William Wallace Stevens and Mary Elizabeth Cason Hartley Stevens were living in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, when James Cully Stevens was born on February 1, 1891. Jefferson is an historical little town in Texas, 38 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana. In the 1800's it resembled Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri more than it did its Texas neighbors to the West. Instead of ranchers and cowboys, there were lumbermen, river boat captains and dockhands. It has been described as a geographic wonderland. There are bayous, swamps, alligators, and eagles and it boasts of being home to two of Texas' most beautiful lakes. Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas and Lake O' the Pines with its tall loblolly pines and hardwood trees which are especially loved by the eagles.

The United State's census of 1900, shows them to be living in Mansfield, Louisiana which is about 63 miles from Jefferson, Texas. Mary's children from a previous marriage, Joe B., Willie, & Alene Hartley were living with them as were William's children, Lawrence and Dannie Stevens, from a previous marriage. Mansfield, Louisiana, De Soto Parish, is an historical town about 31 miles from Shreveport. It was the scene of some of the heaviest fight of the Civil War. The town is noted for its quiet southern charm and antebellum mansions.

James Cully Stevens obituary shows the family having moved north to the new state of Oklahoma in 1907. He was 16 years of age. Half-brothers, Joe B., and Willie Hartley came with me. Half-brother Lawrence Stevens, Half-sister Dannie Stevens and Half-sister, Alene Hartley chose not to come. The family came by train and brought their cattle with them. They settled in McAlester, Oklahoma which is about 232 miles from Mansfield, Louisiana. The three boys went to work in the coal mines. A mining accident claimed the life of Joe B. Hartley in 1916.

James Cully Stevens loved music. At the age of 9, he made a violin and taught himself to play. He returned to the Shreveport area on occasion and wrote postcards telling of attending band concerts. On November 4, 1915, he wrote the following card to his half-brother Willie. His picture in on the front of the car sitting in a car with his friends Palley and Frank Bickham. Frank was the husband of his half-sister, Alene.

"Well I will report this morning. I am still around here. I'm having some time. The fair in fine. How do you like my car? I had a ride in the (unknown word) lift last night. Believe me that was a stunt. Did you get my last report card? We had our dance last night. This is a fine town. I'm sure glad I came down." CS On the picture he wrote, "Do you hear the band playing? Listen."

Cully, as he was known, was well liked by the Italian immigrants that had come to Krebs, Oklahoma to work in the mines. He used his musical talents calling and playing at square-dances. In those days, pie suppers and or box-suppers went along with square-dancing. They were excuses for neighbors to get together and visit. The women would bake pies or make dinners for the pie supper, and men would bid on the boxes, trying to buy the one that a certain lady made (this was especially fun for young men or women who might be courting each other or thinking about it). Then the man who bought the box had the privilege of sitting and eating with the woman who made it. It was at one such event that Cully met a beautiful little German-Choctaw/Cherokee American Indian girl by the name of Aran Lee Arndt born April 21 , 1898. He bid highest on her supper and they ate together that night. She was the daughter of a prominent farming family that lived in the Blue Community. Her father, William M. Arndt and her mother, Mary Ellen Jones Arndt shared two acres of their land to build the Blue Community School House. It was used for all community affairs, church, fellowships, and of course school. They also donated the land for the Blue Cemetery, AKA as the Arndt Cemetery.

After that first meeting, Aran's brothers, Fred, Bill, Joe, and Gordon walked her home and related the events of the evening to their father. He was not at all happy about Aran having dinner with such an older man. She was 17 and Cully was 24. The spark that was ignited that night between this handsome couple was not to be put out though, and on July, 2, 1916, Cully and Aran became man and wife. Cully built her a big white house. She described it as the biggest and best in that part of the country. There, they started their family. J. C., John, and Mary were their first children.

In 1921, they had a life changing experience. Rev. George W. Brown of Fort Smith, Arkansas came to the Blue Community School and held a revival. They gave their hearts and lives to The Lord and that was the beginning of a more fulfilled beautiful life for them. Cully was called into the ministry of Jesus Christ. He became good friends with Brother Scott, grandfather of U. S. Representative, Carl Albert. Brother Scott invited him to speak at his revivals. Cully began holding revivals all over that part of the country. He walked or went by horseback in those early days. Many of his revivals began churches. The Pentecostal Holiness Church of Cromwell, Oklahoma is one that is still in progress.

Cully felt compelled to go into the ministry full time. He was ordained a Minister of the Gospel, January 30, 1923. J. C. and John, as little boys, helped run the farm in his absence. As the family grew, Mary, Leon,, Monroe, Willie, Pearla, Woodrow, and Joe, worked and supported the family while their father laid up treasures in heaven. During The Great Depression, they always had plenty and were able to assist less fortunate people.

I am so proud to be their granddaughter,
Charlotte Stevens Schneider