JAMES WILLIAM STEVENSON was born NEPHI JOSEPH STEVENSON and was raised on the family farm in Big Cottonwood, Utah. It is unknown why he changed his name. In the 1880 Census for East Porterville, Morgan County, UT, he is listed as Nephi J. Stevenson, age 13. On May 9, 1898 (at age 33), he mustered into the US Army at Helena, Montana as James William Stevenson. He was a Private in Company I, 1st Regiment Montana Infantry where he met Almer X Kellogg who became his close friend. They both served in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War (1899) and remained there after their service ended. Military records show that James was honorably discharged as a Corporal on August 18, 1899 at Cavite, Philippine Islands.
He married Miguela Gonzales y Libunao in a marriage "arranged" by her Mother. With the blessing of his Mother-in-law, he and Miguela eloped to avoid family friction. They were married in a Civil Ceremony on Sept. 3, 1907 at San Miguel, Bulacan Province, P.I. He was 42; she was 18. A Religious Ceremony of Marriage was held on Jan. 7, 1915 at Capas, Tarlac Province, Philippines. His friend from the Military, Almer X Kellogg, was one of his witnesses. The Marriage Certificate of 1915 lists his age as 50 years and indicates he was born in Big Cottonwood, UT to his Parents N.P. (Nephi Porter) and Louisa Stevenson.
About 1921, James moved his family from the rural area to the big city where he had a large two-story brick home built in San Juan Hills on the outskirts of Manila. On Sept. 7, 1923, his dear friend Almer X Kellogg died leaving his wife to care for four sons and their only daughter Florence age 10. James and Miguela took Florence into their family and raised her along with their own daughters.
James lived a decent and prosperous life in the Islands. He was a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge (Perla del Oreinte), owned a furniture store called the Manila Installment Company (MINCO), and was among the first businessmen to offer credit-buying of furniture to the average Filipino thus improving their standard of living. He was married to Miguela for 28 years. He affectionately called her "Mama Mike". They raised 6 children including Florence. His daughter Minnie remembers asking her Father how their names were chosen. He replied that Louisa was named in honor of his Mother Louisa Stewart and his next two daughters were named after his sisters Minnie and Nellie (their nickname for Ellen).
He only returned to the States once. The Immigration Service of the US Dept. of Labor shows that James Wm. Stevenson (age 62, male, married, born Nov. 23, 1864 at Big Cottonwood, Utah, USA) sailed on the S.S. Shinyomaru from HongKong on July 2, 1926 and arrived at the Port of San Francisco on July 30, 1926. The purpose of this trip is unknown except that his destination was Martinez, CA. USA.
James lived to see his children reach adulthood and saw the births of his first four grandchildren (Jim and Ina Stevenson and Eddie and Dennis Isidro). He died of typhoid fever on April 10, 1936 at age 71. His remains were cremated and buried at Cementerio del Norte in the mountain city of Baguio, Benguet Province. His wife Miguela was only 47. She never re-married and lived to be 102. She had his remains moved to Loyola Memorial Park, Quezon City, Metro Manila where she would be buried near him 54 years later. Two of their daughters (Louisa Isidro and Nellie Kellogg) and their respective husbands are also buried there.
There is some question as to the year that James was born. All his legal documents (Marriage, Military records and sworn affidavits) indicate 1864. His headstone shows 1865. Most compelling are hand-written letters in which he indicates that he was born Nov. 23, 1864.
PARENTS of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Nephi Porter Stevenson
July 15, 1846 IA - July 12, 1918 ID age 71
Louisa Stewart
June 16, 1845 IL - March 7, 1891 UT age 45
PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Edward Stevenson
May 1, 1820 Spain - Jan. 27, 1897 UT age 76
Nancy Areta Porter
Aug. 8, 1825 OH - Nov. 13, 1888 ID age 63
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Levi Stewart
April 28, 1812 IL - June 14, 1878 UT age 66
Melinda Howard
Nov. 7, 1816 IL - Oct. 24, 1853 UT age 36
JAMES and his SIBLINGS:
1. James Wm. Stevenson
2. Louisa Melinda Stevenson Bigler
April 27, 1868 UT - Mary 14, 1947 UT age 79
3. Ellen "Nellie" Areta Stevenson Pierson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 28, 1923 UT age 52
4. Levi Edward Stevenson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 15, 1952 CA age 81
5. Clara Jane Stevenson Rushforth
Dec. 30, 1873 UT - June 29, 1956 UT age 82
6. John Webster Stevenson
Nov. 16, 1876 ID -
7. George Quincy Stevenson
May 15, 1879 UT - July 29, 1947 age 68
8. Minnie Josephine Stevenson Archibald
Dec. 20, 1881 UT - Aug. 16, 1973 ID age 91
Buried in Ventura County, CA
SPOUSE of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Miguela Gonzales y Libunao
Sept. 26, 1888 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1990 P.I.
age 102
Daughter of Martin Gonzales and Nicolasa Libunao y Ligon.
