Be Careful What You Ask For - The Case of William Henry Stephens

This is my great-great grandfather, William Henry STEPHENS....

He and my great-great grandmother, Mary Mariah BOTKIN had my great-grandfather, Pearl, out of wedlock.

When Pearl was 19, William and Mariah finally married.  Until that time Pearl used the last name of BOTKIN.  After his parents married he began using STEPHENS as his last name.

I contacted the Wabash County, Indiana Courthouse asking if they had the following records....

1.  Bastardly charges brought against William in or around 1882

2.  Change of name for Pearl in or around 1902

They responded within a week letting me know that they did not find either record. The only thing they did find was an arrest record for William.  

What!!!  I immediately sent money for the record and received the following:

Be it remembered that on the 9 day of March 1889, the following Indictment was filed towit.

State of Indiana, Wabash County, In the Wabash Circuit Court 

February Term 1889.

The Grand Jury of the County of Wabash, upon their oath do present that on the 23 day of February 1889, at the County of Wabash, and State of Indiana, one William Stephens was then and there unlawfully found in a state of Intoxication in a certain public place then and there situated towit; On the public streets and sidewalks of the town of La Fontaine, in said County and State, Contrary to the ______ of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana.

                                                                                            Alfred H. Plummer, Pros. Atty

Endorsed, A True Bill,

William W. Ford, Foreman,

Witnesses

Josiah B. Thorn

Benjamin Howard

T.R. Brady, Clerk of the  Wabash Circuit Court, hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true and complete transcript of the original Indictment.

T.R. Brady, Clerk

Be careful what you ask for, you never know what you will find!

My DAR Application is Accepted!

A journey I began two years ago is finally complete!  I received word this morning that my DAR application has been accepted!

After several starts and stops over the past two years I finally submitted my application (with lots of help from the local DAR Regent) about one month ago.  I needed to prove my lineage all the way back to my Revolutionary War ancestor (I couldn't just "tie in" to another application already approved) and while you would think the difficult part would be my early ancestors, that did not turn out to be the case.

My DAR brick wall happened to be my Great Grandfather, Pearl Stephens.

His parents did not marry until Pearl was about 19 years old.  Until then Pearl went by his mother's maiden name of Botkin.  There is no birth record for Pearl that may have listed his father.  In the census records he was listed as Pearl Botkin (not Stephens) and the obituary for his father did not list children. The only thing I did manage to locate was a small newspaper article stating that Pearl was in town for the funeral.  But even that didn't state he was the son.

There should be a record of Pearl's mother filing "Bastardly" charges against his father but locating those early records have been a challenge.

In the end the historical society in the town had a piece of paper stating that Pearl's father died Intestate and the heirs were his wife and his son Pearl Stephens.  That is the evidence I submitted to the DAR and thankfully it was accepted.

I'm grateful and so excited to cross this off my bucket list.  But I must admit.......I'd still love to locate those charges......I'm not ready to give up yet!

On This Day - January 20, 2011

James Morandaham BOTKIN was born on this day in 1856 in Pulaski, Kentucky, USA.  James is the oldest son of Moses Matson BOTKIN and Elizabeth GASTINEAU. 

On the 23 Nov 1876 he married Lucy Jane WEIBLE in Reynolds, Missouri.  Together they had 8 boys, 7 of whom lived to adulthood. 

James died on 7 Oct 1926 in Reynolds, Missouri at the age of 70.  His death certificate lists the cause as high blood pressure and old age.  He is buried in Lower Bee Fork Cemetery, Bunker, Reynolds, Missouri.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Thomas Allen BOTKIN was born on this day in 1820 in Virginia, USA.  He is the son of George BOTKIN.

On 16 Aug 1840. Thomas married Phebe CONNOR in Grant County, Indiana.  Together they had 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls.

Thomas died on 19 Mar 1864 at the age of 44 in Grant County, Indiana.  His is buried in Prickett Cemetery, Jalapa, Grant, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Harol David HADLEY was born on this day in 1893 in Morgan, Indiana, USA.  He is the husband of Nellie Myrtle BRANE. 

On 16 Feb 1916, Harol and Nellie were married in Wabash County, Indiana.  On the 15 Jul 1970 he died in Kokomo, Indiana and was buried in Park Lawn Cemetery, Amboy, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

Giles Parker HUNT was born on this day in 1843 in Randolph County, Indiana.  He is the husband of Elmira BOTKIN. 

