John H. Stevens

John Harrington Stevens (June 13, 1820 – May 28, 1900) was a soldier, farmer, politician, editor, historian, and prominent citizen of Minnesota. Stevens was the first authorized colonial resident on the west bank of the Mississippi River in what would become Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stevens was granted permission to occupy the site, then part of the Fort Snelling military reservation, in exchange for providing ferry service to St. Anthony across the river. Stevens, along with Franklin Steele, is considered one of the first residents of Minneapolis and one of the earliest settlers of both Hennepin County and Ramsey County.