Page 557

THEODORE STEPHENS, a prominent farmer of Auburn Township, residing on section 16, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Franklin County, April 1, 1845, and is a son of George W. and Martha (Patterson) Stephens, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Franklin County, Pa. The Stephens family is of German descent and the Patterson family was founded in the Keystone State at an early day. George W. Stephens was a man of more than ordinary ability. He made his own way in the world and from an humble position rose to one of prominence. At an early age he went to Pennsylvania and entered the ministry of the Missionary Baptist Church, and after being ordained accepted the pastorate of a church in Chambersburg, Franklin County, where he remained several years. Thinking to provide better opportunities for his children in the spring of 1848 he came to the West and after making preparations for a home for his family in Scott county, Ill., was joined by his wife and children in the following autumn. His first charge was at Exeter, and after a year he removed to Manchester, where in connection with his ministerial labors he engaged in operating a carding mill in connection with William Hicks. That partnership continued several years and their business prospered. About this time Mr. Stephens joined the Protestant Methodist Conference but shortly afterward he returned to the ministry of the Baptist Church. He purchased a farm near Manchester which he placed in charge of his sons, while he made his home in the town, attending to the work connected with his church. In June, 1878, he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife. He then made his home with our subject for a year, after which he was a second time married and returned to Manchester. Later he purchased ten acres of land in Loami Township, where he is now living a retired life. Until within a year he continued preaching the gospel but is now totally blind. He is a fine scholar and one of nature's noblemen who has devoted himself untiringly to the work of the Master.

There were seven children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Stephens: Annie, who was drowned near Lane's Mill, Pa., in childhood; Mary, wife of W. A. Lester, of Chatham; John, a farmer of New Berlin, who enlisted in 1861, in Company C, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, was wounded in the left ankle and served three years; Theodore, of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah Gibbs, who died in Scott County, Ill.; James and Andrew, who died in Manchester.

Theodore Stephens has spent almost his entire life in this county. He was a babe of three years when the family came to Illinois and upon his father's farm was reared to manhood. He acquired a good common school education in Manchester, and at the age of fifteen years began life for himself. In 1862 they removed to a farm and he operated the same for his father until twenty-one years of age, when he left it to make a home of his own. In Winchester Precinct, Scott County, on the 25th of January, 1866, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Caroline Wilson, a native of Greene County, Ill., and a daughter of Greenbury and Mary (Black) Wilson, who emigrated to Greene County from Kentucky and shortly afterward removed to Scott County, where Mr. Wilson worked in a stone quarry. He died in the prime of life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stpehens were born two children: Martha, who died May 3, 1890, at the age of twenty-three years; and Mary, wife of John Wilson of Loami Township. The mother died just seven years previous to the death of the elder daughter, passing away in the same hour of the day. Mr. Stephens was a second time married in January, 1885, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Fannie Smith, daughter of Lewis Gibbons. Their union was celebrated in Bois d' Arc Township, Montgomery County.

About 1886 our subject came to Sangamon County, settling in Berlin Township, where he rented land some four years. In 1870 he rented one hundred and ninety acres of land in Auburn Township, which he continued to operate for eight years. He then removed to his present home on section 16, where he rented a one hundred and sixty acre tract for ten years. At the end of that time he purchased the farm, but after a year sold the north half. He now has eighty acres of valuable land, highly improved and cultivated, with a good house, barns, other outbuildings and a fine orchard. It is pleasantly situated about two miles from Auburn and a glance at the place indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is regarded as one of the prominent and progressive farmers of the township. His principle product is corn and to stock raising he gives considerable attention, raising good grades of horses, cattle and hogs, his specialties being Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. In political sentiment Mr. Stpehens is a stalwart Republican. His friends in the county are many and his home, presided over by a most estimable lady, is the abode of hospitality.