General Stevens / Saw-wah-ne-zhick

General Stevens / Saw-wah-ne-zhick was said to be born Sep 1864 in St. Charles, Saginaw, Michigan, the son of Charles Darius Stevens and Ellen. Charles and Ellen are said to have been married on 12 Aug 1860 in Saginaw (record not found). Ellen is believed to be the daughter of Jas. Way win daw naw quot and his wife Waw say ge waw.

Saginaw Chippewa 1854 annuity roll - Fisher's band under Chief Kay gay ge zhick.

#13 Way win daw naw quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $6.56

Land allotments - Isabella township, under Chief Jos. Kaw me squaw baw no kay.

#403 Jas. Way-win-daw-naw-quot, S1/2 of the NE1/4 of section 9 in Township 15 North, Range 4 West, consisting of 80 acres

Land allotment - Denver township

Mrs. D. Stevens, E1/2 of the SW1/4 of section 24 in Township 15 North, Range 3 West, consisting of 80 acres

1859 Annuity Roll under Chief Kaw gay ke zhick

#16 Way win daw naw quot, one man, one woman, three children, received $21.35

1861 Annuity Roll under Chief Kaw gay ke zhick

#18 Way win daw naw quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $14.48 

1864 Annuity Roll under Chief Quot way be

#11 Way win daw naw quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $25.28

#14 Mrs. D. Stevens, no men, one woman, two children, received $18.96

Sister Elizabeth was said to be born c1865

1865 Annuity Roll under Chief Quot way be

#12 Way-win-daw-naw-quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $36.76

#13 Mrs. D. Stevens, no men, one woman, three children, received $36.76

1866 Annuity Roll under Chief Quot way be

#12 Mrs. D. Stevens, no men, one woman, four children, received $46.65

#13 Way-win-daw-naw-quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $37.32

Brother Samuel was said to be born c1867

Brother Charles was said to be born Dec 1867

1867 Annuity Roll under Chief Quot way be

#7 Mrs. D. Stevens, no men, one woman, five children, received $53.16

#11 Way win daw naw quot, one man, one woman, two children, received $35.44

The family was listed in the "census of Native American residents from the eastern and certral portions of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, particularly the Saginaw Bay and Isabella County" taken in 1868 and referred to as the Gruet Roll.

#347 Jas. Way-win-daw-naw-quot

Waw-say-ge-waw, wife

O-waw-sau-ge-zhe-go-quat, 21, married to David Stevens, 1 boy 6 years, Elizabeth 3 years, 1 boy 2 years. [Husband Charles Darris, children General, Elizabeth, and Sam?]

Brother James was said to be born c1869

1870 Federal Census -  St. Charles, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, Charles, 33, farmer, real estate valued at $600, personal estate valued at $200

Ellen, 25

General, 10

Elizabeth, 8

Sam, 6

Charles, 3

James, 1

1870 Farm Schedule - St. Charles, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, Chas. D. - 20 acres improved, 30 acres wooded, farm valued at $600; 2 oxen, 3 other cattle, 3 swine, livestock valued at $200; no crops.

Land records - 27 May 1871

James Way win daw naw quot

Mrs. D. Stevens

Sister Alice was said to be born c1876

Sister Celia was said to be born c1877

Father Charles Darris died 6 Dec 1877, St. Charles, Saginaw, Michigan, age 38.

He was buried at Riverside Cemetery, St Charles, Saginaw, Michigan.

Headstone wasn't supplied until 1888.

1880 Federal Census - Vernon, Shiawasee, Michigan

Stevens, General, 22, farmer

Sarah, 16, wife

Franklin, 9, brother-in-law

General married Sarah Jane David/Wain daw bun o quay on 24 Oct 1880, daughter of Abraham David and Julia Fisher.

Son Minor James/Wah-ne-zhick was born 5 Nov 1881 in Vernon, Shiawassee, Michigan.

General and Sarah divorced (date unknown). She was said to have married Peter Henry on 6 Nov 1883 or on 29 Jun 1889.

