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Orlando Stevens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orlando Stevens (October 12, 1797 - March 25, 1879) was an attorney and politician whose career included work in Vermont and Minnesota. He is most notable for having served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, Vermont Senate, and Minnesota House of Representatives.

Biography

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Orlando Stevens was born in Rutland, Vermont on October 12, 1797,[1] the son of David Stevens and Polly (Crafts) Stevens.[2] Orlando Stevens was raised in St. Albans, and was educated at the Franklin County Grammar School[1] and Castleton Seminary.[3] He then studied law with Asa Aldis, was admitted to the bar in 1819, and began to practice in Swanton.[1]

In 1822, Stevens married Parma Fisk (1805-1854), the daughter of James Fisk.[1] At the time, Fisk was the U.S. Collector of Customs in Swanton, and he appointed Stevens as his deputy.[1] Stevens later moved to East Highgate, where he continued to practice law while becoming involved in the lumber business, followed by relocation to St. Albans, where he established a successful law practice.[4] A Whig, Stevens served as state's attorney of Franklin County from 1839 to 1842.[2] From 1845 to 1846 he served in the Vermont House of Representatives.[2] From 1852 to 1853, Stevens served in the Vermont Senate, and was chosen to serve as the Senate's President pro tempore.[5]

After serving in the Vermont Senate, Stevens relocated to Winona, Minnesota, where he continued to practice law.[2] By now a Republican, from 1859 to 1860, Stevens was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.[6] He later suffered a stroke which left him partly paralyzed, and he decided to return to St. Albans, where he lived in retirement.[2]

Death and burial

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Stevens died in St. Albans on March 25, 1879,[2] and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans.

Family

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The children of Orlando Stevens and Parma Fisk included daughter Parma, who was the wife of David Olmsted, the first mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota.[7]

References

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Sources

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Newspapers

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  • "Rutland Notes: The Late Hon. Orlando Stevens". Burlington Democrat and Sentinel. Burlington, VT. April 12, 1879 – via Newspapers.com.

Magazines

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  • Mimms, John H. (1892). "Sketch of Orlando Stevens". Report of Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Vermont Bar Association. Vol. III, no. 1. Montpelier, VT: Argus & Patriot Book and Job Print.

Books

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