Both Parents from Bulacan Province, Philippines.
CHILDREN of JAMES and MIGUELA STEVENSON:
1. James "Jim" Stevenson
July 24, 1900 P.I. - March 28, 1963 CA age 62
2. Eduardo Stevenson died as a teenager
3. Louisa Stevenson Isidro
March 30, 1911 P.I. - Oct. 18, 1972 P.I.
age 61
4. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Stevenson Skiles
Aug. 11, 1913 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1998 CA age 85
aka: Minnie Jami Stevenson
5. Nellie "Keefie" Stevenson Kellogg
July 2, 1915 P.I. - Sept. 15, 2001 P.I. age 86
6. Florence Kellogg Mett (adopted)
Aug. 20, 1913 P.I. - March 10, 1993 FL age 79
FindaGrave Memorial #27686570
Photo #1: James as a young man
Photo #2: James @ 71, Nov. 1935
Photo #3: James @ 69 - 1933
Photo #4: James & Miguela on his 71st Birthday
Photo #5: Portrait of James Wm. Stevenson
He married Miguela Gonzales y Libunao in a marriage "arranged" by her Mother. With the blessing of his Mother-in-law, he and Miguela eloped to avoid family friction. They were married in a Civil Ceremony on Sept. 3, 1907 at San Miguel, Bulacan Province, P.I. He was 42; she was 18. A Religious Ceremony of Marriage was held on Jan. 7, 1915 at Capas, Tarlac Province, Philippines. His friend from the Military, Almer X Kellogg, was one of his witnesses. The Marriage Certificate of 1915 lists his age as 50 years and indicates he was born in Big Cottonwood, UT to his Parents N.P. (Nephi Porter) and Louisa Stevenson.
About 1921, James moved his family from the rural area to the big city where he had a large two-story brick home built in San Juan Hills on the outskirts of Manila. On Sept. 7, 1923, his dear friend Almer X Kellogg died leaving his wife to care for four sons and their only daughter Florence age 10. James and Miguela took Florence into their family and raised her along with their own daughters.
James lived a decent and prosperous life in the Islands. He was a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge (Perla del Oreinte), owned a furniture store called the Manila Installment Company (MINCO), and was among the first businessmen to offer credit-buying of furniture to the average Filipino thus improving their standard of living. He was married to Miguela for 28 years. He affectionately called her "Mama Mike". They raised 6 children including Florence. His daughter Minnie remembers asking her Father how their names were chosen. He replied that Louisa was named in honor of his Mother Louisa Stewart and his next two daughters were named after his sisters Minnie and Nellie (their nickname for Ellen).
He only returned to the States once. The Immigration Service of the US Dept. of Labor shows that James Wm. Stevenson (age 62, male, married, born Nov. 23, 1864 at Big Cottonwood, Utah, USA) sailed on the S.S. Shinyomaru from HongKong on July 2, 1926 and arrived at the Port of San Francisco on July 30, 1926. The purpose of this trip is unknown except that his destination was Martinez, CA. USA.
James lived to see his children reach adulthood and saw the births of his first four grandchildren (Jim and Ina Stevenson and Eddie and Dennis Isidro). He died of typhoid fever on April 10, 1936 at age 71. His remains were cremated and buried at Cementerio del Norte in the mountain city of Baguio, Benguet Province. His wife Miguela was only 47. She never re-married and lived to be 102. She had his remains moved to Loyola Memorial Park, Quezon City, Metro Manila where she would be buried near him 54 years later. Two of their daughters (Louisa Isidro and Nellie Kellogg) and their respective husbands are also buried there.
There is some question as to the year that James was born. All his legal documents (Marriage, Military records and sworn affidavits) indicate 1864. His headstone shows 1865. Most compelling are hand-written letters in which he indicates that he was born Nov. 23, 1864.
