Ralph A. Stevens

Mr. Stevens was born in 1879 and spent most of his early life in Malinta, Ohio, where he owned a livery stable.

He was the son of Sidney and Sarah (Van Horn) Stevens. He had two brothers, Roy and Earl.

Ralph A. Stevens

Around 1916 he owned a race horse named "Mamie Belle" which had to be transported by train to Hicksville, Ohio, for the race at the fair. She won the race in five heats, driven by Eli Bogart. With the "purse" money the family purchased a new "Majestic" stove.

In 1919 he sold his livery stable to Sol Glick of Holgate and purchased the 97 1/2 acre Jake Hiser farm near Colton. The Stevens children grew up there and attended the "one room" Mohler School.

He worked for the Ohio Sugar Company, fourteen years as a field man contracting the labor and acreage for sugar beets. After harvesting, the beets were shipped by railroad to Ottawa, Ohio.

Ralph married Edith Haffey; she passed away in 1942. Her parents were John and Julia (Zwayer) Haffey. Mrs. Haffey died in 1955 at the age of 97. Two of her sons, Bill of Detroit and Roy of Napoleon, are still living. Mrs. Haffey's parents, Benjamin and Loretta (Glick) Zwayer were originally from Pennsylvania and came into Pickaway County, Ohio, in the 1850s. After the death of Mr. Zwayer's father, they moved to Monroe Township in Henry County. Their son, Benjamin Jr. built what was known as the Zwayer block in Malinta, Ohio, in 1911. It was a two-story building 60x70. It was occupied by the Farmers Merchant Bank, W. H. Westrick Hardware, and Mr. Zwayer who sold Baldwin pianos and musical instruments.

Sidney Stevens' grandmother, Elizabeth (Overmyer) Mohler was the daughter of Peter Overmier, one of the earlier settlers of Perry County, Ohio. He served in the Revolutionary War under his father, Capt. George Overmyer's Company in Pennsylvania. His father, John George Overmyer was born in Baden, Germany, in 1727. He arrived in Philadelphia on the ship Two Brothers in 1751. He settled in Union County, Pennsylvania, and became identified with farming interests in the Province of Pennsylvania.

Stevens Livery and Feed Barn around 1915

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Stevens are Mazie, wife of the late Warren Fisher. At the age of 53 she attended Bowling Green State University and completed her studies to become a teacher of the Liberty Center School. She resides in Liberty Center. She has two sons, Robert of Liberty Center and Kenneth of Malinta.

Hazel is the wife of Robert Mann of Napoleon. She worked for Gould Mfg. until her retirement.

Harold "Pal" married Sylvia Bloomer. They have two children, Betty (Mrs. Vic Batt) of Defiance, and Philip of Napoleon. Pal owned a garage in Defiance until his retirement and lives in Florida, Ohio.

Jim married Rose Bloomer. They had six children, two are deceased. He recently retired from the Defiance County Highway Dept. They live in Ayersville, Ohio.

Byron married Eloise Seymour. They had six children; three are deceased. Barney works for the State Dept. of Highways and also has race horses. Two of his horses, Brass Key and Brass Baby have won in 2:024.

Jack and his wife Elsie own and operate a restaurant in Ellery, Ohio. Jack has four children: Judy, Jack, Bill, and Abby Jo.

Richard married Treva Spiess. They are the parents of Steve and Sally. They reside in Liberty Center, Ohio.

Ralph Stevens in later life married Bessie Seiple and they owned the Stevens Convalescent Home near Swanton, Ohio. Mr. Stevens died in 1956.

Submitted by the Family