Elizabeth Richmond Case Stevens

 

Elizabeth Richmond Case was born April 22, 1849 to Joseph Case and Eliza S. Gray Case. Her siblings were Mary Case (1846-1935) and William B. Case (1847-1854), who died at the age of 7.

In 1873, Elizabeth was 24 years old when she married Frank Shaw Stevens. It was 2 years after the death of Frank's first wife, Julia Birch Stevens, who passed away at the age of 44.

Frank had returned to Swansea in 1858, while still married to Julia Birch Stevens. After selling the stage lines, Frank invested in the burgeoning textile mill business in Fall River and was a partner in the firm of Paris and Allen wholesale liquor dealers of New York. During the 1850’s and until his death, Frank Stevens was the wealthiest man in Swansea. Upon his death in 1898, his wife Elizabeth oversaw the distribution of gifts to the Town of Swansea in her husband’s name - the Swansea Town Hall, Swansea Public Library, Frank S. Stevens School and a large donation to the Swansea School system.

Upon her death in 1930, Elizabeth made sure she took care of her family, friends and her employees. Elizabeth wanted her home and grounds to be put to good use. In 1939, the Stevens Home for Boys opened. It was also an orphanage. The Home transitioned into a program providing services to a growing population of troubled boys who found it difficult to adjust to life in the community or public school system.

Elizabeth passed away on February 14, 1930. She is buried in the Christ Church Cemetery in Swansea. (source: findagrave.com)