The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 392 A portrait of J. Everett Stevens appears in this publication. J. EVERETT STEVENS. J. Everett Stevens occupies a fine modern horse, which was built in the spring of 1916 upon his ranch of ten acres in the Selah valley. Mr. Stevens is a western man and has spent his entire life upon the Pacific coast. He was born in Modoc county, California, March 17, 1882, a son of Ward S. and Martha J. (Dyke) Stevens, who were natives of Maine and of Illinois respectively. The father crossed the plains to California in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, and later he returned to the east and brought his wife and family to California in 1852, making the long journey across the plains. He became a rancher and farmer of that district and continued his residence in the Golden state until 1916, when his labors were terminated in death. His wife also passed away in that year. J. Everett Stevens, having acquired a public school education, engaged in ranching with his father and also in mining for two years. In the spring of 1907 he went to Alaska and was identified with mining in the northwest until the fall of 1908. He did not meet with the success that he had anticipated, however, and believed that he would have better opportunities in Washington. Accordingly he made his way to Yakima county and purchased twenty acres of land in the Selah valley in connection with his brother-in-law, who later sold his holdings. Mr. Stevens now has ten acres, all planted to apples. In the spring of 1916 he built a fine modern residence upon this place. It is a very attractive home, light and airy and conveniently arranged, and not the least of its pleasing features is its warm-hearted hospitality. On the 14th of August, 1912, Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Leona Pearl Swank, who was born in New York, a daughter of Theodore and Minnie (Culver) Swank, the latter now deceased, while the former is living with Mr. and Mrs. Stevens. Mr. Stevens belongs to Yakima Lodge No. 318, 11. P. O. E., which has drawn its membership from the leading and valued citizens of this section of the state, being one of the strongest fraternal organizations of the entire valley. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.