John
Nicholas Stephens was the son of Nicholas
Peter Steffy & Maria Elizabeth Schellenberger. John Nicholas, known
as Nicholas, was born on January 5, 1777 in Lancaster Co., PA.
Mary was the
daughter of unknown parents. She was born in November 1777 in MD. Family story
is that she was an Indian princess.
THE FAMILY OF JOHN NICHOLAS
STEPHENS & MARY
(Note: Last name has been spelled STAFFEY, STEPHY, STEFFEE,
STEFFEN, STEFFY, STIFFY, STIFFLER, STEPHENS & STEVENS)
 | Nicholas Stephens & Mary | John Nicholas Stephens
& Mary were married about 1799 in PA and they had at least 8 and possibly
13 children. Family story is that Mary was an Indian princess, but this is
not confirmed. Nicholas moved from York to Huntingdon Co., PA sometime between
1785 to 1800; I don't know if it was before or after his marriage. The household
of Nicholas Staffey is listed on the 1800 census of Tyrone, Huntingdon Co., PA,
living near the household of Peter Staffey. Nicholas & his father Peter are
both listed on Huntingdon Co., PA tax records from 1801 to 1810 (see Notes for
Nicholas Stephens for more details on tax records), and the households of N. Steffee
& P. Steffee are listed on the 1810 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co.,
PA. The 1810 census only indicates one son & one daughter in the N. Steffee
household - research by Dale Steffey indicates that there should have been one
son and 6 daughters at that time. There is also an unidentified woman age 26-44
living nearby with Peter Steffee and his wife, and there are 3 young daughters
living with them at that time that need to be identified. More research is needed
to try to document the daughters in this family born before 1810. Nicholas &
father Peter are listed on Huntingdon Co., PA tax records between 1811 to 1820.
The households of Nicholas Stephy & Peter Stephy are listed on the 1820 census
of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. On the same page in 1820 are households headed
by Jacob Wertz, Martin Moyer, Abraham Sells, Herman Farber & David, George
& Henry Leamer - all of these surnames are connected by marriage to Peter
Steffy's descendants. They are listed under the name Nicholas Stiffler on the
1830 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA.. Nicholas, father Peter, &
sons Peter Jr & Henry appear on Huntingdon Co., tax records between 1830 to
1840. Nicholas' father Peter died about January 1840 (when his will was probated),
and the household of Nicholas Stiffy is listed on the 1840 census of Blair, Huntingdon
Co., PA. Nicholas & Mary moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa by 1850; two of their
daughter's families moved there in 1850, and I assume Nicholas & Mary came
with them. Nicholas & Mary are listed on the 1850 census of District #11,
Benton Co., IA, living by the families of their married daughters Margaret Hite
and Rebecca Leamer. Nicholas is listed on the index of the 1852 state census of
Taylor, Benton Co., IA. They are listed on the 1854 state census of Canton Twp.,
Benton Co., IA. Nicholas wrote letters to his son Nicholas R. Stephens dated October
8, 1854, January 21, 1855 & August 5, 1855 that are all signed "Nicholas
& Mary Stephens". Nicholas wrote a letter dated July 5, 1857 that stated
that Mary died on June 27th, 1857 in Benton Co., IA.. Nicholas is listed
at age 83 on the 1860 census of Benton Twp., Benton Co., IA, living with his married
son Henry Stephens. John Nicholas Stephens died on February 1, 1861 in Benton
Co., IA. Notes for Nicholas Stephens Letters from Nicholas Stephens written to his son Nicholas R. Stephens in 1854, 1855 & 1857 |
The Children of John Nicholas Stephens & Mary:
| 1)Mary Ann Stephens | Mary Ann Stephens was born
about 1800 in probably Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age
to be Mary Ann, baby, in the household of Nicholas Staffey on the 1800 census
of Tyrone, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10 category)
listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. There is
a female the right age to be Mary Ann, age 25, listed in the household of Nicholas
Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Mary Ann married
John Russell about 1820, and from early census records I believe they had
at least 8 children. There is a family headed by John Russell on the 1830 census
of Greenfield, Bedford Co., PA that is probably this family. They are listed on
the 1840 & 1850 census of Bedford, Bedford Co., PA with some of their children.
