Rev. Stevens gained financial security by investing in South Hannibal property

Steve Chou took this photo of South Hannibal, after the Great Flood of 1993 and before the properties were torn down. Contributed photo. Any help to identify what street this is would be appreciated. Write to: montgomery.editor@yahoo.com

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

In 1891, the Rev. Benjamin Stevens, 90, and his wife, Sarah, 86, were living contentedly at 416 Fourth, South Hannibal, comfortably supported by income from their real estate holdings, and buoyed by answered prayers for God to watch over them so they could in turn watch over each other. (Information from a June 9, 1891 article in the Louisiana Press Journal.) Married in 1823, in England, the couple had subsequently marked their 68th wedding anniversary.

Their story-and-a-half, stone dwelling, located on the western side of Fourth Street (later renamed Sycamore) in actuality, was a double house, located near Fourth street’s intersection with Madison. The duplex was shared by tenants, (in 1892) William H. Magness, bookkeeper for Johnston and Price, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Stillwell, widow of Joseph.

According to biographical information in “The History of Marion County 1884” - Rev. and Mrs. Stevens located in the Hannibal area as early as the mid 1830s. During those early years. Rev. Stevens did his best to eek out a living in order to support the large family born to he and his wife - seven sons and seven daughters.

The aforementioned biography, which was written during Rev. Stevens’ lifetime, described him as “one of the pioneer preachers who farmed during the week days and preached on Sunday.”

Born in England in 1801, he was ordained as a minister in 1837, in the United States, and served as a preacher for the Baptist denomination in Hannibal, while also having affiliations with the Crooked Creek Church in Monroe County; the Ebanezer Church in Shelby County; and the Bethel Church in Ralls County.

Rev. Stevens caught “gold rush fever” in 1849, heading off to California in pursuit of riches. He returned to Hannibal in 1851, quite broke.

On March 27, 1855, two young people stood together before him at Hannibal, Mo., while their minister, the aforementioned Rev. Benjamin Stevens, pronounced the vows. United in marriage were William Price Carstarphen (1830-1910) and Sarah Elizabeth Brown (1835-1915); she being a childhood friend of Sam Clemens.

Early settler

Rev. Stevens settled during the decade of the 1850s on a small farm in Township 56N, Range 4, Section 4, in Ralls County, Mo.

In 1859, he sold that farm - known as Maple Grove - to Reuben St. John Sr.

 Maple Grove farm would remain in the St. John family for at least seven decades. Reuben St. John Jr., died on this farm in 1929.

After selling the Ralls County farm, Rev. Stevens subsequently moved with his wife to the south side of Hannibal proper. Rev. Stevens tried his hand at making lime for a time, and later invested in real estate. The latter is where he ultimately prospered.

Following Mrs. Steven’s death in 1899, their property was put up for sale at auction, including these parcels:

421 Fourth street (Sycamore), corner of Fourth and Madison, four-room frame;

413 Fourth street (Sycamore), half of double house, three-room frame;

411 Fourth (Sycamore), other half of said double house, three-room frame;

316 Madison, five-room, two-story frame; intersection of Bluff and Madison (facing south);

312 and 314 Madison, six-room double frame (facing south);

414 and 416 Fourth Street, (Sycamore) South Hannibal;

412 Fourth, (Sycamore) three-room brick;

615 Walnut, three-room, two-story frame; and

416 Fourth, SH (lived here when Rev. Stevens died.)

Rev. and Mrs. Stevens are at rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Curiosity

Newspaper article, as culled from the files of Newspapers.com, which offers no further explanation:

Feb. 21, 1884

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Hannibal, Mo. - Rev. Benjamin Stevens has been arrested for obstructing a street. He has built a house in the middle of the street, claiming he owns the ground.