Marilyn, I am intrigued with your Stephens since they parallel my own (well....kinda/sorta !). I suppose there are a ton of Stevens that would match this, but still, it is interesting. My Joseph Stevens / Stephens is b. NY per the 1880 census, in c.1800; married Almira DEE born VERMONT in Greene Co. IL in 1825; moved on to Louisiana MO soon after that where several children were born (none named William: Frank, Oliver, George Washington; John); and he, as well as the Dees, ended up in Hancock Co. IL. Some of the counties you mentioned aren't too far from here, and I suppose there were reasons a whole lot of people were moving into Illinois and Missouri, but it is intriguing to wonder if there is a connection. Nancy