Stephens, Louis N.

STEPHENS, BURRELL, FERGUSON, GRAVATT, BEDELL, EARL, WHETSTONE

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2019 at 06:52:20

LOUIS N. STEPHENS

Louis N. Stephens, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser who owns and operates two hundred and eighty-seven acres on section 2, Bloomington township, was born upon that farm August 17, 1865, of the marriage of Hugh C. and Mary A. (Burrell) Stephens, both of whom are deceased. The father was born in Indiana and first married Miss Ferguson, who accompanied him to Decatur county, Iowa, where she passed away in early womanhood. She was the other of two children, of whom one died in infancy, the other being the late T. T. Stephens, who death occurred recently at Davis City. The father followed agricultural pursuits and entered from the government the farm which our subject now owns. He passed away in 1871 when only thirty-seven years of age. His second wife who was in her maidenhood Miss Mary A. Burrell, was born in Indiana, but accompanied her parents to Decatur county, Iowa, when but eight years old. She died in the fall of 1912 at the age of seventy-nine years. She attended the Baptist church and took a commendable interest in its work. She was the mother of five children, as follows: James, a resident of Bloomington township; Burrell, who is living in Dent county, Missouri; Louis N.; Madison, also a resident of Dent county, Missouri; and Mrs. Ida Gravatt, of Bloomington township, this county.

Louis N. Stephens was reared upon the homestead and during his boyhood and youth attended the common schools in the pursuit of an education. Upon reaching man’s estate he decided to follow the occupation to which he had been reared and he has met with gratifying success as a farmer and stock-raiser. He has continued to reside upon the homestead and now owns two hundred and eighty-seven acres of excellent and, from which he derives a good income annually.

In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Stephens and Miss Sadie Bedell, who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, of the marriage of the late D. E. and Martha Bedell. Both parents were reared in Wapello county and continued to reside there until about 1879, when they removed with their family to this county. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and passed away about 1893 at an advanced age, while his wife survived until 1909. To this union were born eight children: Mrs. Carrie Earl, of Ottumwa; John, who lives in Missouri; C. M., deceased; Susan, who resides with our subject and his wife; W. H. of Wapello count, Iowa; Sadie, now Mrs. Stephens; Jesse, of Missouri; and Belle, the wife of E. H. Whetstone, of Fort Madison, Iowa. Mrs. Stephens grew to womanhood in this county and here her marriage occurred. She has one son, Loren W., who celebrated his fifteenth birthday on the 28th of April, 1915.

Mr. Stephens is a democrat and loyally supports the candidates and measures of that party at the polls. His fraternal affiliation is with the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Decatur City. Both he and his wife belong to the Elk Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and their influence is always on the side of right and progress. His has been a life of well directed industry and his prosperity is the merited reward of energy and go