There is also a John Russell of about same age living in Huntingdon Co., PA in
1840 & 1850, but his wife's name is Susannah so I think the Bedford County
family is correct for Mary Ann. John & Mary Ann emigrated from Pennsylvania
to Iowa between 1850 to 1856, and they are listed on the 1856 state census of
Benton Co., IA. They are listed on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of Taylor Twp.,
Benton Co., IA. I have not found either of them on the 1880 census at this time.
Mary Ann Stephens Russell died on April 16, 1875 in Benton Co., IA. She
is listed as being buried in the Prairie United Bretheren Cemetery, Taylor Twp.,
Benton Co., IA, but her husband John is not. |
| 2)Elizabeth Stephens | Elizabeth Stephens was born about
1801 in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10 category)
listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. Elizabeth
married John Wareham about 1820 and they had at least 6 children born between
1821 to 1831. There is a family with head of household named John Wareham on the
1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA who has males & females in it
the right age to be John & Elizabeth. (There is also a female the right age
to be Elizabeth, age 19, listed in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820
census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA, so she may have been listed twice that
year.) John Wareham is listed on the 1830 census of Neshannock, Mercer Co., PA,
with members of household the correct age to be John, Elizabeth & the children.
Their last child was born in 1831. John & the children are listed on the 1840,
1850 & 1860 censuses of Irwin Twp., Venango Co., PA, but Elizabeth is not
listed in the household with them in any of these census years. Elizabeth Stephens
Wareham died sometime after 1831 and probably before 1840 in Mercer or Venango
Co., PA. John Wareham wrote letters to his brother-in-law Nicholas R. Stephens
in 1873, 1878 & 1879 (see Records
for Nicholas R. Stephens.) He died on April 13, 1880 in Irwin Twp, Venango
Co., PA. There is a John Wareham (died 1874) & Elizabeth Wareham (died 1867)
who are buried in the Clinton Cemetery, Butler Co., PA, but they are not this
family. Notes for Elizabeth Stephens Wareham |
| 3)Susan Stephens | Susan Stephens was born about 1802
in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10 category)
listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. There is
a daughter the right age to be Susan, age 18, in the household of Nicholas Stephy
on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. According to research by
Dale E. Steffey, Susan married a Mr. Sells. Possibly her husband was a
son of the Abraham Sells who lived near her father's family in Frankstown, Huntingdon
Co., PA in 1820. I have not found her on any other records at this time. Susan
Stephens Sells died sometime after 1820, but I don't know when or where. When
Susan's mother died in June 1957, her father wrote in a letter to Susan's brother
Nicholas that he would write the Wertz, Hoover & Sells households to inform
them of the death. Susan is not listed as a surviving sibling in the July 1, 1890
obit of her brother Nicholas. Notes for Susan Stephens Sells |
| 4)Peter Stephens | Peter Stephens was born about 1804
in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a son the right age to be Peter, age 6, in
the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Tyrone, Huntingdon Co.,
PA. There is a son the right age to be Peter, age 15, in the household of Nicholas
Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. According to research
by Dale E. Steffey, Peter married Margaret, I think about 1829 when he
begins appearing on Huntingdon Co. PA tax records. He is listed as Peter Jr. on
the tax records as there is also a Peter who is his grandfather in the same town.
The family is listed under the name Peter Stiffler on the 1830 census of Woodbury,
Huntingdon Co., PA. At that time there were 2 males under age 10 listed in the
household. Peter Jr is listed on Huntingdon Co., tax records from 1831 to 1840.
