General Aaron Fletcher Stevens (1819 - 1887)
Born at Londonderry (now Derry), (NH); died at Nashua (NH).
Factory worker, lawyer, U.S. Representative.
Portrait by U.D.Tenney, 1896; portrait presented to the state by his widow, 1897.

Aaron Stevens' family moved to Peterborough (NH) circa 1831 and stayed until 1838. The teenager went to school while working at the Peterborough cotton mill owned by John Steele (Governor of New Hampshire, 1844/5). Stevens never forgot his cotton mill experience; a self-made man, his portrait shows his hand resting on a cotton bale.

In 1838 the Stevens family moved to Nashua (NH), where Stevens was able to attend Pinkerton Academy while also working as a machinist. He decided to work toward becoming a lawyer, and he went to Judge George Sawyer of Nashua for advice. The judge advised Stevens to study at the Nashua Literary Institute. Stevens pursued his studies while continuing to work as a machinist, and in 1842 he entered Judge Sawyer's law office while also teaching district school. In 1845 Stevens was admitted to the New Hampshire bar, and he became a law partner with Judge Sawyer. Stevens continued with this firm all his life, with time off for the Civil War and his service as a U. S. Representative. Stevens served as county solicitor (1856-61) and as Nashua City Solicitor for many years. He was a founder of the state's Republican Party, making a shift from the Whig Party (he was a Whig Party state representative in 1849 and again in 1854) to the new Republican Party (state representative in 1856, 1857).

When the first call for volunteers came for the Civil War, Stevens signed on. He was commissioned a Major in the First New Hampshire Volunteers, for a short enlistment that saw the First New Hampshire Volunteers at Harpers Ferry (VA) for a brief period without action. In 1862 Stevens was commissioned a Colonel of the Thirteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, and his regiment was one of those decimated at the battle of Fredericksburg (VA), in December 1862. Stevens' bravery was noted; later he was slightly wounded at Drury's Bluff with the Thirteenth NH, and more seriously wounded during the capture of Fort Harrison. For his actions at Fort Harrison Stevens was brevetted Brigadier General in December, 1864; the Grand Army of the Republic post in Peterborough (NH) was named in his honor.

Following the Civil War Stevens was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives (nominated in December, 1866 and took office in March, 1867; also served 1868 - 1870). He ran for a third term in Washington but was defeated, but was a member of every state legislature, 1876-1884. Stevens ran for the U. S. Senate in 1879 but lost by two votes in the legislature; he tried again for the same position in 1883 but lost again. Stevens wintered in Florida in 1883, where he had health problems; he remained active as a lawyer in Nashua (NH) until December, 1885.

For more information see Judge Edward F. Parker, editor, History of the City of Nashua, NH (1897).

Location: First Floor, State House