PARENTS of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Nephi Porter Stevenson
July 15, 1846 IA - July 12, 1918 ID age 71
Louisa Stewart
June 16, 1845 IL - March 7, 1891 UT age 45
PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Edward Stevenson
May 1, 1820 Spain - Jan. 27, 1897 UT age 76
Nancy Areta Porter
Aug. 8, 1825 OH - Nov. 13, 1888 ID age 63
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Levi Stewart
April 28, 1812 IL - June 14, 1878 UT age 66
Melinda Howard
Nov. 7, 1816 IL - Oct. 24, 1853 UT age 36
JAMES and his SIBLINGS:
1. James Wm. Stevenson
2. Louisa Melinda Stevenson Bigler
April 27, 1868 UT - Mary 14, 1947 UT age 79
3. Ellen "Nellie" Areta Stevenson Pierson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 28, 1923 UT age 52
4. Levi Edward Stevenson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 15, 1952 CA age 81
5. Clara Jane Stevenson Rushforth
Dec. 30, 1873 UT - June 29, 1956 UT age 82
6. John Webster Stevenson
Nov. 16, 1876 ID -
7. George Quincy Stevenson
May 15, 1879 UT - July 29, 1947 age 68
8. Minnie Josephine Stevenson Archibald
Dec. 20, 1881 UT - Aug. 16, 1973 ID age 91
Buried in Ventura County, CA
SPOUSE of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Miguela Gonzales y Libunao
Sept. 26, 1888 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1990 P.I.
age 102
Daughter of Martin Gonzales and Nicolasa Libunao y Ligon.
Both Parents from Bulacan Province, Philippines.
CHILDREN of JAMES and MIGUELA STEVENSON:
1. James "Jim" Stevenson
July 24, 1900 P.I. - March 28, 1963 CA age 62
2. Eduardo Stevenson died as a teenager
3. Louisa Stevenson Isidro
March 30, 1911 P.I. - Oct. 18, 1972 P.I.
age 61
4. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Stevenson Skiles
Aug. 11, 1913 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1998 CA age 85
aka: Minnie Jami Stevenson
5. Nellie "Keefie" Stevenson Kellogg
July 2, 1915 P.I. - Sept. 15, 2001 P.I. age 86
6. Florence Kellogg Mett (adopted)
Aug. 20, 1913 P.I. - March 10, 1993 FL age 79
FindaGrave Memorial #27686570
Photo #1: James as a young man
Photo #2: James @ 71, Nov. 1935
Photo #3: James @ 69 - 1933
Photo #4: James & Miguela on his 71st Birthday
Photo #5: Portrait of James Wm. Stevenson
JAMES WILLIAM STEVENSON was born NEPHI JOSEPH STEVENSON and was raised on the family farm in Big Cottonwood, Utah. It is unknown why he changed his name. In the 1880 Census for East Porterville, Morgan County, UT, he is listed as Nephi J. Stevenson, age 13. On May 9, 1898 (at age 33), he mustered into the US Army at Helena, Montana as James William Stevenson. He was a Private in Company I, 1st Regiment Montana Infantry where he met Almer X Kellogg who became his close friend. They both served in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War (1899) and remained there after their service ended. Military records show that James was honorably discharged as a Corporal on August 18, 1899 at Cavite, Philippine Islands.
He married Miguela Gonzales y Libunao in a marriage "arranged" by her Mother. With the blessing of his Mother-in-law, he and Miguela eloped to avoid family friction. They were married in a Civil Ceremony on Sept. 3, 1907 at San Miguel, Bulacan Province, P.I. He was 42; she was 18. A Religious Ceremony of Marriage was held on Jan. 7, 1915 at Capas, Tarlac Province, Philippines. His friend from the Military, Almer X Kellogg, was one of his witnesses. The Marriage Certificate of 1915 lists his age as 50 years and indicates he was born in Big Cottonwood, UT to his Parents N.P. (Nephi Porter) and Louisa Stevenson.
About 1921, James moved his family from the rural area to the big city where he had a large two-story brick home built in San Juan Hills on the outskirts of Manila. On Sept. 7, 1923, his dear friend Almer X Kellogg died leaving his wife to care for four sons and their only daughter Florence age 10. James and Miguela took Florence into their family and raised her along with their own daughters.
James lived a decent and prosperous life in the Islands. He was a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge (Perla del Oreinte), owned a furniture store called the Manila Installment Company (MINCO), and was among the first businessmen to offer credit-buying of furniture to the average Filipino thus improving their standard of living. He was married to Miguela for 28 years. He affectionately called her "Mama Mike". They raised 6 children including Florence. His daughter Minnie remembers asking her Father how their names were chosen. He replied that Louisa was named in honor of his Mother Louisa Stewart and his next two daughters were named after his sisters Minnie and Nellie (their nickname for Ellen).