General was said to have married Nancy Sowmick in 1886.  

Daughter Jennie was born 2 Sep 1888 in Buena Vista, Saginaw, Michigan.

Brother James, 21, born St. Charles, farmer, son of Chas. Stevens and Ellen Donquit, married Sarah Squanda, 22, born Buena Vista, daughter of John Squanda and Mary, on 12 Dec 1889 in Saginaw.

Mother Ellen applied for a widow's pension on 6 Oct 1890

Daughter Jennie died 30 Aug 1891 in Buena Vista, Saginaw, Michigan. Her age was given as 3 years 8 months. Cause was unknown.

Daughter Agnes was born 30 Dec 1891 in Buena Vista, Saginaw.

Daughter Lucy Lillian / Baw-na-se-na-quay was born 31 Dec 1893

Son Isaac was said to be born Jan 1895

Son Raymond was born 1 Oct 1897 in Pinconning, Bay, Michigan

1900 Federal Census - Pinconning, Bay, Michigan

Stephens, General, born Sep 1864, 35, married 14 years, occupation hoopmaker

Nancy, wife, born Dec 1871, 28, married 14 years, 5 children born, 4 children living

Lucy, daughter, born Nov 1886, 13

Agnes, daughter, born Jan 1891, 8

Isaac, son, born Jan 1895, 5

Raymond, son, born Oct 1897, 3

Stevens, Ellen, born Dec 1844, 55, widowed, 8 children born, 5 children living, basket maker

Rhodes, Henry, boarder, born Nov 1849, 50, farm laborer

Stevens, Celia, daughter, born May 1877, 23

Stevens, James, son, born Feb 1873, 27, married 8 years, day laborer

Stevens, Sarah, daughter-in-law, born 1876, 23, married 8 years, 5 children born, 4 children living.

Agnes Stevens/Stephens attended Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School 1902-1905 with any mail sent to Peter Caby of  Bay City, an agent of the school. It is uncertain if this Agnes is General's daughter.

Grandson Elmer, son of Minor, was born 30 Jul 1905.

Daughters Agnes and Lucy arrived at Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on 26 Sep 1908.

Agnes student file pdf

Lucy student file pdf

Sometime between 1900 and 1909 General and Nancy were divorced.

On 2 Jun 1909 in Pinconning, Nancy Sawmick, 40, daughter of Moses Sawmick and Eliza Nockechigmee, married Adam Hart, 42, son of William Hart and Mary Elk. While Adam says he was married once before [this is actually his third marriage], Nancy was listed as not married before.  Ceremony performed by Louis A. Pelkey.

Grandson Elmer, son of Minor and Jennie, died 10 Jun 1910 in St. Charles. Cause was accidental drowning.

Ex-wife Sarah divorced Peter Henry, 21 Sep 1910 on grounds of extreme cruelty. 

1910 Federal Census - Bay City, Bay, Michigan

Stephens, General, 46, single, laborer at construction train.

1910 Federal Census - St. Charles, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, Miner, 28, married once, married 9 years, maker of ax handles

Jennie, 34,m married once, married 9 years, 4 children born, 3 children living

Simon, son, 5

Elmer, son, 4

Joseph, son, 10/12

The 1910 Federal Census for Nancy and children has not been found.

General married Mabel E. Whitney on 24 Feb 1911

Daughter Ellen Caroline was born 23 Jun 1912

Progress reports for daughters Agnes and Lucy from Carlisle Indian Industrial School through Apr 1913.

Daughter Lucy, 22, dressmaker, was married on 11 Oct 1914 in Rosebush, Isabella, Michigan to Isaac Pelcher, 21, farming, son of Moses Pelcher and Mariah Peters. Ceremony was performed by W. A. Hintermare, pastor of M.E. Church. Witnesses were Thomas Pelcher and Miss Lena Pelcher.

Daughter Ethel Mabel was born 14 Jun 1916 in Pinconning

Son Raymond died 18 Aug 1917 in Pinconning, Bay, Michigan. His age was given as 19 years, 11 months, 9 days. Cause was tuberculosis.

