About ten days ago I sent the following message to the three counties that I thought might have some information for me on James Stephens and his two wives. My questions have been partially answered! 1). James Stephens full name was Frank James Stephens, so his tombstone might be listed either way. So far, I have no knowledge where he is buried. All I know is that he was alive in 1880 (AGE 73) for the census and was in Benton Co., AR. 2). The Elizabeth Stephens (lst wife) is not the Elizabeth Stephens I referenced in my first message. I still don't know where she is buried. My initial guess is in McDonald County where her children are buried. 3) I have found out information, however, on the second wife. Apparently, Nancy Pendergraft was her married name before she married Stephens. It appears that she was the wife of J. J. Pendergraft in Barry County, MO. in 1860 (Sugar Creek Twp). Doe anyone know about this family? I have been told that her maiden name was Barnes (or Barns). Listed on the 1860 census in Barry Co., along with the J. J. Pendergraft family with Nancy as the wife, is a Heny T. Barns, age 11. My guess is that this may be Nancy's brother. Was there a Barns or Barnes family in Barry County, perhaps around Washburn? The Pendergraft name is spelled Pendergraff on this census. Kay Winter [email protected] Colorado Springs, CO ____________________________________________________________________________ _THIS WAS MY ORIGINAL POSTING: I am addressing this e-mail to the three counties in which I believe there may be someone who has researched this marriage. I am specifically researching James Stephens. I first found the Stephens family in Johnson County, MO. From there, they were in Benton County, MO (1850 census) then in Hickory County by the 1860 census. Frank James Stephens apparently was always known as James Stephens. His first wife was Elizabeth Dyer. They had at least 9 children, Joseph, Greenberry (our relationship is with him), Elisha, Lovett, Nancy, L., Andrew, William and Louisa. We are aware of the Confederate leanings of the Stephens family which caused them to leave Hickory County and go to McDonald County, perhaps in 1860 or shortly thereafter. I have researched these children and know what became of the oldest four siblings. My question is about the parents. In the 1860 census, James was 56 and Elizabeth was 53. They were in Hickory County. I have not found him on the 1870 census, but I am sure they had escaped to the SW corner of Missouri.McDonald County, probably. By the 1880 census, James was in Dickson Township, Benton County, AR with a new wife, and Elizabeth has perhaps died. I know that many of the family are buried in Roller Cemetery in McDonald County. The only Elizabeth Stephens listed in this cemetery that could possibly be her shows she was born October 22, 1858...If the tombstone is not very legible as indicated on the cemetery listing, this 1858 date could possibly by 1808, which would be about the correct date for her birth. That's a possibility as this Elizabeth is buried near the children of James. Back to the 1880 census in which James has a new wife. She is listed as Nancy Stephens. Living with them are apparently her two sons from a previous marriage, William C. and Ellis W. Pendergraff . Living next door is James' granddaughter and her husband (Mary and Jefferson Bowman) and child. So, I am sure this is the correct James Stephens. This 1880 census is in Dickson Township, Benton Co., AR. I found a J. J. Pendergraff in the 1860 census of Barry County, MO (Sugar Creek Twp..Washburn) who could possibly be her previous husband. I have no clue as to her maiden name. There are two children W.C and E.W. which exactly corresponds with their ages on the 1880 census. And his wife's name was Nancy. So far, so good. She is shown as age 25 in 1860 and 57 in 1880...oops! Now I realize women didn't want to tell their ages and someone may have guessed as to her age, but this is a little far fetched to be off by 12 years! I would really like to know where James Stephens is buried and where his two wives are buried, I attempted to look at cemetery listings but I am not that familiar with cemeteries and their locations, other than the Roller Cemetery in McDonald County. I found the Pendergraff name also spelled Pendergraft so I am not sure if they are the same family with different spellings. Because the county and state lines are very close together, all of these places could be near one another. I found lots of references on the rootsweb archives to the interactions between the two families, Stephens and Pendergraff, but none about these two specifically. If someone could help, I would appreciate it. Kay Winter Colorado Springs, CO