There is a household of Peter Stiffy on the 1840 census of Woodberry, Huntingdon
Co., PA that I think is the right family, although the age for Peter is not right
(census taker error? marked as age 40-50 and should be age 36. Age for Margaret
is ok) There are 6 children in the household at that time, and father Nicholas
Stiffy and brothers Nicholas & Henry Stiffy are listed in Blair, Huntingdon
Co., PA the same year. Blair Co., PA was formed from parts of Bedford & Huntingdon
Counties in 1846, and Peter & Margaret Stephen are listed on the 1850 census
of Juniata, Blair Co., PA with 5 children still at home. I have had difficulty
finding this family on the 1860 census. There are some matches for Peter, Margaret
& the children, but they are split up among several households in several
states and I'm not sure if they are the correct ones. See notes for who I find
where. Peter Stephens died sometime after 1850 and possibly after 1860 but
I don't know when or where. He is not listed as a surviving sibling in the
July 1, 1890 obit of his brother Nicholas, but neither were two of his sisters
who were still alive in Iowa at that time. Notes for Peter Stephens |
| 5)Margaret Stephens | Margaret Stephens was born February
28, 1807 in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10
category) listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. There is
a daughter the right age to be Margaret, age 13, in the household of Nicholas
Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Margaret married
David Hite about 1829 in PA and they had 12 children. The family is listed
on the 1830 census of St. Clair, Bedford Co., PA and on the 1830 census of Union,
Bedford Co., PA. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa about 1850, and they
are listed on the 1850 census of District #11, Benton Co., IA near Margaret's
parents and her married sister Rebecca Leamer. They are listed on the 1854 state
census of Canton Twp., Benton Co., IA. They are listed on the 1860 census of Canton
Twp., Benton Co., IA. David died on January 01, 1868, and Margaret is listed as
widowed on the 1870 census of Eden Twp., Benton Co., IA. She is listed at age
73 on the 1880 census of Taylor, Benton Co., IA, living next door to her married
daughter Jane Latham. Margaret is not listed as a surviving sibling in the July
1, 1890 obit of her brother Nicholas, but probably this was because she had emigrated
away from Pennsylvania where he died. Margaret Stephens Hite died on December
30, 1891 in Benton Co., IA. She & David are buried in the Prairie United
Bretheren Cemetery, Taylor Twp., Benton Co., IA. Notes for Margaret Stephens Hite |
| 6)Rachel Stephens | Rachel Stephens was born about 1808
in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10 category)
listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. There is
a daughter the right age to be Rachel, age 12, in the household of Nicholas Stephy
on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. According to research by
Dale E. Steffy, Rachel married a Mr. Delancy/Delaney. I have not found
her on any other census records at this time. Her husband was possibly related
to the Stephen Delaney who was an early settler of the Bedford/Blair Co., PA area
along with William Leamer & John Stiffler. Rachel Stephens Delancy died
sometime after 1826, but I don't know when or where. She is not listed as
a surviving sibling in the July 1, 1890 obit of her brother Nicholas, but neither
were two of his other sisters who were still alive in Iowa.. Notes for Rachel Stephens Delancy/Delaney |
| 7)Hannah Stephens | Hannah Stephens was born April 20,
1809 in Huntingdon Co., PA. There is only one daughter (in under age 10 category)
listed in the household of Nicholas Steffee on the 1810 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA, which is confusing because he should have Mary Ann, age 10,
Elizabeth, age 9, Susan, age 8, Margaret, age 3, Rachel, age 2 and Hannah, age
1 if the research by Dale Steffey is correct concerning his children. There is
a daughter the right age to be Hannah, age 11, in the household of Nicholas Stephy
on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Hannah is sometimes known
as Hannah Stuckey, so it is possible that she married Joseph Stuckey about
1825. Joseph was killed that same year in an accident when a tree fell on him.
A marriage between Joseph & Hannah would need to be confirmed, but would explain
the discrepencies in her last name in records. Hannah married Jacob Ober
in 1829, and they had at least 10 children. Their first son was named Cyrus Stevens
Ober, which to me indicates that Hannah's family name was Stevens, and not Stuckey.
