James A. Stephenson born ca. 1802 in Virginia, died March 7, 1878 at his residence, near Chauncey, Athens Co. Ohio., a citizen of Athens County for over 50 years. He is buried in Nye Cemetery there. In 1830 James Stephenson was in Newark, Licking Co. Ohio. It is probably there that he married Nancy Hagen, b. Dec. 10, 1810 in Pennsylvania, her father born Pennsylvania, her mother born Ireland. She died after 1883 and is also buried in Nye Cemetery.
In 1839 James A. brought his famly to Athens Co. In the 1840 census he is enumerated next to Alexander Stephenson, above. I have always thought him to be a brother to Alexander, but I can find nothing that confirms that is so. In 1850 the family is in York Twp. (p. 437). James A. is age 48, born VA, Nancy is age 41, born PA and the children are listed as Jane C, age 18; Minerva age 16; John age 15; William age 13; Jerome age 10, Letetitia age 8, James age 6, Densmore age 2, all born Ohio. In 1860 the family is in Chauncey, Dover Twp.. By this time some of the older children have left the family, one child, a girl Elizabeth, age 9 has joined it. The 1870 census shows James Stevenson, age 67, wife Nancy age 62 and the two youngest children, Elizabeth 18 and Wilson D.
This notice appears in the Athens Messenger of March
13, 1879:
Stevenson, died March 7, 1879 of heart disease at his residence
near Chauncey, Jas. Stevenson in his 75th year of his age. Funeral
March 9, at the M.E. Church, Chauncey by Rev. R. C. Harper. His
was the largest funeral ever seen in Chauncey. Mr. Stevenson had
been a resident of Athens for over 50 years.
Buried in Nye Cemetery:
James A. Stephenson died March 7, 1879 age 74-47
Nancy Hagen, wife of James A. Stephenson born Dec. 10, 1810.
side by side "our father and mother"
13 Feb. 1883 Caroline S. Birge was appointed guardian to Nancy Stephenson, an imbecile, aged 72 years. O.R. Birge and A. Martine acted as sureties and fees of $500 were paid by C.S. Birge. (Athens Co. Guardians Docket 1875-1892, p. 153)
James A. and Nancy (Hagen) Stephenson had the following children:
Jane Caroline, born 1832 d.--
m.15 Jan. 1857 Athens Co. OH, Orrin Birge (Athens Co. Marriages
vol. 3 p. 44) In the 1870 census they are in Amesville, Dover
Twp. and there is only one childe in the household, a James J.
Birge, age 12. The History of Hocking Valley p. 772 confirms there
was only one child, a son James. p. 744 of that same book confims
that Orrin Birge married Jane C. Stephenson, daughter of James
Stephenson. Orrin Birge to Athens Co. in 1852; Supt. of Agriculture
Dept., Athens Co. Infrimary.
Minerva Sarah/Sarah Minerva b. 1834 ; died before April
2, 1893.
probably it this is the Sarah Stephenson who m.June 10, 1860 (Athens
Co. Marriage Records vol. 4 p. 164) James Cunningham. In 1870
they are in Dover, Athens Co. (p. 131B)
James Cunningham age 34 carpenter b. OH
Sarah age 36 keeping houseb. OH
Aparetta age 9 attending school b. OH
William S. age 5 b. OH
Ezra or Ezza (m) age 4 b. OH
Caroline age 1 b. OH
Sarah appears to have died before 1893 for in 1900 James is enumerated with wife Mary Jane, they married seven years. Athens Co. Marriage Records (vol. 9 p. 115) record the marriage of James C. Cunningham and Mary J. Shields April 2, 1893.
John A. born 1835 Newark, Licking Co. OH diedMarch 19,1909
in Nelsonville of Scarlett Fever. At the time of his death his
occupation was Notary Public. He married 29 October, 1857 Clara/Clarissa
S. Birge, dau of William A. Birge (Athens Co. Marriages vol. 4
p. 73) In 1860 he is in Dover, Chauncey, Athens Co. Ohio.
John Stevenson 25 saltboiler b. OH
Clara 19
Ollie L. 2
Abigail Birge 14
In 1870 "Ollie" is named Oliver L., and antoher child, James, age 9 is in the household. The 1880 census identifies James as James W. In 1880 there are two more children in the household, a daughter Gracie L. age 6 and a daughter Bertha B., age 1. So John and Clara/Clarissa appear to have had a son b. about 1858, a son b. about 1861, then two daughters born 1873/74 and 1878/79. By 1880 Clarissa is only 37, so this is possible, albeit an unusual spread.
History of the Hocking Valley, p. 763 has a biographical sketch on J. A. Stephenson. It notes that he was born Feb. 21, 1835 in Newark (Licking Co.) Ohio, the son of James A. Stephenson and brother to James K. P. Stephenson, but came to Athens Co. in 1839. He was reared on a farm, educated in Nelsonville (Athens Co.), farmed and served in the Civil War. It confirms he married Clara Birge, daughter of William A. Birge and lists 4 children born to this marriage: OllieL, James W. , Gracie B. and Bertha B. In 1866 James A. removed to Chauncey, where he worked as a miner in the Chauncey Salt Works. Athens Co. Birth Records vol. 1 p. 150 give the date of birthdate of Gracie as July 9, 1873. The 1870 record indicates Oliver L. and James were born in Iowa, although subsequent records show Ohio. In 1870 Ohio has been erased, Iowa written in.
