Memorable Manitobans: Frederick George “Fred” Stevens (1869-1946)

Cleric, linguist.

Born at Markdale, Ontarion in 1869, he worked as a clerk in a rural general store before coming to Winnipeg where he attended Wesley College. Ordained a Methodist minister, he worked for over 50 years among Indigenous peoples of northern Manitoba, including missionary charges at Oxford House (1897-1901) and Fisher River (1905-1940).

He became recognized as a world authority on Cree syllabics. He edited a Cree language quarterly magazine Spiritual Light that was distributed to people around Lake Winnipeg, and he wrote a Cree dictionary, Cree primer, and Cree hymn book. The book “Frances and the Crees” by Nan Shipley was the story of his wife's life in the north.

He and wife Frances Elizabeth Eleanor Stevens (c1877-1966) had four daughters and three sons.

He died suddenly at Norway House on 9 August 1946 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

“Rev. F. Stevens dies suddenly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 August 1946, page 10.

Obituary [Frances Elizabeth Eleanor Stevens], Winnipeg Tribune, 15 March 1966.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 1 October 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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