The family is listed on the 1830 census of Woodbury, Bedford Co., PA, and on the
1840 & 1850 censuses of South Woodbury, Bedford Co., PA. They were of the
Reformed Baptist faith. Hannah Stephens Ober died on July 25, 1851 in Texas
Corner, South Woodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA. Jacob died on September 09,
1855 in Texas Corner, S. Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co., PA. Jacob & Hannah are
both buried in the Sollenberger/Ober Cem., South Wodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA. Photo of children of Hannah Stephens Stuckey Ober Notes for Hannah Stephens Stuckey Ober |
 | 8)Henry Stephens | Henry Stephens was born December
2, 1810 in Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a son the right age to
be Henry, age 9, in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a son the right age to be Henry, age 19, in the household
of Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Henry
married Margaret McDowell about 1840 in PA, and they had at least
5 children. There is a household of Henry Stiffy on the 1840 census of Blair,
Huntingdon Co., PA near the households of Nicholas Sr & Nicholas Jr Stiffy
that has numbers that would fit Henry & Margaret. The family moved from Huntingdon
County to Clarion Co., PA sometime between 1840 to 1847. Biographies of their
sons James (born Jan 1847) & Joseph (Jan 1850) state that both were born in
Clarion Co., PA. The family is listed on the 1850 census of Beaver Twp., Clarion
Co., PA. They moved from PA to Benton Co., IA, arriving on April 27, 1852. Henry
is listed on the index of the 1852 state census of Taylor, Benton Co., IA. The
family is listed on the 1860 census of Benton Twp., Benton Co., IA, living with
Henry's widowed father Nicholas Stephens. Henry's oldest son Harrison was killed
in the Civil War in 1864. I have not found Henry, Margaret, or their children
on the 1870 census at this time. Margaret died on March 8, 1876 in Benton Co.,
IA, and Henry died the same year. A descendant of daughter Mary Jane said the
family story in her line is that Henry had sold horses in Vinton, IA, and was
murdered on the way home. Henry Stephens died December 25, 1876 in Benton Co.,
IA. He & Margaret are buried in the Prairie United Bretheren Cemetery,
Taylor Twp., Benton Co., IA. Notes for Henry Stephens |
 | 9)Rebecca Stephens | Rebecca Stephens was born on
April 19, 1812 in Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the
right age to be Rebecca, age 8, in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820
census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age to
be Rebecca, age 18, in the household of Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of
Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Rebecca married Jacob Leamer about 1832
in Huntingdon Co., PA and they had 13 children. The family is listed on the 1840
census of Bedford, Bedford Co., PA. They moved with their family from Pennsylvania
to Iowa in 1850, and they are listed on the 1850 census of District #11, Benton
Co., IA near her parents and her married sister Margaret Hite. They are listed
on the 1854 state census of Canton Twp., Benton Co., IA. Jacob Leamer died January
4, 1860 in Benton Co., IA. Rebecca is listed on the 1860, 1870, 1880, & 1900
censuses of Eden Twp, Benton Co., IA. She is living with her married daughter
Delilah Thomas in 1870, with her married son David in 1880, and with her married
daughter Elizabeth Dilling in 1900. In 1900 she is listed as having 13 births
with 8 surviving children at that time. Rebecca is not listed as a surviving sibling
in the July 1, 1890 obit of her brother Nicholas, but probably this was because
she had emigrated away from Pennsylvania where he died. Rebecca Stephens Leamer
died on November 11, 1903 in Benton Co., IA. Jacob & Rebecca are buried
in the Prairie United Bretheren Cemetery, Sec. 35, Taylor Twp., Benton Co., IA. The Family of Jacob Leamer & Rebecca Stephens Notes for Rebecca Stephens Leamer |
| 10)Catharine Stephens | Catharine Stephens was born on September
9, 1814 in Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age
to be Catharine, age 6, in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820 census
of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age to be Catharine,
age 16, in the household of Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA. Catharine married Henry Wertz in 1835 and they had
8 children. The only household headed by a Henry Wertz (soundexed) in PA in 1840
that has numbers that exactly fits the known children for this family is living
in St. Clair, Bedford Co., PA. A biography of their son Henry states that Henry
and Catherine (Stephens) Wertz were pioneer settlers of Blair Co., PA (formed
from parts of Bedford & Huntingdon Counties in 1846). It goes on to say that
the family lived in Greenfield Twp, Blair (then Bedford) Co., PA but were living
in Somerset Co., PA when Henry was born in 1849. After his birth they again moved
to Greenfield Twp, near Claysburg, "where he spent his boyhood days".
