Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Stephen, William May 26, 1817 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 10, 2006, 4:32 am

Author: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", 1882

William STEPHEN, retired farmer, P. O. Morris, is a native of Scotland, was 
born May 26, 1817, and came to the United States in 1837; he is a son of 
William and Elizabeth (CRUICKSHANK) STEPHEN, both natives of Scotland. Subject 
left Scotland the 24th of April 1837, and reached New York City some time in 
the following June, having been on the sea some six weeks. He reached Chicago 
July 1, 1837; left there the 4th of the same month, arriving at Lisbon, La 
Salle County, Ill., on the 7th; thence to what is now Nettle Creek, Grundy 
County, where he made his first purchase of land, one-fourth section, in 
Section 20. The 22nd of November, 1837, Mr. STEPHEN was caught out in a severe 
snow storm, and was so badly frozen that it was necessary to amputate two of 
his toes, and the ends of his fingers were so frozen that they bear the scars 
to this day; he lived on the aforesaid farm about one year, and afterward 
settled near Lisbon, Kendall County, where he lived with the exception of two 
years, till 1869; one of these years was spent in Grundy County, and the other 
in La Salle County. He next moved on a farm which he purchased near Morris in 
1869, where he remained about six years, and in December, 1875, moved to the 
city of Morris, where he still resides. Subject owns at present about 1,400 
acres of good farming lands in this and Kendall Counties, besides city 
property in the suburbs of Chicago, consisting of about ninety lots, and two 
good residences in Morris. After his misfortune of getting frozen, when a 
young man, Mr. STEPHEN found himself without any means whatever, and what 
property he now owns is the result of his own efforts, showing what can be 
accomplished by well directed diligence. Mr. STEPHEN was married in the town 
of Big Grove, Kendall County, February 27, 1843, to Margaret WATERMAN, 
daughter of Isaiah and Hester (VAN VRANKIN) WATERMAN. Mrs. STEPHEN was born 
December 16, 1825. They have had ten children born to them, seven living, four 
sons, viz., William I., Merritt J., Charles M. and Fred L., and three 
daughters, viz., Ella, wife of Charles B. COLLINS; Helen, wife of Albert E. 
COGWIN, and Hettie J., wife of Frederick PAGE. Mr. STEPHEN, wife and one son 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Subject has been Justice of the 
Peace for two terms, Assessor eleven years for the town of Big Grove; is now a 
member of the Board of Education here, and also Superintendent of Grundy 
County Poor Farm; he is a Republican.

[Source: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 
Historical Publishers, Lake Side Building, 1882]

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