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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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WILLIAM M. STEPHENS, one of the best known farmers of Upper Merion township, is a descendant of Evan ap Evan, who came from Wales and purchased a large tract of land in the time of William Penn. His son, Stephen ap Evan, according to the old Welsh nomenclature, married Mary, daughter of William Davis, of Upper Merion, in 1718. Their children: David, born October 7, 1719; Ruth, born March 9, 1722 ; Benjamin, born January 30, 1724, died July 20, 1795; Prudence, born December 1, 1727; Micajah, born June 13, 1730; Abijah, born November 30, 1732, died November 1, 1802; Jesse, born February 17, 1734; John, born November 1, 1737. It will be seen that these children, following the Welsh custom, were David ap Stephen, Benjamin ap Stephen, and so on, until in the progress of time the “ap” was dropped by common consent, and “Stephen” became “Stephens,” no further change having taken place since.
David Stephens (great-great-grandfather) had three children: Maurice, died unmarried; Abijah (great-grandfather), married Rachel Moore, and after her death, married Elizabeth Moore, a cousin of the first wife; Eleanor married Jacob Richardson.
Abijah Stephens (great-grandfather) had by the first wife, two sons: Maurice and David. By the second marriage he had the following children: Hannah, married Joseph B. Walker; William, married Susanna Davis, and (second wife) Hannah Hall; Ellen, married David Zook, mother of General S. K. Zook, she dying at the age of ninety-seven years; Mordecai M., married Sarah Bull; Abijah, married Matilda Hacker; John.
William Moore Stephens (grandfather), born in 1801, had by the first marriage the following children: Abijah, born March, 1826, died July 19, __, married Lydia R. Havard; Rebecca, born 1827, died 1891; Mordecai D., born 1829, died 185__; Elizabeth M., born March, 1831, married Alvah J. Molony; William, born January 18, 1833, died June 7, 1899, married Mary J. Supplee; Martha E., born March, 1835, died October 26, 1875, married David B. Nyce; Hannah W., born 1837, married Jacob B. Walker; Emma D., born 1839, died 1895, married John M. Walker. By his second marriage with Hannah Hall he had the following children: Susanna D., born December 24, 1842, married I. W. Will- iams; Josephine H., married B. F. Williams; Winfield S., married Joanna D. Stephens. William Moore Stephens resided many years on the old homestead, and removed in 1861 to Bridgeport, where he died in 1867. His wife and Alvah Molony and David Nyce also died the same year.
William Stephens (father) married in 1859, Mary J. Supplee, daughter of Cadwalader E. and Catharine Jones Supplee. He was a member of Friends’ meeting and a Republican in politics, always taking great interest in the welfare of his country, and in local historical events. He had two children-Catharine, born September 16, 1860; and William M., subject of this sketch.
William M. Stephens was born March 16, 1862, on the old homestead, on the Port Kennedy Road, midway between Port Kennedy and Valley Forge. He was educated at the public schools of the vicinity and at Treemount Seminary, Norristown. He remained with his parents until his marriage on March 25, 1891, to Martha Taggart, born November 2, 1860. They have had five children, as follows: Austin L., born April 19, 1892, died November 27, 1892; Mary S., born March 31, 1894; William S., born August 16, 1895; Alexander T., born November 22, 1897; Corson T., born January 8, 1899.
Austin L. Taggart, father of Mrs. Stephens, better known throughout Pennsylvania as “Farmer Taggart,” was born in Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1836. His father was a merchant and lumber dealer, descended from a long line of ancestors, the first of whom in this country came to Pennsylvania in 1740 and aided to make a commonwealth of people who believe in independence of thought and action. Austin L. Taggart’s great- grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and was killed in battle. In 1850 Mr. Taggart’s father removed to Montgomery county, where Austin was educated in public and private schools. In young manhood he ran the lines and made the maps for a number of counties in Michigan. Returning to Norristown he engaged in the mercantile business, and soon afterwards began farming on a tract of land in Upper Merion, three miles from Valley Forge. In 1886, he was nominated for the legislature and was elected, being re-elected in 1888, 1890, and 1892, and being very prominent in the legislation of that period. He married Sarah Rudy and had eight children. He died rather suddenly soon after the close of the last legislative session at which he was a member.
After his marriage William Stephens farmed the old Camp farm seven years, during which time he bought seventy-six and one-half acres of the old homestead, and erected thereon his present handsome residence in 1898. The Stephens farm is located on the Valley Forge camp ground. In 1897 the state authorities bought nearly two acres, covering the location of the star redoubt, an advance post held by the Rhode Island troops, commanded by General Varnum, whose head-quarters were in the old Stephens mansion, still standing, it having been occupied at the time of the encampment by David Stephens, great-great-grandfather of William M. Stephens. The Stephens homestead has been in the family for seven generations, including the children of the present owner, William M. Stephens. In politics Mr. Stephens is a Republican. He has been inspector of election and tax collector.
William Stephens (father) died June 7, 1899. His widow is living. He was a Republican in politics and attended Friends Meeting, at Valley.
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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company. For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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