Dr. Merari Bunajah Stevens - G.A.R., Bishop Post - After the War

A continuation from  the Commemorative Biographies of Northwest Ohio in italics:

"After a short stay in New York, the youth proceeded to Michigan, and wisely resumed his interrupted studies.  Locating in Fenton, in that State, he attended school there two years, when he began the study of medicine in the office of Wells B. Fox, M.D., at Marshallville, and later graduated in 1869.  

Immediately after his graduation, he began the practice of his chosen profession with his former preceptor, Doctor Fox, then located at Byron, Michigan, and this partnership existed until the reopening of the university in the fall, when he again became a student there, completing the course in pharmacy the next year.


He then resumed practice at Byron, without a partner, however, remaining there until 1875, which year was made memorable by his appointment as delegate from the State Medical Society of Michigan to the meeting of the American Medical Association in Louisville, Kentucky, and by his matriculation at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, from which institution he graduated in the class of '76.  A brief stay at Byron followed; then, in December, 1876, he located in Defiance, Ohio, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession.

"In 1870, at Fenton, Michigan, Doctor Stevens was united in marriage with Miss Irene Boice, who died January 29, 1873, leaving one son, Harry B., (Harvey) born January 19, 1873, at present a student in his father's office."

Irene and Merari were married just over two years when she died soon after giving birth to their son whose name was actually Harvey.  Irene was buried in Michigan.

 "In February, 1878, the Doctor married, for his second wife, Miss Nettie Brower, and to this union a son, Harry B., was born May 22, 1879.  The mother passed away on the 25th of the same month."

Nettie's short obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on May 29, 1879, p. 3:  "On Sunday, Mrs. Nettie B. Stevens, wife of Dr. M. B. Stevens, died in this place after a short illness.  She was an estimable lady, and although a resident of Defiance for about one year, she had formed a large circle of acquaintances who were warmly attached to her.  The remains were taken to Byron, Michigan, for burial.  In his hour of sad affliction, Dr. Stevens has the sympathy of all citizens."

In the 1880 census, Dr. M. B. Stevens lived at 445 Wayne Street in Defiance, a widowed physician with his two sons, H. B., 7, and Harry B., 1.  His sister, U. M., 23, lived with them and kept house, along with Fanny Smith, 22, a servant.  The family had two boarders: Clara Adams, 22, a music teacher, and Jennie Rorabooker, 18, also a music teacher.

 "On March 21, 1883, the Doctor was married to his present wife, formerly Miss Ellen Amelia Ames, the only daughter of Rev. Lucius F. Ames ( a Baptist minister) and Amelia Bennett Ames, both of New England stock...  Mrs. Stevens has been actively engaged in church and charity work.  The chlldren of this marriage are: Gale A., born August 31, 1885; Edwin Burr, born June 24, 1889; and Frank Bennett, born July 28, 1893.  The family resides in a commodious and delightful home on the corner of Fifth and Wayne streets, while adjoining stands the doctor's office - a substantial and well-equipped building erected by himself.

Dr. M. B. Stevens, 1885

 Dr. Stevens did appear in the 1890 Veterans Census in Defiance which noted his service in both Company L, 8th Regiment, New York Infantry and Company H, 10th New York Infantry where he was promoted to Corporal.  Another source, the New York Muster Rolls, described him at the time as 5 foot, 8 inches, with grey eyes and brown hair and a light complexion.  He gave his occupation as brickmaker, perhaps working for his father in his early years.

In the 1900 census, the family lived at 602 Wayne Street, Defiance.  Ellen, 47, and Merari, 55, had four sons at home then, along with her father, Lucious, 80 and widowed.  Son Harry, 27 and single, was a rug salesman, while the younger boys - Gale A., E. Burr, and Frank B. were in school.  Naomi M. Stevens, 48, the doctor's sister and a school teacher, also lived there.

In the same home in 1910, Dr. M.B. and Ellen had just two sons left at home - Burr E., 20, a driver, and Frank B., 16, who worked in a machine shop. Sister Manora Stevens, 53, also stayed with the family now.  Three roomers filled the house: Adolphus M. Heite, 30, a traveling salesman of portraits; May F. Heite, 31, a portrait painter and an owner of her own gallery; and Herbert Fisher, 37, who also worked as a salesman for the "portrait house."

Front Row: Harvey Boice Stevens and Dr. Merari Bunajah Stevens

Back row (l to r) Burr Edwin, Frank Bennett, Gale A. and Harry Brower Stevens

Taken on Thanksgiving Day, 1915.  (Dr. Stevens would pass away the next year.)

The Commemorative Biographies continued:

"Successful from the first, during the twenty years of his residence there, the Doctor has achieved a well-merited reputation as an able general practitioner and highly skilled surgeon; indeed, he has attained a degree of eminence that places hm at the head of his profession.  He is established in an extensive practice, and by reason of his celebrity is frequently called to operate in the most difficult cases of surgery.  He held the position of United States examining surgeon for pensions for several years, and is at present a member of the Defiance County Medical Society,the Ohio State Medical Society, the Northwestern Medical Society, and the American Medical Association...

Doctor Stevens is a member of the G.A.R.; politically he affilates with the Republican party.  He has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty nine years.  His strict integrity and honor shed a bright luster on his character and, with other noble qualities, strength of intellect, mental culture and professional ability, combine to render him a valued and highly-esteemed citizen of the community."

 Dr. M. B. Stevens died on October 18, 1916, at his residence in Defiance at the corner of Fifth Street and Wayne Avenue.  He was 71 years old.

Defiance Crescent News, October 20, 1916

 Dr. D. W. Slagle, a friend of forty years, preached at the funeral, following a Scriptural reading at the home.  Dr. Stevens' last request was that the church quartet sing "Nearer My God to Thee" at his funeral and they did.  A G.A.R ceremony preceded his interment at Riverside Cemetery.  His pall bearers were Henry Helpman, A. B. Davis, and M.A. Bell for the G.A.R., Frank Whitney and Theodore Ewing for the Baptist Church and Earl Couch, a close friend of the family. Flower bearers were A. King, John Myers, James Benner and George Solly.

 His wife, Ellen Amelia Ames Stevens, died in 1932, still a resident of Defiance.

Defiance Crescent News, April 4, 1938

Harvey Boice preceeded his stepmother in death in 1921, and her other stepson, Harry Brower Stevens, became a Baptist preacher.  Edwin Burr Stevens became a doctor and resided in Michigan.  Gale A. worked as a salesman and lived in Defiance. Frank Bennett, in 1917, worked as a civilian at the Rock Island Arsenal in Davenport, Iowa.  In that year, he was sent overseas to study the manufacturing of field artillery for the war. 

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)