The ancestry and family of Samuel and Sarah Elizabeth (Hooks) Stephens was featured in last week’s column. Since there were considerable data available their descendants will be continued in this writing. For easy reference, all of their children will be listed here.

Samuel and Sarah Elizabeth Stephens reared the following eight children: Mary Jane, b. 1860, m. ? Caswell; Susan Matilda, b. 1862, d. 1937, m. George Washington Owens (1884-1941); Sara Elizabeth “Sallie,” b. 1867, d. 1928; Rebecca Arbelle, b. 1869, d. 1927, m. 1905 Zora Jesse Turner (1862-1940); William T., b. 1871, d. 1881; Emma Victoria, b. 1873, d. 1934, m. Wiley Jefferson Bradley (1853-1940); Pearl Elliott, b. 1882, d. 1944, m. 1905 John Marion Wilson (1875-1959); and John Walter, b. 1882, d. 1918, m. 1904 Minnie Dell Stroud (1885-1944).

The second daughter, Susan Matilda Stephens, was married to George Washington Owens, and they reared the following children: George Leon, b. 1884 d. 1963; Abbie, b. 1886, d. 1959, m. Herbert Henry Mills (1881-1948); Francis Cleveland, b. 1888, d. 1889; Lonnie, b. 1890, d. 1908; Lummey, b. 1892, d. 1896; Ora, b. 1894, d. 1896; (twin) Ruby, b. 1897, d. 1985, m. George Herman Jeffcoat (1889-1955); (twin) Ruthy, b.&d. 1897; and Annie, b. 1898, d. 1919.

The third daughter, Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Stephens, was married to James M. Morrison (1867-1952). They reared the following children: Zee, b. 1887, d. 1970, m. 1909 Clemmie Estelle Watson (1895-1989); Neoma Annie, b. 1893, d. 1922, m. 1909 John Frank Bradley (1891-1963); Samuel “Sam,” b. 1893, d. 1962, m. 1921 Myrtle Idula Cosby (1892-1979); Jay C., b. 1896, d. 1973, m. 1922 Vallie L. Qualls (1896-1988); Mattie, b. 1897, d. 1936, m. Glen Aubrey Jeffcoat (1886-1957); and James Albert, b. 1898, d. 1976, m. 1928 Inez Ivy.

The fourth daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Arbelle Stephens, was married in 1885 in Crenshaw County to Zora Jesse Turner (1862-1940). They resided mostly in Luverne and Patsburg, Crenshaw County. They reared the following children: Eunice, b. 1888, d. 1948, m. Weldon W. Hooks (1890-1940); Jesse Oliver “Ollie,” b. 1889, d. 1935, m. 1912 Sallie Arlena Garner (1892-1953); Albert L., b. 1891, d. 1959, m. 1910 Lillie Mae Garner (1890-1971); Charles, b. 1893, d. 1943, m. 1913 Mazie Ward (1892-1979); Sarah Elizabeth, b. 1895, d. 1957, m. 1909 Thomas “Tom” Washington Garner (1888-1963); Bedie Belle, b. 1897, d. 1970, m. 1913 Leon Sims Wilson (1889-1958); Lloyd, b. 1898, d. 1946; Maudie Estelle, b. 1901, d. 1939, m. 1914 Samuel Hood (1896-1969); Alvin, b. 1903, d. 1992, m. (1) 1927 Ola Mae Jeffcoat (1905-1930) (2) 1933 Mary Lou Stallings (1906-1990); Rufus, b. 1905, d. 1958, m. Lois Margaret Barnett (1912-1971); and Frank Sr., b. 1908, d. 1975, m. 1926 Floyce Butts (1910-1998).

The fifth daughter, Emma Victoria Stephens, was married circa 1898 in Crenshaw County to a widower, Wiley Jefferson Bradley, the son of Robert Bradley (1812-1912) and Elizabeth S. Dendy (1816-1883). Wiley was earlier married to Sarah Emma Charlotte Stevenson with whom he had six children: Elizabeth “Lizzie,” Thomas D., John Frank, Aubrey, Obey and Lonnie Sami.

