Stevens was born on November 14, 1837, in Plymouth, Michigan, to father William N.

[1] Stevens served as a Major in the American Civil War and was honorably discharged in July 1865.

Stevens married Laura C. Warden on April 21, 1869, and together they had at least one child.

Stevens was a member of both the Grand Army of the Republic and Loyal Legion.

He is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.