On the 9 Aug 1862, Giles enlisted in the 69th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company D.  He mustered out 5 Jul 1865 in Mobile, Alabama.

On 1 Jan 1868 Giles and Elmira were married in Randolph County.  They were the parents of 5 children. 

Giles died on 31 Oct 1905 in Randolph County, Indiana.  His burial location is unknown.

Finally, on this day in 1854, my Great-Great Grandfather, George Washington STEPHENS was born in Wayne County, Indiana.  He is the son of William B. STEPHENS and Elizabeth Ann CONNETT. 

On the 10 Jul 1877 in Grant County, Indiana, he married Rebecca Jane Catherine BOLE.  Together they had 10 children before George died on 20 Jul 1898 at the age of 44 in Mills Township, Grant, Indiana. 

Grandpa George is buried in McKinney Lugar Creek Cemetery, Marion, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here

On This Day.....

6 Jan 1831 - 180 years ago, Nathan GARRISON, son of Jeremiah GARRISON and Rebecca MCDANIEL, husband of Mary G. BOTKIN, was born in Wabash County, Indiana.  Nathan was the father of six children.  He died 20 Apr 1908 in Wabash County and is buried in Harper Cemetery in La Fontaine, Indiana.  His FAG memorial can be found here.

6 Jan 1851 - 160 years ago, Catherine Elizabeth BRANE, daughter of Abraham BRANE and Nancy HOFFMAN, wife of Arthur MCCLAINE, was born.  Catherine was the mother of one child and died 24 Feb 1879 at the age of 28.  She is buried in Center Grove Cemetery, Lincolnville, Indiana.  Her FAG memorial can be found here.

6 Jan 1888 - 123 years ago, Bruce BRANE, son of Milton Samuel BRANE and Anna Elizabeth THOMAS, husband of Mary Elizabeth DOTY was born in Wabash County, Indiana.  Bruce was the father of three children and died Jul 1968 in Zephyrhills, Florida at the age of 80. 

6 Jan 1939 - My uncle Bob Stephens was born South Bend, Indiana.  Happy 72nd birthday, uncle Bob!

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Mamie Hanley Stephens Bowser

Great - Grandma

Estates of Serenity Cemetery

Marion, Grant, Indiana

Mamie married Ora Everett STEPHENS on 6 Feb 1934.  Ora died 22 Dec 1929.  Their children are:

Gertrude J. STEPHENS

Dorothy Louise STEPHENS

Irvin Ora STEPHENS

Madeline Maxine STEPHENS

Mamie married Vernal BOWSER and their children are:

Vernal BOWSER

Leo Patrick BOWSER

Mary Jane BOWSER

Virginia C. BOWSER



Wedding Wednesday - Mary Mariah Botkin/William Henry Stephens

This is a copy of the marriage certificate of my Great-Great Grandparents Mariah Botkin and William Henry Stephens.

Mariah and William have an interesting story which I wrote about here.  As you see this marriage occurred in 1902, when their son Pearl was 19 years old.  After their marriage Mariah and William had a second son Herbert Paul born in 1904.  Sadly, Herbert died after living just four days.

Mariah and William were married 32 years until William died in 1934.  Both Mariah and William are buried along with Herbert in La Fontaine IOOF Cemetery, La Fontaine, Indiana.

Tombstone Tuesday - Madeline Maxine Stephens

Madeline Maxine Stephens

March 12, 1920 - September 16, 1920

Estates of Serenity

Marion, Grant, Indiana, USA

Madeline was my grandfathers baby sister.  Rest in peace little angel.

Military Monday - Ora Everett Stephens

This is my great-grandfather, Ora Everett STEPHENS.

He died in 1929 at the age of 38 when my grandfather, Irvin Ora STEPHENS, was just 10 years old.  Since he died so young we don't have many images for him.  Just recently my mom and I made a trip to Marion, Indiana to visit the cemetery he is buried in.

March 28, 1891 - December 22, 1929

Estates of Serenity, Marion, Grant, Indiana, USA



So I was thrilled when I found his World War I Draft Registration Card on Ancestry!

(Click to enlarge)

It provides another peek into the short life my great-grandfather lived and I'm so glad to have it.

