I love discovering family lore as I research. I recently came across a little bit of information that has me looking for more answers.
Joshua Cordelia Stephens is one of the main characters in this bit of family lore. He would be my 3x Step – Great Grandfather.
I was inclined to dig deeper into this man’s story after I read the snippet of an article in the Abilene Reporter….
According to the article in the Abilene Reporter J.C. Stephens was shot 7 times. But not by some random person but by his Grandson Wiley Stephens on May 1, 1922.
I admit that I immediately thought how could a grandson shoot his grandfather? What kind of person could do such a thing? I had such wonderful grandparents I could not imagine contemplating such a thing let alone following through on it.
What I knew at the time is that J.C. Stephens was born August 9, 1845 in Alabama to Joshua Stephens Sr. and Elizabeth Morgan Stephens. He died May 1, 1922 in Abilene, Taylor, Texas.
After researching him further I found that During the Civil War Joshua served in Company “C” of the 23rd Alabama Infantry Regiment. Around 1865 he married Almira Jane Norris daughter of John Norris and Sarah Huckabee. After they were married they moved to Crittenden County Kentucky.
They eventually moved back to Marengo Co. Alabama where they made their home. But by January of 1886 they were located in Texas as their youngest son was born there. It was stated that his occupation was that of Farmer and Preacher.
After posting what evidence I did know on the U.S. South Genealogy Research Community, I received a bit of help from a fellow genealogist.
They found another clue…a second article….that may have altered my view of Mr. J.C. Stephens.
This article had me questioning whether I should feel sorry for him. Yes his grandson shot him but it would seem that the Grandson may have been provoked….But 7 times? And this article states that he was a proprietor of a hotel and a general store.
Abilene TX and the discription general store conjurers up images of the Wild West and I envisioned two cowboys slinging it out in dusty street. But I wonder how dusty Abilene was in the 1920’s. The early 1900’s into the 1920’s saw the start of University’s, churches and even the Zoo was established in 1919.
I have not had much luck looking up Wiley Stephens or trying to find out more about his motive. The second article said that J.C. Stephens threatened both his grandson and his wife.
While I have not found a lot about Wiley it seems his wife was spitfire and very progressive for the period. Below is a portion of what was shared on FIND-A-GRAVE.
Ruth Cooper Stephens, 97, passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2004 in New Braunfels. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church Chapel, Abilene, with Rev. Mike Greenfield officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.
There is not enough space for the details that made Ruth Cooper Stephens’ life such an interesting one to include the day-by-day happenings on the big hilltop estate ten miles southeast of Abilene on Highway 36. “I’m a farm girl,” Ruth declared. “And I love it! When I was a little girl, I always liked to do the outside chores while my mother worked in the house.” Born Ruth Cooper in Hillsboro, Texas, February 12, 1907, her father died when she was six, so chores were plentiful. “I milked four cows before breakfast,” she would recall.
After marrying Wiley A. Stephens in Spur, Texas on December 21, 1921, they moved two days later to Abilene where he was employed as a deliveryman for a furniture store at a salary of twelve dollars a week. “Sometimes I wonder how we lived,” she said. Only completing high school, which was only through the 7th grade at that time, her keen business sense was obviously developed by early responsibilities and it soon began to manifest itself in other ways. When the Depression eased for Wiley and Ruth, the young couple bought a home on Clinton Street in 1935 where Ruth became the proud owner of Abilene’s first all electric kitchen. They paid $1,800 for that first house and sold it for $2,500. Ruth soon realized real estate dealings came naturally to her. “I bought as many houses as my husband would let me, and I made money on all of them!” Her biggest project of all came in 1948 upon their move to the country off of Hwy 36. The original purchase was 47 acres with a small rock house, which grew to 200 acres and a sprawling ranch home
It was there Ruth started a dairy venture that only lasted for several years. Ruth sold it because help was so hard to find. “The ‘help’ would celebrate when they got paid on weekends, and I would find myself milking cows on Sunday morning instead of teaching my Sunday school class at First Baptist Church!” Buying and selling cattle was another project and the ever-versatile Mrs. Stephens became quite adept at it. “I stayed late (at the auctions) with the packers and paid cheap for those cattle!” Then there was the stock market, and she was loyal all the way. Her favorite stock was a soft drink – the only soft drink she would allow her family to buy. “I’ve made thousands of dollars buying and selling that stock.” She would explain.
She was a homemaker, cattle trader, investor, devoted wife, and an endless giver as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and finally a great-great-grandmother.
Whether you were related to her or not you called her ‘Grandma’ and she was a port in the storm to many. Grandma’s house was always the place to find what you needed. But the main focus of Ruth Stephens’ life was her faith and her church. She was a loyal member of the First Baptist Church of Abilene since 1923. Family and friends her entire life can attest to her strong sense of trust and faith that “God will always provide”. And He did … for 97+ years.
Wiley Stephens would have had to be a secure and progressive man to “allow” his wife so much freedom and reign considering that during this time females usually stayed home, kept house and looked after the babies. Whatever the situation he must have truly loved her to be willing to kill for her. I hope to find out more about Wiley and when I do I will give you an updated on this family drama.
Have you discovered any family lore that left you wanting to find out all you can about it?