636. (3) Stewart, Our Stevens Story - On The Move, page 46. (4) Letter by Frank Stevens to his grandmother and uncle in Canada dated 17 Jan 1886. Original in the possession of Professor Paul Fritz, Athens, Ontario, Canada. (5) Stewart, Our Stevens Story - On The Move, page 47 (6) Miller Stevens gave his last gold nugget from Alaska to the author . It is mounted on a stick pin for use with an ascot. (7) Ulrick Englehart Fries, From Copenhagen To Okanogan, (Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort, Publishers, 1949) page 226. (8} Ibid, Ulrick Fries, page 227. (9) Ibid, Ulrick Fries, page 228. (10) Marriage Certificate with return for Rufus Miller Stevens and May Curtis, Archives, Okanogan County, Okanogan, Washington, certificate number 146 dated 14 Oct 1901. (11) Rose Mary Goodwin, compiler, A Family Named Curtis, private printing, Sunnyvale, California, Feb 1983, pages 222, 297-298, 384-386. (12) Ulrick Fries, From Copenhagen To Okanogan, page 323. (13) Okanogan County Historical Society, History of North Washington, 1912, page 558. (14) Brewster Herald, "28 Years of Service," Brewster, Washington, undated clipping ca 1941. (15) Death Certificate for Rufus Miller Stevens, Department of Vital Records, State of Washington, Olympia, Washington, State File Number 16690 (16) Photographed by the author.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rufus Miller Stevens's memorial?
Rufus Miller Stevens's memorial is located at: Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA.
When did Rufus Miller Stevens death?
Rufus Miller Stevens death on 2 Oct 1950 in Cashmere, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rufus Miller Stevens's memorial?
Latitude: 46.3450012
Longitude: -120.0117035

Family Members:

Parent

Delorma Theodore Stevens

(1824 - 1888)

Sarah Conger Stevens

(1833 - 1913)

Spouse

Siblings

Eli Gafford Stevens

(1854 - 1927)

William Murry Stevens

(1855 - 1938)

Franklin Alexander “F. A.” Stevens

(1860 - 1922)

Children

Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens

(1907 - 1986)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lower Valley Memorial Gardens
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3450012, -120.0117035

2. Holy Trinity Episcopal Close
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3235000, -120.0158500

3. Outlook Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3208008, -120.0811005

4. Grandview Cemetery
Grandview, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2658005, -119.8902969

5. Mabton Cemetery
Mabton, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2285995, -119.9852982

6. Smohalla Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3009660, -120.2186250

7. Black Rock Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5111084, -119.9985962

8. Zillah German Baptist Cemetery
Zillah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4128550, -120.2506400

9. McCoy Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3835983, -120.2755966

10. Zillah Cemetery
Zillah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4055202, -120.2726072

11. Prosser Pioneer Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1947937, -119.8095245

12. Winnier Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3590060, -120.3192450

13. Elmwood Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3673830, -120.3334530

14. Prosser Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2047539, -119.7541504

15. Glade Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0778008, -120.0914001

16. Smina Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2372017, -120.4269028

17. Beaver Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0993996, -120.2866974

18. Holy Rosary Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5531006, -120.3585968

19. Holland Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5766983, -120.3861008

20. Meninick Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1981010, -120.4741974

21. Evergreen Cemetery
Benton City, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2867012, -119.4938965

22. Union Gap Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5209084, -120.4850998

23. Reservation Community Memorial Park
Wapato, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4484291, -120.5375519

24. Toweatmy Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1794014, -120.5056000