Zolved Stevens was born as Resolvy Stevens in Peru, Massachusetts on August 29, 1792 to parents William Stevens and Chloe Leland.  Zolved settled in Parma around 1813, and later married Sophia Willey.  They had at least two daughters – Harriet and Olive, before Sophia passed away in 1821. Zolved then married Anna Peck, and they had four children – Chloe, Marietta, Francis, and William.  

Zolved was an early merchant and built the first distillery in Parma in 1817 at Parma Corners – presently the corner of Ridge Road and Rt. 259.  He was also involved in many town government positions, such as postmaster in 1816, town clerk in 1825, town supervisor and magistrate.

Zolved was one of the founding board members of the Genesee County Agricultural Society in 1818.  At that time, most land in Western New York was in the newly created Genesee County, created through the Holland Land Purchase of 1793.  Monroe County was not partitioned off from Genesee County until 1821. The first meeting of Genesee County Agricultural Society was held in the Batavia Courthouse on November 11, 1818.  The purpose of the society was to “promote and improve agricultural and domestic manufactures.”  It cost $1 to join the society and $10 for a lifetime membership.  As a member of the board directors, Zolved’s duties included creating society bylaws, determining premiums for exhibits at the annual fair, and inspecting crops, livestock and manufactures. The Genesee County Agricultural Society is still in existence, and continues to hold the annual Genesee County Fair in Batavia.  

Another interesting facet of Zolved’s life was his involvement in the Anti-Masonic movement.  The Anti-Masonic movement started in Western New York after the 1826 disappearance of Freemason – William Morgan.  William Morgan was alleged to be kidnapped and murdered by the Freemasons after threatening to expose Freemasonry’s “secrets” by publishing its rituals. Morgan’s disappearance sparked a series of protests and suspicion against Freemasonry.  Since Freemasons were often judges, businessmen, bankers and politicians, ordinary citizens began to think of it as a corrupt elitist group.  Average citizens felt they had to organize and defeat this conspiracy, to restore good government and purge Freemasons from public offices.  Zolved was one of these citizens, and was appointed one of the Monroe County delegates at the Western New York Anti-Masonic Convention, held in LeRoy on March 6, 1828.

Zolved Stevens passed away at the young age of 38 on May 11, 1831.  His obituary, published in the Rochester Observer, reads as follows:

In Parma on the 11^th, Zolved Stevens Esq. aged 38 years.  In the death of Mr. S. the community have suffered a heavy loss.  He had filled in a useful manner several public offices, and was ardently engaged in promoting good order and advancing the best interests of society.  He was also a follower of Christ, and in this relation, and as a member of the church, he was an active and efficient promoter of the cause of religion, and exerted his talents, and his influence, in extending its blessings.  His death will be felt as a sever calamity by his Christian friends, who have however the consoling reflection that he died in the blessed hope of a glorious immortatlity. 

Zolved is buried in Hoosick Cemetery with his first wife, Sophia Willey, daughters Harriet and Olive, and son William.  His second wife, Anna Peck, is also buried in Hoosick Cemetery, under the name Anna Thorp, from her marriage to Samuel Thorp after Zolved’s death.