John Stephens

As printed in 1915

JOHN STEPHENS.

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John Stephens was born on March 31, 1840, near Waynesvllle, Ohio, and died on May 2. 1!)14. He was the son of Obndinh and Susannah (Ireland) Stephens.

Obadiah Stephens was a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Clinton county, who was born in Morris county. New Jersey, April 22. 1813. He was the son of Ebeuezer and Maria (Phoenix) Stephens, natives of New Jersey and of English and German descent. His maternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and 'his father In the War of 1*12. Ebenezer Stephens was a millwright by trade and also a farmer. His sun was a farmer and later a distiller. At the time of his death, he owned about four hundred and fifty acres In Clinton county. Obadlab Stephens came to Clinton county in 1847. On April 13, 183". he was married In Warren county to Susanna Ireland. She was a unlike of Frederick county. Virginia, the daughter of Francis and Sarah 1 Curl) Ireland, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation and who located In Warren county In 1 >*1." on a farm of sixty acres, where he lived until his death In November. 1817. and the latter of whom was also a native of the Old Dominion. Francis and Sarah (Curl) Ireland had six children: Thomas J., Lucinda, Susannah, John C, Artlmesla and James M.

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John Stephen* received the rudiments of an education In the public schools of 1 11 Ion township at Hurtoiivllle. He lived with his father and mother until his marriage, and In 1870 his father built another house for his son on the same farm and near the public highway. There he lived and assisted In the Oierallons ()f the farm until his parents' deaths. Afterwards he moved Into the large old homestead where he lived until his death. At the death of his father and mother, he received as his Inheritance the homestead farm In partnership with his unmarried sister, Emmellne. Mrs. John Stephens still lives on the farm and continues Its management. Altogether the farm now comprises two hundred and thirty-one acres of land.

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Iowa, where they took up a claim. Later Mr. McKenzle kept a hotel In Nebrasku City, where he died in His widow und children returned to Cllntou county. Ohio, and she afterwards married Eli Canton. They now live near Marttnsvllle In Clinton county.

To the marriage of William and Elizabeth McKenzle there were born five children, of whom Mrs. Stephens was the eldest. The others are: Perry, who live* ut Martinsville. Ohio, where he is a carpenter; Stanley, who Is a farmer and lives near New Vienna; Geneva, who married Samuel Skimming, a farmer living In Wllmlngtou; and Keith, who died young. Kit and Elizabeth Carson were the parent* of three children: Stella, who married Benson Wert; Bert, who lives at Dayton. Ohio; and Carey, who is a resident of Logau, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Johu Stephens had no children but they reared one child. Lola Clevenger, although she was not legally adopted. She married Matthew Ewbanks. a farmer of Union township.

Mr. Stephens was a Democrat but one who never aspired to office and one who was never especially active in political matters. He was a man of quiet and unassuming manners, modest in his claim to greatness but gentle and kind to his wife and to those with whom he was most closely associated. He was a good man and a good citizen.

As printed in History of Clinton County, Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.