Son Miner, 36, married Jennie Nelson, 40, on 5 Jan 1918, Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan.

Brother James was divorced from Sarah on 13 May 1918. They had four children. Cause was desertion.

Son Miner registered for the draft 12 Sep 1918. He gave his birth as 5 Nov 1881, self employed laborer, married to Jennie, resided in Ovid. He was described as medium height, slender build, black hair and eyes.

Son Isaac died 22 Nov 1918 in Pinconning, Bay, Michigan. His age was given as 22 years, 10 months, 4 days. Cause was pneumonia.

General was divorced from Mabel on 2 Jul 1919 for cruelty and non-support.

Ex-wife Mabel was married on 27 Sep 1919 in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan to Charles Dickson.

Daughter Agnes married 31 Jul 1919 in Saginaw, Saginaw to Arthur Chatfield, son of Peter Chatfield and Flossie Watson.

1920 Federal Census - Genesee township, Genesee, Michigan

Stevens, General, 50, divorced, laborer at an auto shop

James, brother, 44, teaming - city

Bessie, sister-in-law, 29

1920 Federal Census - St. Charles village, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, Minor, 39, laborer - carpenter - hull maker

Jennie, wife, 44

Simon, son, 16

Joseph, son, 11

Peter, son, 9

Cilia, daughter, 7

Sarah, daughter 4 4/12

Fisher, archie, son-in-law, 27, laborer - farm

Margaret, daughter, 20

General, of Flint, was married to Mrs. Mable Gray, of Winegars on 14 May 1922 at the home of the bride. Ceremony performed by W. S. Carpenter, minister of the Parkland Presbyterian Church of Flint. She was the daughter of Jacob Mattis and Sarah Peters.

    Church records

    Genesee County records

Daughter Evlyn was born c1923

The 1927 city directory of Flint has General and Mable living at 205 W. Russell. General's occupation is laborer.

1930 Federal Census - James township, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, General, rents house for $5 per month, 59, laborer on a farm

Mabel, wife, 35

Evlyn, daughter, 7

1930 Federal Census - St. Charles township, Saginaw, Michigan

Stevens, Miner, owns house valued at $500, 47, widowed, laborer at odd jobs

Jennie, daughter, 17 

Joseph, son, 21

Peter, son, 19

Sarah, daughter, 14

1930 Federal Census - Isabella township, Isabella, Michigan

Pelcher, Isaac, 37, first marriage at 21, farmer

Lucy, wife, 37, first marriage at 21

Mariah, daughter, 15

Clinton, son, 12

Dorothy, daughter, 10

John J., son, 8

Viola, daughter, 5

Bernise, daughter, 3 4/12

1930 Federal Census - Flint, Genesee, Michigan

Scott, Charles E., 43, first marriage at 41, plumber

Mable C., wife, 37, first marriage at 25

Dickson, Ethel M., step-daughter, 13 [This is General's daughter, using the last name of her mother's previous husband.

Granddaughter Cecelia, 20, daughter of Miner Stevens and Jennie Nelson married Loris Reynolds, 21, son of Harry Reynolds and Lucy Center, on 5 Jan 1933 in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan. Ceremony performed by John C. Murphy, Judge of Probate.

General died 20 Jan 1934 in James, Saginaw, Michigan. Cause of death was struck by car. Frank Stevens was the informant. Father was given as Dyer Stevens.

Lansing State Journal 22 Jan 1934.

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Daughter Mrs. Ethel Hayes married 29 Apr 1939 to Harry Weston in Bay county.

1940 Federal Census - Isabella township, Isabella, Michigan

Pelcher, Isaac, 47, farmer

Lucy, wife, 47

Clinton, son, 22

Viola, daughter, 15

Bernice, daughter, 13

Marria, mother, 74, widowed

Son Minor died 2 Jul 1964

Daughter Agnes died 18 Jul 1977 in Pinconning, Bay, Michigan

Daughter Lucy died 13 Jan 1979 in Isabella, Michigan

Copyright (c) 2021 Vicki Wilson