The Stephens Families of Boone County, Missouri

HON. JAMES L. STEPHENS.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

956 HISTORY or boone county.

session in St. Louis in the fall of 1870, to confer his name upon it. In 1860, Mr. Stephens was the regular nominee of the Democratic party for State Senator and made the race to the satisfaction of his friends against ex-Gov. Chas. Hardin, receiving the full strength of the party, which was then a decided minority, causing his defeat by some 500 votes. Twenty years after, in 1880, he was again nominated by the Democrats of the Ninth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Audrain, Boone and Callaway, and elected by an overwhelming majority against the combined ticket of Republicans and Greenbackers. Mr. Stephens not only circulated the petition which obtained the largest number of names in aid of the railroad and the rock roads, which are of such incalculable value to Boone county, but his was the largest individual subscription in aid of those enterprises, amounting to $2,600. At the same time he was one of the heaviest taxpayers in the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWIN W. STEPHENS.

Edwin W. Stephens, editor and proprietor of the Columbia Herald was born in Columbia, Missouri, January 21, 1849. He is the only son of Hon. James L. and Amelia (Hockaday) Stephens. A sketch of his father's life may be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Stephens, the subject of this biography, was reared and educated in Columbia, graduating at the State University in 1867. Soon after completing his studies at the University, he entered Jones' Commercial College, St. Louis, Missouri, where he completed his collegiate course, adding to his literary attainments a thorough business education. Returning to Columbia he entered the newspaper business, purchasing in 1870, a half interest in the Boone County Journal, In

1871, the year following, ha changed the name of the paper to the Colurnbia Herald, which name the paper has borne ever since. In

1872, he became sole proprietor of the Herald, which he enlarged and greatly improved, making it one of the largest and most popular country newspapers in the State. Mr. Stephens was married September 26, 1871, to Miss Laura Moss, daughter of Col. James H.*Moss, of Columbia, and grand-daughter of Judge Warren Woodson. Mr. Stephens has been a curator of the State University, and is at present a curator of Stephens College. He is an official member of the Baptist Church. Although young in years, comparatively speaking, few men of the State have accomplished more in the same length of time. The Herald, which he has mainly built up, affords splendid evidence of his energy, ability and good management. To say that it is one of he most powerful and influential institutions in Boone county is no latter of Mr. Stephens, whose labors to that end are not only known >ut appreciated by his numerous patrons. Devoted to his profession, earnest in his efforts to promote the welfare of the people of Boone 30unty, consistent and true to his principles, he has earned and received the active support of the people regardless of politics or opinion. With a bright future before him and a past history of which he may well feel proud, he can rest assured of the kind support of a generous and appreciative public.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALEXANDER F. STEPHENS.

The subject of this sketch is the son of John L. and Mary (Sams) Stephens, and was born August 5th, 1828, in Garrard county, Kentucky. His father and mother were married in Virginia, in 1806, and emigrated to Kentucky some years after. In 1838 they again turned their faces to the Groat West, and settled in Boone county, Missouri, and in 1839 they removed to the place upon which Alexander F. now lives, just one mile south of the place they first settled. John L. died February 3d, 1863, at the age of 83, and his wife died August 2d, 1877. They are buried at Cedar Church, Callaway county, Missouri. They had eleven children,* seven boys and four girls. Rice, Elizabeth, James, Nancy, Sarah W., Eliza G., John L., Wni. P., Lucy A., Alexander F. and James H., only three of whom are living; Eliza G., is living in Jasper County, Missouri, James H., at Centralia, this county, and our subject, Alexander. Mr. Stephens was educated at Boouesboro, and at Cedar Hill Academy. In 1849 he went to California, and returned to Boone county in 1851. He has a fine farm of four hundred and eleven acres. Cedar Creek forms his eastern boundary line, being also the county line between Boone and Callaway counties. In 1862 Mr. Stephens had twenty-five acres of corn which made twenty-four barrels per acre. Mr. Stephens relates that when he was thirteen or fourteen years of age he saw his father have twenty-six half dollars in silver. He asked his father to let him have them, saying, after his father had placed the money in his hands, * If this was mine I would never need any more money along as I live." To him it seemed a fortune. His ideas of wealth ave changed very materially since then, forty years ago, for he now ays taxes to the amount of one hundred and ninety dollars each year. dr. Stephens lives just nine miles due east of Columbia.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.