Solon Stevens is a native of the town of Standing STone, Bradford County PA, and was born October 23 1820. He came to Whiteside County first in 1844, on a prospecting tour, staying one year, and then returned to the East. Visions of the beautiful prairies and their almost unlimited productiveness, however,when compared with the stubborn soil of teh Pennsylvania hills and mountains, were too vivid and enchanting to allow him to remain away from them, and in 1851 he came back and settled permanently in Fenton township. Mr Stevens was married to Miss Charlotte M Smith in Albany PA on teh 17th of March 1844 and the children have been: Charlotte A, Martha E, John E, Ann C , Ettie M , Emma A, and Susan. All are living excepting Susan. Charlotte A married Jesse W Scott and lives in Montmorency; Martha E mrried Charles S Sage and lives in Pottawatamie IA; John E married Lela Emery, and lives in Fenton; Ann C, Ettie M, and Emma A are unmarried and reside at home. When Mr. Stevens came to settle permanently in Whiteside he was the possessor of only a little over a hundred dollars, but by industry, energy and perseverance, combined with a clear judgment and keen foresight, he is not the owner of several hundred acres of good land, with nearly all of it under a fine state of cultivation. His farm consists of 340 acres on sections 24 and 25 in Fenton and 40 acres in Lyndon, adjoining Fenton, making 380 acres in all. He also owns 12 acres of wood land on Section 3. To such indefatigable men as Mr. Stevens, a county owes much for its advancement and prosperity.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 201-202
