Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor. "A History of Central Washington, Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys." Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929. p. 160. WENDALL E. STEVENS is a native of New York, his birthplace being Oswega on Lake Ontario. At a very early age he started west to seek his fortune. He made a short stop in Michigan, thence went to Nebraska in 1876, and to Seattle, Washington, about the year 1878, at a time when this town was still in the shack and stump stage of development. In 1889 we find him in Ellensburg with a stock of general merchandise, and preparing to move same over the mountain to Wenatchee. In this undertaking he met with the same common experience of winter travelers in getting through the snow, though the road was in better condition than usual by reason of constant work to keep it open for traffic. On reaching the old town of Wenatchee, a big tent was put up with the necessary shelving and counters to handle merchandise which was speedily arranged for trade, and thus was launched the biggest business thus far known to the country. It is hard to estimate the benefits that resulted to the community from this enterprise, and Mr. Stevens should go down in local history "Mr. Greatheart" for the factor he became in giving as a real impetus to local development. Business for a community heretofore so bare and unpromising began to take on life. Some of the trade came from freighters and immigrants passing through to the Big Bend, Methow and Okanogan countries, which included such places as Ruby and Conconully. Aside from the trade that commanded cash, Mr. Stevens established a generous credit to all sections of the valley and many settlers will always remember the more than generous treatment received at his hands. Perhaps more than any other factor he put heart and encouragement into the hard struggle for existence. Mr. Stevens immediately made arrangements for the erection of a large building, which should serve for both store and hotel which a little later he established. Mr. Stevens acquired land on what is now the lower Monitor road, a portion of which was under the Shotwell Ditch. In the construction of this irrigation canal he proved himself most helpful in boosting the enterprise by extending credit to Mr. Shotwell for grocery supplies accepting payment in water for irrigation. Immediately upon getting water he brought his land under cultivation, seeding the most of it to alfalfa, which in enormous yields made the ranch a show place of the valley. In 1890, Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Grace Blair, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Blair. Three children have been born to this marriage: Wendall, Ruth and Vera. Wendall married Miss Velma Gormley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Gormley. Ruth is Mrs. Eugene Cunningham, and Vera, Mrs. James M. Winslow, Jr. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.