Gardner Green Stevens
Encyclopedia
Gardner Green Stevens was a bank manager and Quebec
political figure. He represented the Bedford division in the Senate of Canada from 1876 to 1892 as a member of the Liberal
party.
He was born in Brompton, Lower Canada
in 1814, the eldest son of Gardner Stevens and Deborah Harrington and brother of John H. Stevens
. In 1835, at the age of 21, he became the manager of a farm, mill and store in Waterville
for Charles Brooks. He married Relief Jane Spafford in 1847 and they resided in Waterville until 1854 when he moved his family to Frost Village, in Shefford County
after being appointed agent for the British American Land Company. A couple of years later, he settled in Roxton Falls
where he served as Councillor and Mayor.
In 1859, he became a branch manager for the Eastern Townships Bank
which had recently opened a branch in Waterloo
. Shortly after this, he was elected to the Shefford Township Council - a seat he held until Waterloo was incorporated as a village at which point he was elected to its first council. He was elected Mayor of Waterloo in 1870. Around this time, he was named a Director of the Eastern Townships Bank, and later became its Vice-President. He was also a Director and Treasurer for the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly Railroad.
Early in 1876, he was appointed to the Senate by Alexander Mackenzie
, replacing Asa Belknap Foster
. He died in office in 1892 and was buried in Waterloo.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
political figure. He represented the Bedford division in the Senate of Canada from 1876 to 1892 as a member of the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
party.
He was born in Brompton, Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
in 1814, the eldest son of Gardner Stevens and Deborah Harrington and brother of John H. Stevens
John H. Stevens
John Harrington Stevens was the first authorized resident on the west bank of the Mississippi River in what would become Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was granted permission to occupy the site, then part of the Fort Snelling military reservation, in exchange for providing ferry service to St. Anthony...
. In 1835, at the age of 21, he became the manager of a farm, mill and store in Waterville
Waterville, Quebec
Waterville is a city of 1,800 people in southeastern Quebec, Canada, in the Coaticook Regional County Municipality. Waterville owes its existence to water-power, harnessed first by a sawmill and subsequently by several other industries, which attracted its initial British, Loyalist and American...
for Charles Brooks. He married Relief Jane Spafford in 1847 and they resided in Waterville until 1854 when he moved his family to Frost Village, in Shefford County
Shefford County, Quebec
Shefford County is an historical county in southern Québec, Canada. It is named after Shefford, a small town in Bedfordshire county, England of the same name and is in the Eastern Townships region of Québec....
after being appointed agent for the British American Land Company. A couple of years later, he settled in Roxton Falls
Roxton Falls, Quebec
Roxton Falls is a municipality in the Regional County Municipality of Acton, in the Canadian province of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,305. It is a village surrounded entirely by the township of Roxton...
where he served as Councillor and Mayor.
In 1859, he became a branch manager for the Eastern Townships Bank
Eastern Townships Bank
Eastern Townships Bank was founded in 1859 by Colonel Benjamin Pomroy . It was the first financial institution in the south-east of Quebec, an area known as the Eastern Townships, and issued its own banknotes....
which had recently opened a branch in Waterloo
Waterloo, Quebec
Waterloo is a city in Quebec, included in La Haute-Yamaska Regional County Municipality, in the administrative area of Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 4,054...
. Shortly after this, he was elected to the Shefford Township Council - a seat he held until Waterloo was incorporated as a village at which point he was elected to its first council. He was elected Mayor of Waterloo in 1870. Around this time, he was named a Director of the Eastern Townships Bank, and later became its Vice-President. He was also a Director and Treasurer for the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly Railroad.
Early in 1876, he was appointed to the Senate by Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie, PC , a building contractor and newspaper editor, was the second Prime Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.-Biography:...
, replacing Asa Belknap Foster
Asa Belknap Foster
Asa Belknap Foster was a Quebec businessman and political figure. He represented Bedford division in the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1874 as a Conservative member....
. He died in office in 1892 and was buried in Waterloo.