John Wesley Stephens grew to young manhood in North Alabama, then moved with his parents to the Milan Tennessee area. It was there the family lived when the Civil War broke out. At the age of 19 or 20 he ran away from home to join the Confederate Army in which he served until the end of the war. He was a veteran of the struggle of 1861 - 1865 being a member of the 1st Infantry 26th Regiment of the Mississippi, afterward in the Cavalry. He married Caroline Martin ( of Milan, Tennessee) on 15 July, 1862 in Tishomingo Co. Mississippi. To this union 5 children were born. Caroline passed away in 1874 and their children went to live with Grandmother Martin for a few years. William remarried Susan Lou Lawrence which the children affectionately called Mama Lou. The family was brought back together and moved to Mississippi, near Booneville. To this union there were 7 children born with the last 6 being born after their arrival to Texas.
They arrived at Bonham Texas, Fannin County on January 1, 1884. He moved to Wolfe City, Texas in 1884, then to Jacobia, then to Greenville Texas. He was a faithful and conscientious member of the Baptist Church for 50 years. He served as deacon for 40 years.

Name: John Wesley Stephens
Death. April 27, 1915
Place. Greenville, Texas, Hunt County
Certificate Number: 8252
Citing this Record:
"Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDR-T81 : 24 May 2014), John Wesley Stephens, 27 Apr 1915; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 8252, Hunt, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.

Greenville Morning Herald, Wed, 28 Apr 1915, : 1
J.W. Stephens Died Tuesday
__Stephens, J.W.

Greenville Evening Banner, Wed, 28 Apr 1915, : 5
Veteran Joins His Comrades Beyond Grave (John W. Stephens)
o 1842-05-31 Birth Date, Alabama
o 1862 Marriage, Carolina Martin
o 1880 Marriage, Lulu Lawrence
o 1915-04-27 Death Date, Greenville
o Baptist
o Confederate Soldiers

Children born to Caroline Martin

William Alexander Stephens
Lois Ida ( Stephens) Smith
Luther Tillman Stephens
Laura Ann ( Stephens) Salter
John Arthur Stephens

Children born to LuLu Lawrence

Oscar Price Stephens
Myrtle 'Myrt' Lou Stephens
Joseph Ira Stephens
Robert Carl Stephens
Ella May (Stephens ) Foster
Daniel Edgar Stephens
Ola ( Stephens) Webb

o Taylor, J.H., Rev., Officiant
o Truett, J.L., Rev., Officiant
o Washington Street Baptist Church 21nov07

Siblings
Lucinda Stephens 1822 -1897
Josiah Stephens1823-1882
Barbary (Barbara) Stephens 1823-1908
Jane Stephens 1829- 1912
Daniel P. Stephens 1830- 1909
Liny Stephens 1835
Elizabeth Stephens 1836
William Alexander 1839