The two-story brick residence pictured above was built on a site in the northwest part of the city that was deeded by the United States of America to the State of Iowa in 1862. The tract of land was part of the area later transferred by the state in 1874 to the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company and then in 1875 to the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad Company.

Located at 510 3rd Ave. NW, it was known as the Stevens property for many years. Presently it is owned by Sterling Ainsworth, a great grandson of Socrates G. Stevens, an early resident of Douglas Township. Stevens came to Webster County in 1857 and purchased a large farm in Douglas Township. In later years the farm adjoined the northwest Fort Dodge city limits and included the building site where the original Stevens home was erected.

The Stevens’ had a daughter, Mary, who took over operation of the farm following the deaths of her parents. In 1906 she replaced the old farm house with the present attractive house and resided there until her death in 1929. The Stevens also had a daughter Julia who was married to W. C. Ainsworth. They were parents of Harriet Ainsworth and W. L. Ainsworth, a widely-known farmer and the father of Sterling Ainsworth who now resides in the Stevens house.

The house has foundation walls of solid granite blocks two feet thick. Oak woodwork was used throughout the house and floors are solid oak, an inch in thickness. First floor of the house has living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, large music room and half bath. The upstairs has four bedrooms, sewing room and full bath. A porch extends across the south and east sides of the house.

Socrates G. Stevens, who established the Douglas Township farm, was born in North Carolina in 1811. Married in 1835 he and his wife came to Oskaloosa in 1856 and the following year began their farming career in Webster County. Their daughter, Mary, was 15 years old when she came to Iowa with her parents. She completed schooling in Oskaloosa and after coming to the Fort Dodge area was a school teacher for 22 terms.

Following the death of her mother in 1888 Miss Stevens quit teaching and remained at home and helped to operate the farm. She was reputed to be one of the most efficient business women of Webster County and after the death of her father in 1901 she successfully carried on the farm operations.

Ownership of the house and surrounding farmland was transferred to Harriet Ainsworth after Miss Stevens’ death in 1929. In 1939 the property was bequeathed to Sterling Ainsworth. For a time in the early 1930s the house was leased out and the Red Feather Inn, a popular dining place, operated there.