John Gray STEPHENS, the son of John STEPHENS (1829-1915) and Martha Jane "Marthy" (CAMPBELL) STEPHENS, was born in Caledonia, Lotts Creek Township of Ringgold County, Iowa, on December 8th, 1882. He married on September 28, 1909, Ringgold County, Iowa, to Mary "Pearl" Richardson. The daughter of Andrew RICHARDSON (1863-1944) and Emma Malinda (SULLIVAN) RICHARDSON (1865-1939), Pearl was born in Riley Township of Ringgold County, Iowa, on April 30, 1899. John and Pearl celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary (above photograph) on September 28, 1969.

John and Pearl were the parents of four children:
1) Lola Mae (STEPHENS) OLNEY, 1910-1996
2) Elma Elnore (STEPHENS) MAIN, 1912-1993
3) Raymond Dale STEPHENS, born 1922
4) Carolyn Lee STEPHENS, 1933-1933

John G. STEPHENS died at the age of 87 on January 13, 1970, Caledonia, Lotts Creek Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. Pearl (RICHARDSON) STEPHENS died in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, at the age of 85 on April 27, 1975. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Photographs and submission by Julie Watts, September of 2009