Emma Victoria helped Wiley rear his six children along with their own eight: Alphus Jefferson, b. 1899, d. 1989, m. 1921 Pearlie Alice Cosby (1902-1989); Gracey Victoria, b. 1903, d. 1904; Jim Kendrick Sr., b. 1905, d. 1980, m. 1930 Maudie Pear Acreman (1915-1969); Mae Belle, b. 1907, d. 2002, m. (1) 1928 Willie Chesser (1908-1986) (2) Charlie Daniel Cosby (1894-1974); William “Billy,” b. 1909, d. 1977, m. Ruby Lucille Deavers (1915-1991); Alfers P., b. 1910, d. 1992, m. 1935 Mattie Lou Schofield (1916-1997); Lee, b. 1911, d. 1999, m. 1933 Dana Audrey Tidwell (1918-2005); and Hughie Kiser, b. 1913, d. 1954, m. 1935 Minnie Lou Rhodes (1913-2001).

The sixth daughter, Pearl Elliott Stephens, was born in 1882 in Crenshaw County as a twin to her brother, John Walter Stephens. Pearl was married in 1905 in Crenshaw County to John Marion Wilson (1875-1959), son of Marion Sims Wilson (1849-1913) and Sarah Ann “Sallie” (Hooks) (1849-1921). It appears that John Marion had gone to Texas for a year or so before returning home and marrying Pearl. They were in East Bernard, Tex., by 1908 when their first child was born. Marion was a share-cropper who moved around in Texas and some in Arkansas. Pearl Elliott died in 1904 and was buried in Elcampo, Wharton County, Tex.

Pearl Elliott and Marion Wilson reared the following eight children: Thomas Bryant, b. 1908, d. 1909; Dovie Estelle, b. 1910, d. 1966; Velma, b. 1911, d. 1971; Herbert Lee, b. 1913, d. 1995; Roy Woodrow, b. 1915, d. 1972; Leagle Marshall, b. 1917, d. 2006; Carl, b. 1919, d. 2008; and Mary Louise, b. 1923, d. 1989.

The youngest child, John Walter, and his twin sister, Pearl Elliott, were 12 years old when their parents died, so they moved in with their older sister, Rebecca Turner, and her family. In 1900 he was 17 years old and listed as a farmer. He was married in 1904 to Minnie Dell Stroud (1885-1944), and in 1910 they were residing in the communities of Dorman and Videttte in Crenshaw County. In 1911 they were residing in Covington County, but they returned to Crenshaw where they lived mostly until John Walter’s death in 1918. He died during the flu epidemic of that time, and their daughter, Dealia, had died also of flu just a few days before her father.

John Walter Stephens and his wife, Minnie Dell, had the following children before his death: Dealia or Delia, b. 1905, d. 1918; Mount Vernon, b. 1907, d. 1956, m. (1) Beatrice ? (2) Annie Bell ? (3) Flossie ?; Marvin Cecil, b. 1809, d. 1950, m. 1937 Jewel Hall; Donovan “Dock,” b. 1911, d. 1991, m. 1933 Lila Elizabeth Jay (1915-1994); Charles Gaston, b. 1913, d. 1977, m. 1937 Eula Mae Kelley (1916-2008); Alpha Lee, twin, b. 1916, d. 2000, m. 1932 Charles Conley Reeves (1911-2001); Betty May, twin, b. 1916, d. 1919; and Mary Gracie, b. 1918, d. 1997, m. 1936 William Grady Hamilton (1916-1993).

The descendant sharing his family records for this writing was Charles Gregory Stephens, grandson of the above Charles Gaston and Eula Mae (Kelley) Stephens. Gregory’s parents are Johnny Walter and Flay Evelyn (Worley) Stephens. He was first married to Donna Sue Cassels and later married Diane Chance with whom he had three children: Rachael Marie, Tyler Charles and Jessica Rae. He is currently married to Kathy June Henderson Myrick, and they reside in Melbourne, Fla. Anyone with additional information or wishing to contact Gregory may email him at: gregory8080@cfl.rr.com

Appreciation is expressed to Gregory Stephens for allowing the use of his genealogical research for this writing. Anyone who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.