Frank E. Stevens Collection

Title

Frank E. Stevens Collection

Subject

Stevens, Frank E. (Frank Everett), 1856-1939
Black Hawk War (1832)
Generals
Soldiers
War of 1812
Veterans
Mexican War (1846-1848)
Generals
Legislators
Indians of North America

Description

Frank E. Stevens was a lawyer, banker, newspaper editor and writer based in Illinois. Stevens was born and educated in Dixon, Illinois. He studied law in Sycamore, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. Shortly after that he moved to South Dakota where he operated the Beadle County National Bank until 1890 when he moved to Chicago and worked in a brokerage business.

In 1907 Stevens returned to Sycamore, Illinois, where he published the Dixon Weekly Citizen and later the Sycamore Tribune. He retired from the newspaper business in 1928 and was elected mayor of Sycamore in 1931.

Governor Henry Horner appointed Stevens to the War Records Division of the office of the Adjutant General. Stevens was a historian who authored several historical works including The Black Hawk War. Stevens used the majority of the items in the collection while researching and writing The Black Hawk War.

The Black Hawk War (1832), although brief, has much significance for Native American history. In April, tribal groups of Sauk, Meskwakis, and Kickapoo, led by Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk, crossed the Mississippi River from Iowa into Illinois. Known as the British Band, they claimed lands under the 1804 Treaty of St. Louis, a treaty the whites disputed. Fearful, militia’s fired on the Native American delegation in what led to the Battle of Stillman’s Run, a resounding defeat for the militias. Black Hawk was eventually defeat, however, at the battles of Wisconsin Heights and Bad Axe. Historically, the Black Hawk War legitimized and strengthened forcible relocation of Native American tribes further west.

The finding aid for the Frank E. Stevens Papers, 1832-1939 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located at: http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/610.

Photographs in this collection include images of several individuals connected to the Black Hawk War including Chief Shabbona, Major Isaiah Stillman, Brigadier General Milton K. Alexander, Colonel Nathan Boone, and Brigadier General Henry Atkinson. The collection also includes images of prominent Illinois residents from the mid and late 19th century including actress Mary Garden, William S. Hamilton, and Charles B. Farwell.

Collection Items

Nathan Boone
An engraving features Nathan Boone, son of the famous Daniel Boone of Missouri. Boone fought during the War of 1812 and served under General Henry Atkinson during the Black Hawk War. Image caption: "Bring out strong"On verso: "Col. Nathan Boone (son…

James Burns
Captain James Burns poses for a portrait wearing a dark shirt and suit jacket. A resident of Nashville in Washington County, Illinois, Burns fought in the Black Hawk War and the Mexican-American War.

Man in Dark Suit
An unidentified man poses for a portrait wearing a dark suit and tie.On verso: "Think this is a man who started an agricultural publication some 30 or more years ago. I went from here to Cedar Rapids, Alexander Charles."

Dr. Alonzo Cressy
Dr. Alonzo Cressy poses for a portrait wearing a dark suit. During the Black Hawk War, Cressy attended to Native Americans sick with cholera in Chicago under General Scott. In 1936, he successfully ran for a seat in the Michigan House of…

Augustus C. Dodge
Augustus C. Dodge sits for a portrait. Dodge was one of the first two U.S. Senators from Iowa (1848-1855) and Minister to Spain (1855-1859) under President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857). On verso: "Augustus C. Dodge - 1 of the first 2 U.S. Senators…

Robert Douglas
Robert M. Douglas, son of Stephen A. Douglas, sits for a portrait. Unlike his staunchly Democratic father, Robert sided with Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans, helping reconstruction efforts in the South and serving as personal secretary to…

Charles B. Farwell
Charles B. Farwell poses for a portrait in a dark suit coat. A resident of Lake Forest, Farwell served in the United States House of Representatives (1871-1876) and the United States Senate (1887-1891). He and his wife. Mary Eveline Smith, donated…

Mary Garden
Actress Mary Garden poses for a portrait wearing several pieces of jewelry. Garden was a popular opera performer in France and the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Talented both as a soprano and as an actress, Garden made…

John J. Hardin
John J. Hardin, a prominent resident of Jacksonville, poses for a portrait wearing a military uniform. Hardin represented Morgan County in the General Assembly, fought in the Black Hawk War and Mormon War of Hancock County, served one term in the…

Thomas James
A photograph of an oil painting of Major Thomas James features James in a military uniform. On verso: "Maj. Thomas James, from oil painting owned by his son Dr. Lewis James of Racola, Mo."

William McMurtry
William McMurtry poses for a portrait with a cane in his right hand. McMurtry was a resident of Knox County (1829-1875), a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1836-1840) and the Illinois Senate (1842-1849), and the state's eleventh…

Joseph Naper
Joseph Naper poses for a portrait wearing a dark suit. Naper was one of the founding members of Naperville, Illinois (est. 1831), a veteran of the Black Hawk and Mexican-American Wars, and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from…

Walter Bennett Scates
Walter Bennett Scates poses for a photograph which was later used as a memorial portrait. Scates moved to Illinois in 1831 and began practicing law. He served as States Attorney pro tem (1831-1834), Attorney General (1836), Judge of the Third…

Chief Shabbona
Chief Shabbona, a member of the Ottawa tribe and Chief of the Potawatomi in Illinois during the nineteenth century, poses for a portrait. Originally not friendly towards white expansion and Indian relocation, Shabbona fought alongside Tecumseh…

Isaiah Stillman
Major Isaiah Stillman poses for a portrait wearing a large dark tie. Stillman commanded the Illinois militia in the first battle of the Black Hawk War, the Battle of Stillman's Run.

Henry Atkinson
Brigadier General Henry Atkinson poses for a portrait wearing a military uniform. Atkinson fought during the War of 1812, led the Yellowstone Expeditions of 1819 and 1825, and served as commander of the United States forces during the Black Hawk War.

Robert Anderson
A miniature in a locket features the image of Lieutenant Robert Anderson. Anderson commanded Abraham Lincoln during the Black Hawk War, fought in the Seminole and Mexican-American Wars, and was the commanding officer of Fort Sumter at the beginning…

Milton K. Alexander
General Milton K. Alexander poses for a portrait in a dark suit and tie. Alexander, who knew Abraham Lincoln when Lincoln practiced law in Edgar County, made a name for himself as a fighter during the War of 1812 and the Seminole Wars, eventually…

Lorenzo D. Thompson
Lorenzo D. Thompson poses for a portrait wearing a dark suit. A celebrated wrestler, Thompson defeated a young Abraham Lincoln while serving together during the Black Hawk War.

George E. Walker
George E. Walker, the first sheriff of LaSalle County and an Indian interpreter during the Black Hawk War, poses for a portrait. On verso: "George E. Walker First Sheriff La Salle Co."

The Heights of Electricity
Four unknown men stand atop a telephone pole, perhaps in Dixon.

Motor Carriages
A group of unknown people ride atop early motor carriages, the precursor to the automobile.
View all 22 items

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