Henry & Catharine are listed with their family on the 1850, 1860, 1870 &
1880 censuses of Greenfield, Blair Co., PA. Henry's occupation is listed on the
1850, 1860 & 1870 censuses as "Fuller" and on the 1880 census as
"Manufacturer of Woolen Goods." Henry was killed on March 22, 1884 by
a tree which fell on him as it was being cut down by one of his sons. An online
tree posted by Jeff Rinscheid states that it was son, John W. Wertz, but Nancy
Dearing Rossbacher says her father wrote in his book " Now Remembered: Living
Pennsylvania History through 1900" that it was son Wilson Reese Wertz. Catharine
Stephens Wertz died on April 20, 1889 in Greenfield, Blair Co., PA. Notes for Catharine Stephens Wertz Photo of John W. Wertz, son of Henry & Catharine Stephens Wertz |
 | 11)Nicholas R. Stephens | Nicholas R. Stephens was born
on January 05, 1817 Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Nicholas is listed in
research by Dale Steffey as Nicholas Jr., which would indicate his name may have
been John Nicholas Stephens, but the 1850 census and his obituary both list his
name as being Nicholas R. Stephens. There is a son the right age to be Nicholas,
age 3, in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon
Co., PA. There is a son the right age to be Nicholas, age 13, in the household
of Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. Nicholas
married Ruth Curry about 1839 in PA and they had at least 7 children born
between 1840 to 1851. Nicholas first appears on Huntingdon County tax records
in 1840, and he is listed as Nicholas Stiffy on the 1840 census of Blair, Huntingdon
Co., PA along with households of his father Nicholas & brother Henry. The
family emigrated from Pennsylvania to Iowa about 1850, and they are listed on
the 1850 census of Linn Co., IA. There is a John Stephens listed on the 1852 state
census of Taylor Twp., Benton Co., IA on the same page as Nicholas Stephens Sr.
and Henry Stephens that may be this family. A letter written by David Curry to
Nicholas in January indicates that Nicholas & Ruth planned to return from
Iowa to Pennsylvania in Spring 1852. The family is listed on the 1860 census of
Blair Co., PA. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Nicholas enlisted in Company
H, Third Regiment, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, and at time of discharge he
had the rank of Sergeant. At the expiration of his term of service he returned
home, and then he re-enlisted-in the construction corps and served one year. His
Civil War record is under the name Nicholas Stephens, and that is also the spelling
on his obituary. Nicholas & Ruth & family are listed on the 1870 census
of Frankstown, Blair Co., PA, and on the 1880 census of Altoona, Blair Co., PA.
Ruth died sometime between 1880 to 1890, probably in Altoona, Blair Co., PA. Nicholas
Stephens died of Bright's Disease on June 30, 1890 in Altoona, Blair Co., PA.
He is buried in the Oak RidgeCemetery, Blair Co., PA. Notes for Nicholas R. Stephens Photos & Records for Nicholas R. Stephens |
| 12)Eliza Stephens | Eliza Stephens was born on in June 22, 1819
in Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age to be
Eliza, age 1, in the household of Nicholas Stephy on the 1820 census of Frankstown,
Huntingdon Co., PA. There is a daughter the right age to be Eliza, age 11, in
the household of Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon
Co., PA. There is a female the right age to be Eliza, age 20, in the household
of Nicholas Stiffy on the 1840 census of Blair, Huntingdon Co., PA. Eliza married
Joseph Shultz Hoover about 1843 and they had at least 5 children born between
1844 to 1855. A tree posted on Ancestry.com by Linda Cochran state that this family
had 7 children born between 1844 to 1858 who are buried at Greenwood Cemetery
in Huntingdon Co., PA. Blair Co., PA was formed on Feb 26, 1846 from parts of
Bedford and Huntingdon counties, and Joseph & Eliza & family are listed
on the 1850 census of Juniata, Blair Co., PA. They are listed on the 1860 census
of Jackson, Huntingdon Co., PA. Joseph Hoover was killed on September 17, 1862
in the Civil War, and he is buried in Antietem Cemetery. Eliza is listed on the
1870 & 1880 censuses of Jackson, Huntingdon Co., PA. In 1870 she is head of
household with her youngest son, William, and in 1880 she is listed in the household
of James & Sarah (Hoover) Howard. She is listed as "Mrs.Eliza Hoover,
of Greenwood Furnace. Huntingdon, county" in the July 1, 1890 obit of her
brother Nicholas. Eliza Stephens Hoover died on February 24, 1893 in Jackson
Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA. She is buried in the Ennisville Cemetery, Jackson
Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA. |
| 13)Unknown Son Stephens | Unknown Son Stephens was born between 1820
to 1825 in Huntingdon Co., PA. He is listed at age 5-9 in the household of
Nicholas Stiffler on the 1830 census of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., PA. He is
listed at age 15-19 in the household of Nicholas Stiffy on the 1840 census Blair,
Huntingdon Co., PA. I do not have any more information on this son. Notes for Unknown Son Stephens |
