The Saginaw Paul Bunyan

by James Stevens

"I was a Western woodsman," states Stevens in his Preface. "In the foggy fir forests of the Pacific slope and in the glamorous pine lands of the Cascades I had heard the deeds of the king jack of all loggers recited for nigh on twenty-five years. By the time the down on my chest had grown into a harsh and tawny stubble I myself was fledging into a camp bard. In summer nights by the smudge fire and in winter nights by the bunkhouse heater I revised the tales of older bards, giving them whatever form the inspiration of the moment revealed."

In eighteen short stores, Stevens combines the original shanty-camp legends of Paul Bunyan with "forest-born inventions from the seeds of old lore." The mighty woodsman emerges as the unequaled hero of American folklore, taming the wilderness and ruling men with incomparable humanity.

261 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

James Stevens (1892 – 1971) was born on a rented farm in Iowa. His “gypsy father” decided to roam, and his mother worked as a hired girl for $12 per month, so he was raised by his grandmother. At age 10 he was sent to live with relatives in Idaho where he learned to handle horses and cattle. He left home at age 15 to work with horses and mules on construction projects. He also worked in logging camps where late at night around the bunkhouse stove he listened to the lore of the woods and tall tales of Paul Bunyan.

He served in World War I in France and later developed an interest in books. He characterized himself as “a hobo laborer with wishful literary yearning,” and became self-educated at public libraries, which he called “the poor man’s universities.” He settled in Portland, Oregon and began writing for H. L. Mencken’s American Mercury magazine. One of his stories was about the mythical giant Paul Bunyan, which later evolved into a best-selling book.

According to Stevens, “The Paul legend has its origin in the Papineau Rebellion in 1837.” This was a revolt by French-Canadians against their young English queen. Among them was a bearded mighty-muscled rebellious giant named Paul Bunyon (note the French spelling). His slaughters became legend. He later operated a logging camp where he became the most famous camp chief in Canada. At nights around the fire in logging camp cookhouses, songs and tall tales abounded.

By 1860 Paul Bunyan became a genuine legendary folk hero. Lumber companies used these legends in their promotional literature. But it was Stevens who, in his book Paul Bunyan (published by Alfred Knopf in 1925) and in later writings, established Paul Bunyan stories as a significant part of American literature.

By the end of his literary career Stevens had produced nine books and more than 250 stories and magazine articles. Among his works were “Brawny Man” (1926), “Mattock” (1927), “Homer in the Sagebrush” (1928), “The Saginaw Paul Bunyan” (1932), “Paul Bunyan Bears” (1947), “Big Jim Turner” (1948), and “Tree Treasure” (1950). He became the dean of Northwest writers. He was also a protector of the Northwest forest industries and worked to preserve the rich heritage of the woods.

In his later years he moved to Seattle with his wife, Theresa Seltz Fitzgerald, where he was active in Plymouth Congregational Church, the local American Legion, and the public relations committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He retired in 1957 as public relations director for the West Coast Lumberman’s Association, and died in Seattle at age 79 on Dec. 31, 1971.