Calvin Otto Stevens was the eighth of nine children born to Elizabeth Jane Stark and William Benjamin Stevens. Raised in Appanoose County, Calvin had to fend for himself at a young age. At the age of 13 Calvin lost his father in a hay-stacking incident; somehow the tooth of a bull rake fell on him producing a fatal injury. His mother took his brother Pearlie out west to Seattle Washington for some time while Calvin stayed in Iowa living with his brother Harvey's family and then his sister Bertha's family. By the time he was 14 he started working in the coal mines. Talented in music, at the age of 16 he attended singing lessons given by Ed Minks in Missouri and it was here he met his future wife; Lenora Sears.

While at a church revival, his brother Orin, who had dated Lenora a couple of times, bet Calvin that he wouldn't get even one date with her. While they were talking Calvin put his hand over Lenora's as she held on the to back of her chair seat; she recalled years later it felt like an electric spark between them. After 18 months of courtship they were married 27 Jun 1905 and for the first year of marriage lived with his brother Orin and his wife Martha in their mother Elizabeth's house.

Experienced as a coal miner, Calvin did assorted jobs as the family grew and moved around Appanoose County. He farmed for many years, was also a barber in Exline for two years and ran a dairy farm for several more, hand milking twenty five to thirty cows a day in addition to delivering the milk to the Strickland Dairy. Eventually he went into business with another fellow and took over Prospect Dairy which he and the family ran for many years. He still found time to hunt and fish and during this period he found God. He and his family attended church regularly, taking part in singing and enjoying it to the extent that they even sang together at home in the evenings. His brothers Charles and Pearl were already in the ministry and almost persuaded Calvin to join but he decided that providing for his family was more important. Also important to Calvin was education; he made sure all his daughters received Normal Training Certificates. After a disagreement with his partner Calving decided to go back into farming and worked in the coal mines during the winter months.

Never having much money for regular vacations, in 1928 Calvin decided to visit his brothers Pearl in North Platte, ND and Charles in Denver CO. Using an old Dodge Touring car he made the trip with his daughters Bertha and Gladys, along with his sister Sarah and her son Edwin. It was quite the trip and involved using the car seats for beds in the motels they stayed at and Calvin having to repair the cars tires at least 11 times!

Tragedy struck the family in December of 1930. Working with his brother Orin and another fellow in the coal mine, Calvin was removing a post set too close to the face for the mining machine. When it popped loose he was unable to get out of the way in time and an overhead bat fell on him, crushing his pelvis and causing internal injuries. He was taken to the hospital right away, but his injuries were too severe. He passed on the afternoon of the next day.

With his passing Calvin joined his parents, two siblings, and his infant son Gerald. As much as he was missed, he had taught his children valuable life lessons and gave them precious memories that carried on with them for the rest of their lives.