Wordless Wednesday - Martha Jean Stephens

Martha Jean Stephens Stephens

7 Jul 1921 - 24 Jun 2008

Today would be my grandmother's 89 birthday.  I love you grandma, and I miss you.........................

Wordless Wednesday - My Parents 50th Anniversary

Robert Darwin Swanson

Karen Kay Stephens Swanson

To quote Dr. Bill.....Families are Forever :)

Wordless Wednesday - Mariah Botkin & Pearl Stephens

Mariah Botkin (1863-1953) and her son Pearl M. Stephens (1882-1960)

Tombstone Tuesday - William Stephens and Mary Mariah Botkin

My son, Ben, at his great-great-great grandparents tombstone. Lafontaine Cemetery, Wabash County, Indiana. William Stephens and Mary Mariah Boktin were the parents of Pearl McCllean Stephens.

Memory Monday - A Follow-up to Sentimenal Sunday

Below is an excerpt of a post I wrote for my personal blog back in June of 2008. It is about the funeral of my grandmother, Martha Jean Stephens, the topic yesterday for my Sentimental Sunday post.

My grandmother died last week. She was 86 years old and had been in a nursing home for years. Although it was not unexpected it still hurt.

At the funeral on Friday the Chaplain invited anyone who wanted to come up and say a few words about grandma. I had no intention of speaking but somehow I felt moved to share my memories and found myself standing at the podium.

I really don't remember everything I said. I spoke through tears but I spoke from my heart.

It's only now, 3 days later, that I'm wishing I had said more. There are so many things I should have said, and would have said, had I been prepared.

And I'd like to say them here.

Thank you grandma for the purple satin hat you kept in a "dress up" box when I was young. I loved that hat and have more than a couple of pictures of me wearing it.

Thank you for saving your McCall's magazine so I could cut out the Betsey McCall paper doll every month.

Thank you for waffle cookies in the tin stored in the oven. And for homemade noodles drying on newspaper on the kitchen table.

Thank you for Christmas Eve's at your house with pork tenderloins and pickled eggs. Thank you for letting me ring that little bell you kept on the Christmas tree and for giving me that bell when grandpa died. It's the most precious ornament on my tree every year.

Thank you for letting me "help" you wash the dishes when I was young. You had that sprayer attachment on your sink and I loved rinsing the dishes with it. I remember mom telling me to be careful and you saying "oh, she's fine". I wonder now how many times you had to change your clothes after I helped.

Thank you for teaching me to play cards and for teaching me how to win. Thank you for sharing your love of the Chicago Cubs with my sons. Although Ben wishes you would have picked a team with a better record of wins!

Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Every child should have someone love them the way you did. And thank you for loving grandpa. We all know how much you missed him after he died.
And that's where I'm finding peace. Knowing you are with grandpa now. And all your sisters and brother and parents and grandparents. And that I'll see you again someday.

Goodbye grandma...I'll miss you.

Sentimental Sunday - Martha Jean Stephens Stephens

Martha J. Stephens
July 7, 1921 - June 24, 2008

SOUTH BEND - Martha Jean Stephens, 86, of South Bend died at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in Southfield Village following an illness. Mrs. Stephens was born July 7, 1921, in Wabash County, IN, to the late Pearl and Grace (Brane) Stephens and had lived in South Bend since 1924. On October 26, 1940, in Marion, IN, she married Irvin Stephens who preceded her in death on March 24, 1994. She was also preceded by three sisters, Marie Schields, Georgia McElheny and Irene Blain; and one brother, Dalton Stephens. She is survived by two daughters, Karen (Robert) Swanson and Connie Wagner, both of South Bend; four grandchildren, Howard Sterling Swanson, Lisa (Mark) Ellam, Stephany (Patrick) Wagner-Thornhill, and Jonathan (Darcy) Wagner; eight great-grandchildren, Jennifer (Chad) Worvey, Garrett Swanson, Ben and Andy Ellam, Dane and Abby Wagner, and Ella and Will Thornhill; and one great-great-grandson, Alex Swanson. Mrs. Stephens was a graduate of the former Central High School in June of 1939 and took great pride in the fact that she was the first person in the family to do so. Private family visitation and services will be held in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St. with Chaplain Deborah Hewitt of Southfield Village officiating. Entombment will follow in Riverview Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN, 46637 or to Southfield Village, 6450 Miami Circle, South Bend, IN, 46614.

Published in The South Bend Tribune on 6/27/2008.