Clare S. Stephens (1881-1918)

STEPHENS, FOSTER, SMITH, FORBES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/3/2020 at 11:33:02

From Nevada Evening Journal August 14, 1918 (page 1)

CLARE STEPHENS FORMER NEVADA MAN IS KILLED

ENLISTED AS ENGINEER IN CALIFORNIA AND WAS IN OVERSEAS SERVICE.

Clare Stephens, age 37 years, only son of Thomas H. Stephens of this city was killed in action on the battlefields of France on July 10, according to a telegram which was received by the father from the war department Monday evening. The telegram follows:

Washington, D. C., Aug. 12,
Mr. Thomas H. Stephens,
Nevada, Iowa

Deeply regret to inform you that Private Clare L. Stephens, Engineers, is officially reported killed in action July 20.

McCain, Adjutant General.

Stephens who was married a lived at Oakland, Calif., enlisted in Company A of the Oregon Engineers corps on September 2, 1917 and had been over in France from some time according to letters which had been received by his father and sisters in this city. Further particulars regarding the manner of his death are not at hand.

He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Stephens of this city being born here on July 2, 1881, the day of the assassination of President Garfield. Like his father he was a mason by trade and had not been in Nevada but occasionally on visits in many years.

He was married and leaves a wife in California but no children*. His mother died at the family home in this city some years ago* but he leaves his father Thomas H. Stephens, a pioneer of this city, and two sisters. The sisters are Jessie B. Stephen and Marjorie Stephens, both at home with the father corner Vine and First avenue north.

The Stephens home is the first in Nevada to be called to mourn sacrifice of a son to the great war and the father and sisters here as well as the wife, will receive the profound sympathy of neighbors and friends in the death of the young man who has given his life in answer to the call of his country and humanity.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Clare S. Stephens married Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Forbes, daughter of Benjamin G. Smith and Horine T. Turner, on 28 March 1912 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

The mother of Pvt. Clare S. Stephens was Frances A. “Frank” (Foster) Stephens. She died 16 October 1916 in Nevada, Story County, Iowa.