From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

George Stevens was born in Georgetown, KY, the son of Washington Stevens. He had been enslaved by many different owners until he joined the Army during the Civil War.

Stevens was present at a number of battles and was on the tugboat "Thompson" when Vicksburg was taken in 1863. At the end of the war, Stevens settled in Springfield, IL, where he lived at the corner of Fifteenth and Jefferson Streets and worked in a lumberyard.

In 1868, the 14th Amendment was ratified, and George Stevens voted for Ulysses S. Grant during the presidential election.

For more see History of Sangamon County, Illinois; together with sketches of its cities, by Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago) [available online at Google Books].