He only returned to the States once. The Immigration Service of the US Dept. of Labor shows that James Wm. Stevenson (age 62, male, married, born Nov. 23, 1864 at Big Cottonwood, Utah, USA) sailed on the S.S. Shinyomaru from HongKong on July 2, 1926 and arrived at the Port of San Francisco on July 30, 1926. The purpose of this trip is unknown except that his destination was Martinez, CA. USA.
James lived to see his children reach adulthood and saw the births of his first four grandchildren (Jim and Ina Stevenson and Eddie and Dennis Isidro). He died of typhoid fever on April 10, 1936 at age 71. His remains were cremated and buried at Cementerio del Norte in the mountain city of Baguio, Benguet Province. His wife Miguela was only 47. She never re-married and lived to be 102. She had his remains moved to Loyola Memorial Park, Quezon City, Metro Manila where she would be buried near him 54 years later. Two of their daughters (Louisa Isidro and Nellie Kellogg) and their respective husbands are also buried there.
There is some question as to the year that James was born. All his legal documents (Marriage, Military records and sworn affidavits) indicate 1864. His headstone shows 1865. Most compelling are hand-written letters in which he indicates that he was born Nov. 23, 1864.
PARENTS of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Nephi Porter Stevenson
July 15, 1846 IA - July 12, 1918 ID age 71
Louisa Stewart
June 16, 1845 IL - March 7, 1891 UT age 45
PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Edward Stevenson
May 1, 1820 Spain - Jan. 27, 1897 UT age 76
Nancy Areta Porter
Aug. 8, 1825 OH - Nov. 13, 1888 ID age 63
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Levi Stewart
April 28, 1812 IL - June 14, 1878 UT age 66
Melinda Howard
Nov. 7, 1816 IL - Oct. 24, 1853 UT age 36
JAMES and his SIBLINGS:
1. James Wm. Stevenson
2. Louisa Melinda Stevenson Bigler
April 27, 1868 UT - Mary 14, 1947 UT age 79
3. Ellen "Nellie" Areta Stevenson Pierson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 28, 1923 UT age 52
4. Levi Edward Stevenson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 15, 1952 CA age 81
5. Clara Jane Stevenson Rushforth
Dec. 30, 1873 UT - June 29, 1956 UT age 82
6. John Webster Stevenson
Nov. 16, 1876 ID -
7. George Quincy Stevenson
May 15, 1879 UT - July 29, 1947 age 68
8. Minnie Josephine Stevenson Archibald
Dec. 20, 1881 UT - Aug. 16, 1973 ID age 91
Buried in Ventura County, CA
SPOUSE of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Miguela Gonzales y Libunao
Sept. 26, 1888 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1990 P.I.
age 102
Daughter of Martin Gonzales and Nicolasa Libunao y Ligon.
Both Parents from Bulacan Province, Philippines.
CHILDREN of JAMES and MIGUELA STEVENSON:
1. James "Jim" Stevenson
July 24, 1900 P.I. - March 28, 1963 CA age 62
2. Eduardo Stevenson died as a teenager
3. Louisa Stevenson Isidro
March 30, 1911 P.I. - Oct. 18, 1972 P.I.
age 61
4. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Stevenson Skiles
Aug. 11, 1913 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1998 CA age 85
aka: Minnie Jami Stevenson
5. Nellie "Keefie" Stevenson Kellogg
July 2, 1915 P.I. - Sept. 15, 2001 P.I. age 86
6. Florence Kellogg Mett (adopted)
Aug. 20, 1913 P.I. - March 10, 1993 FL age 79
FindaGrave Memorial #27686570
Photo #1: James as a young man
Photo #2: James @ 71, Nov. 1935
Photo #3: James @ 69 - 1933
Photo #4: James & Miguela on his 71st Birthday
Photo #5: Portrait of James Wm. Stevenson
He married Miguela Gonzales y Libunao in a marriage "arranged" by her Mother. With the blessing of his Mother-in-law, he and Miguela eloped to avoid family friction. They were married in a Civil Ceremony on Sept. 3, 1907 at San Miguel, Bulacan Province, P.I. He was 42; she was 18. A Religious Ceremony of Marriage was held on Jan. 7, 1915 at Capas, Tarlac Province, Philippines. His friend from the Military, Almer X Kellogg, was one of his witnesses. The Marriage Certificate of 1915 lists his age as 50 years and indicates he was born in Big Cottonwood, UT to his Parents N.P. (Nephi Porter) and Louisa Stevenson.
About 1921, James moved his family from the rural area to the big city where he had a large two-story brick home built in San Juan Hills on the outskirts of Manila. On Sept. 7, 1923, his dear friend Almer X Kellogg died leaving his wife to care for four sons and their only daughter Florence age 10. James and Miguela took Florence into their family and raised her along with their own daughters.
