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KENOLY FAMILY HISTORY HENRY STEVENS |
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Born in July of 1797 in Kentucky, Henry Stevens was already a middle-aged man when he was brought to Missouri in the late 1840’s from near Lexington. Nothing is known of his early life except that one of his ancestors was an Indian, the tribe name no longer remembered. About 1850 Henry formed a relationship with a woman living on an adjoining farm in Camden County. It is not known whether they fell in love or if they were chosen for each other by their masters, As a master had legal control of the reproductive processes of the female slaves, it was common for him to determine who would be the father of the next generation of his financial investment. If Henry and his mate did choose each other, it would have been illegal for them to get a license and be married before a minister or justice of the peace. Instead, they would have been married in a "slave ceremony" with their many friends as witnesses and well wishers. The four children that Henry protected from the kidnappers were the fruit of his union with this now forgotten woman. - {Source 2} Henry's celebration of his first day of freedom, January 11, 1865, is not remembered. From what is known of his character, he probably gave little outward reaction to his life-long dream becoming reality. Henry would have been busy planning on how he would provide for his family. In his sixties and with frosted-hair, he started a new life as an independent farmer, evidently homesteading forty acres of land near Arnold’s Mill. By 1870 he had ten improved acres and thirty acres still in woods. The cash value of his farm was $200 and he owned ten dollars worth of machinery and implements. Henry's two horses, three mules and ten hogs had a combined value of $200. In 1869 he had produced 200 bushels of corn, ten bushels of oats, thirty bushels of Irish potatoes and thirty gallons of molasses. The total of farm products produced in that year was $225.- {Source 3} In 1868 the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed giving blacks the right to vote. Henry immediately exercised that right and never missed voting in an election for the rest of his life. His last trip into Linn Creek before his death was to cast his ballot at the polls. - {Source 4} At about the time of emancipation, Henry's first wife either died or chose to leave and he married Miranda Jones, daughter of Esther Jones. Miranda was born in Missouri in October of 1842. Henry and his new wife had nine children. Henry's known descendants through his Great-Grandchildren are listed below. - {Source 5} Descendants of Henry Stevens - {Source 6} 1 Henry Stevens b: July 1797 Kentucky d: February 16, 1908 in Linn
Creek, MO age at d: 110 est. Very strict with his children, Henry emphasized the importance of hard work and discipline. Henry's efforts were rewarded by having all of his children grow up to be respected and well-liked citizens of their communities. - {Source 7} Henry and Miranda, and their children as they reached adulthood, were acknowledged leaders in the black community in Camden County. They, doubtless, had a large hand in the planning and execution of the Emancipation Picnic that was held at the school house grove in Linn Creek on August 4, 1882. (This date, rather than January 11, became the traditional day to celebrate emancipation because of the various advantages that a summer day would have over one in January in planning a celebration.) An invitation went out to blacks and whites alike to come and enjoy the day. Approximately 110 blacks lived in Camden County at the time. They, plus black visitors from Lebanon and other areas attended along with many whites. A dance floor was erected and the day was devoted to music, dancing, speeches and a bountiful dinner. The editor of The Reveille pronounced it as, "One of the pleasantest affairs of the kind we ever witnessed, and reflected great credit on all concerned." - {Source 8}
Miranda, as she grew older, became known as "Aunt Randy." Not very tall or heavy, she seemed the perfect physical match to her husband who continued to carry his body in a very stiff, erect manner well past his one-hundredth birthday. Blessed with abundant energy, Miranda was constantly on the move. If not occupied with her regular household chores, she could be found at her spinning wheel, at her loom making rugs or bent over a beautiful quilt in the process of being pieced or quilted. She is remembered today as a hardworking, kind and fun-loving person. Her gentle ways kept the strict discipline of her husband from becoming harsh and over-bearing. Well into old age, Miranda would laughingly prove her suppleness to her grandchildren by leaping into the air and clicking her heels together three times before landing. As a child Eunice Kenoly-Winfrey watched her grandmothers Stevens and Kenoly joking and laughing together and thought that she would be glad when she got old so she could enjoy life as much as they did! - {Source 9} The family celebrated Henry's 104th birthday with a party. The old man was still active and strong, having finished harvesting his seven-acre wheat crop. He gathered around him his children and grandchildren and told them again of how it used to be. On that day, he recalled for them his days as a young boy when he saddled the horse on which his master rode off to fight in the War of 1812. Henry Stevens lived another six years, dying on February 16, 1908, at the age of about 110 years. The editor of The Reveille indicated the high esteem in which the community held Henry when he gave the title, "Passing of a Patriarch," to the article announcing Henry's death. The funeral was held in the M.E. Church in Linn Creek and burial was at the Old Linn Creek Cemetery. - {Source 10} Miranda lived with her son, James Peter Stevens, after the death of her husband. She remained energetic, full of good will and ready to laugh. As her final days approached, she began to suffer small strokes and would stumble while walking or dropped from her hand whatever she was holding. Miranda often took her small grandson with her when she went to the old smokehouse building that housed her spinning wheel and loom. Granddaughter Eunice would accompany them so she could catch the boy just in case Miranda would become dizzy and drop him. In early the early summer of 1921, Miranda suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed and helpless. She lingered until September 4, 1921, and was buried at the New Home Church Cemetery. After her passing, the home of her son burned, the fire destroyed all of her beautiful dishes, quilts and rugs. Only a table, slightly charred, survived. With his home gone, James moved to Lebanon. - {Source 11} |
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