William born 1837d. --
In 1860 William is age 22, with the family, a school teacher.
An index of Athens County marriage records shows these two entries:
William Stephenson married Harriet Carnahan Sept. 30, 1861 (v.
4 p. 255) and Wm. Stephenson m. Elizabeth H. Carnahan Nov. 25,
1861 (v. 4 p. 228). A Bible record held in the Athens County Museum
gives this information:
on a page
W(?) Y.(?) S. Morris died Sept 24, 1884
J.D. Morris died Feb (?) ?? 1882
Mother died Nov 9th, 1881
Father died March ??, 1891
on title page
"Bill & Iva Hanley"
Title page N. Y. American Bible Society 1858
on facing page:
B(PR?)entercht (??) in 1858--does it say Printed in 1858?
On another page
Jos S. Morris And H.E. Stephenson was married Sept. 12, 1866"
On another page
"Rechoret (?) ( Is this Record?)
Wm Stephenson born Aug the 24th 1837 Died Nov. 26 1863 aged 26yrs, 3 months and 2 days" and on facing page : "1952-1837=125"
On another page
William Stephenson & E. W? (or M?) Stephenson were married
the 5th day of November 1889.
WIlliam Stephenson and Harriet Carnahan was married Nov 5th 1861"
On another page
[Very faded. I can not read what it says from photocopy.-
We have nothing to confirm that the William of the above record is the William of this Bible record, but I know of no other William of the right age in Athens Co. at this time. Further, in 1870 Joseph S. and Harriet Morris are very near the household of James Stevenson in Dover Twp. At that time Joseph S. was 44, Harreit 36; there are no children in the household. It seems most likley that William's widow Harriet Elizabeth married second Joseph Morris. Athens County marriage records also record this marriage ( v.5 p. 36). I do not know the identity of the William Stephenson who married 5 Nov. 1889 E.W. or W.M. Stephenson; it seems most likely that he was a son of William and Harriet, born, then between October or November 1861 and August 1864 (i.e. 9 months after November 1863).
Jerome Bonaparte b. December 1840; died 11 May 1921 in Bucyrus, Ohio. He married 20 October, 1866 at Millfield, Athens Co.. Emily/Emma Cook (Athens Co. Marriage Records vol. 5 p. 55). One researcher reports she was the daughter of Silas and Lorinda Cook. In 1870 Jerome and Emiily are in Amesville, he age 33 a farm laborer, she age 27 and children Jessie age 3 and Hallie age 1. By 1880 four other children have joined this household: Clarence S., age 8, James S. age 7, Agnes E. age 3 and Charles age 1. The 1880 census indentifies all children as sons/daughters. Some of these births are recorded in Athens County Birth Records, but a descendant gives the dates of all births as follows: Jessie S. b. 7 June 1867, Hallie Maud b. 14 August, 1869, Clarence Lee born 12 April 1872, James Silas b. 14 October 1873, Agnes Estella b. 19 May 1872, Charles Thomas born 29 April 1879. By 1900 only Charles T, age 21 is living with his parents; also in this household is daughter in law, Blanche, age 19, almost certainly the the wife of Charles; each are listed as having been married under 1 year. A descendant identifies Blanche as the daughter of John L. Sullivan. The 1900 census tells us Jerome was born Dec. 1840; at that time he and Emma have been married 35 years. Emma had 6 children born to her, all living in 1900. Emily Jeomre B. and Emily, his wife are buried in Nye Cemetery, he 1839-1921, she 1842-1907. A separate marker is in the cemetery for Jerome B. Stephenson Corp. Co. C. OHIO INF. A descendant of Jerome's indicates he was disabled during the civil war. When Emily died her obituary gave her name as Stevens; she died of cancer at the age of 64, survived by her husband, 3 sons and 3 daughters.
A descendant reports that James Silas married Eunice Rout, b. 1 July 1899 , the daughter of Volney and Marian (Guthrie) Rout, on 28 August, 1907 in Lawrence Co. Indiana, where he was working on the railroad.
Letitia b. 1842
probably it is this Letitia Steephenson who married T.W. Rutlidge;
their daughter Agnes born Nov. 10, 1871 (Athens Co. Birth Records
vol. 1 p. 86). In 1870 they are in Athens Co. p. 141 A.
Thomas Rutledge 30 farmer b. OH
Letissa 28? b. OH
Luella 4, Luaina , Marcellus 2 and Leutellus 2, all born Ohio.
In 1900 they are in Dover, married 34 years, Lettie the mother
of 6 ch, all alive.
Thomas Rutlege b. Jan. 1839 age 61 b. OH SCOT OH
Lettie, wife b. April 1843 age 57 b. OH VA PA
Marie dau b. Aug 1886 age 13 b. OH OH OH
James K.P. born 1848; died in the first battle of Bull
Run
Is it this James who married 28 Nov. 1868 Carrie Birge? (note
Silas H. Stephenson, son of Alexander also married a Carrie Birge;
that marriage in 1874. )
Dinsmore/Wilson Dinsmore
Elizabeth b. 1851d.
m.14 Dec. 1873 John Cook(Athens Co. Marriage Records vo. 5 p.
392) , brother to Emily who married Elizabeth's brother Jerome
B. above. In 1880 Nancy is living with John J. and Elizabeth E.
Cook, identified as the mother in law to John. There are no children
in the household.