James lived a decent and prosperous life in the Islands. He was a Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge (Perla del Oreinte), owned a furniture store called the Manila Installment Company (MINCO), and was among the first businessmen to offer credit-buying of furniture to the average Filipino thus improving their standard of living. He was married to Miguela for 28 years. He affectionately called her "Mama Mike". They raised 6 children including Florence. His daughter Minnie remembers asking her Father how their names were chosen. He replied that Louisa was named in honor of his Mother Louisa Stewart and his next two daughters were named after his sisters Minnie and Nellie (their nickname for Ellen).
He only returned to the States once. The Immigration Service of the US Dept. of Labor shows that James Wm. Stevenson (age 62, male, married, born Nov. 23, 1864 at Big Cottonwood, Utah, USA) sailed on the S.S. Shinyomaru from HongKong on July 2, 1926 and arrived at the Port of San Francisco on July 30, 1926. The purpose of this trip is unknown except that his destination was Martinez, CA. USA.
James lived to see his children reach adulthood and saw the births of his first four grandchildren (Jim and Ina Stevenson and Eddie and Dennis Isidro). He died of typhoid fever on April 10, 1936 at age 71. His remains were cremated and buried at Cementerio del Norte in the mountain city of Baguio, Benguet Province. His wife Miguela was only 47. She never re-married and lived to be 102. She had his remains moved to Loyola Memorial Park, Quezon City, Metro Manila where she would be buried near him 54 years later. Two of their daughters (Louisa Isidro and Nellie Kellogg) and their respective husbands are also buried there.
There is some question as to the year that James was born. All his legal documents (Marriage, Military records and sworn affidavits) indicate 1864. His headstone shows 1865. Most compelling are hand-written letters in which he indicates that he was born Nov. 23, 1864.
PARENTS of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Nephi Porter Stevenson
July 15, 1846 IA - July 12, 1918 ID age 71
Louisa Stewart
June 16, 1845 IL - March 7, 1891 UT age 45
PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Edward Stevenson
May 1, 1820 Spain - Jan. 27, 1897 UT age 76
Nancy Areta Porter
Aug. 8, 1825 OH - Nov. 13, 1888 ID age 63
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Levi Stewart
April 28, 1812 IL - June 14, 1878 UT age 66
Melinda Howard
Nov. 7, 1816 IL - Oct. 24, 1853 UT age 36
JAMES and his SIBLINGS:
1. James Wm. Stevenson
2. Louisa Melinda Stevenson Bigler
April 27, 1868 UT - Mary 14, 1947 UT age 79
3. Ellen "Nellie" Areta Stevenson Pierson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 28, 1923 UT age 52
4. Levi Edward Stevenson (twin)
Nov. 8, 1870 UT - Oct. 15, 1952 CA age 81
5. Clara Jane Stevenson Rushforth
Dec. 30, 1873 UT - June 29, 1956 UT age 82
6. John Webster Stevenson
Nov. 16, 1876 ID -
7. George Quincy Stevenson
May 15, 1879 UT - July 29, 1947 age 68
8. Minnie Josephine Stevenson Archibald
Dec. 20, 1881 UT - Aug. 16, 1973 ID age 91
Buried in Ventura County, CA
SPOUSE of JAMES WM. STEVENSON:
Miguela Gonzales y Libunao
Sept. 26, 1888 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1990 P.I.
age 102
Daughter of Martin Gonzales and Nicolasa Libunao y Ligon.
Both Parents from Bulacan Province, Philippines.
CHILDREN of JAMES and MIGUELA STEVENSON:
1. James "Jim" Stevenson
July 24, 1900 P.I. - March 28, 1963 CA age 62
2. Eduardo Stevenson died as a teenager
3. Louisa Stevenson Isidro
March 30, 1911 P.I. - Oct. 18, 1972 P.I.
age 61
4. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Stevenson Skiles
Aug. 11, 1913 P.I. - Dec. 6, 1998 CA age 85
aka: Minnie Jami Stevenson
5. Nellie "Keefie" Stevenson Kellogg
July 2, 1915 P.I. - Sept. 15, 2001 P.I. age 86
6. Florence Kellogg Mett (adopted)
Aug. 20, 1913 P.I. - March 10, 1993 FL age 79
FindaGrave Memorial #27686570
Photo #1: James as a young man
Photo #2: James @ 71, Nov. 1935
Photo #3: James @ 69 - 1933
Photo #4: James & Miguela on his 71st Birthday
Photo #5: Portrait of James Wm. Stevenson
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