From Carol Turk a WEEKLEY cousin a RESEARCHER FOR TYLER County, WVCarol took the information from a book written by James Stephens, who wrote the "Book on the Stephens families.

"John Francis and Mary Ellen (Weekley) Stephens were both born and lived all there natural lives in what is now West Virginia. Both were born the youngest child. Both died at their home on Lick Run, Walker Station, Wood County, West Virginia. Mary Ellen died at the age of 75 on 9 February 1927 and John died at the age of 90 on 8 November 1936.Both are buried at Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery, Walker West Virginia.They were the parents of 13 children, 2 of whom died at infancy. All the children were born in Tyler County, West Virginia.

**John did serve for a brief time in two different units of the Monongalia County Home Guards during the Civil War. Records indicate John joined at Fairmont, West Virginia 01 October 1864, the 16th Militia, West Virginia State Troops, Monongalia County. John served for a total of 8 days with this Company, commanded by Captain Emord Tennant. John also served in a unit commanded by Captain Britton. **

John's brother Henry also served with the Home Guards during the Civil War.

Five of John's brother-in-laws served in the war.

1.Joseph Yard Province (husband of Permelia)

2.Ambrose Fox ( husband of Barbara E.)

John T. Cross (second husband of Nancy Ellen), a great-uncle of mine.
Ulysses Martin ( first husband of Martha E.)
Absolom A. Arnett (husband of Mary Ann).

Ulysses Mason died in the rebel prison of wounds received in battle near Winchester, Va. during the war.

All 5 of Mary Ellens brothers served in the Civil War.

Levi D.

2.William W.

3.Elmore

4.George Washington

5.Francis Marion.

George Washington died of typhoid fever at the U.S. General Hospital in Baltimore and is laid to rest in the Civil War Cemetery in Louden Park, Baltimore Maryland.

In addition, John Gorby, the first husband of sister Rachel, also died of Typhoid fever during the Civil War. He is laid to rest in Gallipolis, Ohio. Mary signed her name as a witness on a general affidavit given by her sister-in-law Louise Weekley, wife of Francis W. Weekley, for the Civil War Pension. Shortly after moving to Tyler County, from Monongalia County, in 1867, at the age of 21, with his parents, John Francis met his bride to be and was married within a year. John and Mary established their first home on the family farm, belonging to John's parents. However, the health of John's father Samuel soon failed and, in1871, Samuel and Margaret divided and sold or gave their farm to their children.

A deed dated 17 October 1871 indicates that Samuel and Margaret sold to son John F. 50 acres on Muddy Creek, Tyler County, for $100.00 to be paid as follows,$30.00 to Nancy E.(wife of John T. Cross),$30.00 to be paid to Elizabeth Martin (wife of Dudley Martin) $30.00 to Mary Arnett ( wife of Absolom Arnett). Also $5.00 to Martha E. Nicholas, $ 5.00 to Marion Stephens.The above to be paid within one year of the death of the parties of the first part.

John was also to pay 1/2 of the debts of the parties of the first part contracted previous to this date. Both Samuel and Margaret signed their marks and was witnessed by J.R. Duty.

A deed also dated 17th October 1871 sold Henry Stephens 50 acreson Muddy Creek, Tyler County.

The selling price was $ 95.00, and to be paid as follows: $30.00 to Sarah E. few, $30.00 to Permelia J. Provence (wife of Joseph Provence), $30.00 to Barbara Fox (wife of Ambrose Fox), $2.00 to Martin E. Nicholas, all to be paid one year from time of death of the parties of the first part. Also, Henry is to pay 1/2 of all debts of the parties of the first part contracted previous to this date.

Henry was to take care of his parents and give them a comfortable living, and pay expenses.

He was also to pay funeral expenses, and pay $5.00 to Marion Stephens. Samuel and Margaret both signed their mark and was witnessed by J.R. Duty. Parties of the first part held lien on property to secure payment. On 2 April, 1872, Samuel and Margaret sold to E. S. B. Nicholas and Martha E. Nichlos (their daughter) 50 acres on Muddy Creek, Tyler County being part of the land that was purchased from John W. McCoy. This land sold for $550.00. Samuel and Margaret signed with their marks and was witnessed by Mary E. Stephens and Henry Stephens. Samuel died between 2 April 1872 when he sold the land to E.S.B. Nicholas on 7 November 1873.

The latter deed is for a sale of land by Henry Stephens, his wife, John F. and Mary Ellen to Francis M. Weekley (brother of Mary Ellen) 100 acres on Muddy Creek. The price for the land was $1500.00, and was to be paid $400.00 before the 15 March 1874, $200.00 before 15 March 1875, and each year thereafter with a final payment of $100.00 before 15 March 1880. Each payment was to be paid with interest. This deed was signed by John F., Mary Ellen (his wife), Henry, and Phobe (his wife).Margaret signed this deed as widow of Samuel. Deed was finally recorded 20 September 1883.Samuel is buried in Alf Smith Cemetery, near Middlebourne, West Virginia (visible marker). A tombstone for Margaret has not been found.

A census record has not been located for Margaret in 1880, but her death was reported by daughter-in-law Mary Ellen as 22 October 1884 in Tyler County death record list, age 77.

Later, Francis Marion Weekley sold 44 acres of this same property of land back to John F. Stephens. A deed indicates that Francis M. Weekley and his wife Louise sold 44 acres on Muddy Creek to John F. Stephens for$660.00. This deed was recorded in 1883. Within a short time, John sold the same 44 acres.

In a deed dated 5 April 1884, John and his wife Mary Ellen sold to Charles Reed for a sum of $700.00, recorded 9 October 1884. Charles Reed was to have possession of the land in the fall to "seed" in the fall of 1884 and full possession on 1 April 1885. John Stephens signed his mark and Mary Ellen signed her name. John and his family continued to live in Tyler County until 1895. However, there has been no additional land deeds located. It is believed that for the next few years, John was "scouting" land with the intent of moving out of Tyler County. In a statement found in the Civil War pension application of John, brother-in-law Absolom Arnett stated that on 20 July 1887 that John had left his family in Conway, Tyler County and was in Ohio and that was the last his family heard from him.

John did give signed statements concerning Absolom Arnett on 26 November 1887 at Conway, Tyler County. John had several cousins and other relatives living across the Ohio River from Tyler County, in Monroe County, Ohio.John made his choice of new land by 1894, in Wood County. A Wood County deed between George H. Textor and M.J. Textor, his wife, to John F. Stephens for 100 acres dated 2 April 1894.The purchase price was $800.00. $300.00 cash in hand and five negotiable notes for $100.00 each, payable each year for five years at 6% interest.The land was described as 100 acres of land lying on the waters of Lick Run.

©Stella Cotrill http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~stellacotrill/

John Francis Stephens