THIRD GENERATION

18. Rev. Thaddeus Luther Stephens was born on Apr 22 1882 in Sulphur Springs, Benton County, Arkansas. Thaddeus' birth date is taken from the newspaper obituary of Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens He was educated in 1915 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. Attended Aurora College while pastoring the Claim Street Baptist Church. He was a on Jul 20 1915 in Midwest and Eastern United States. He was in 1930 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Baptist preacher that pastored a church at 575 Hayward St. The church is still there, over 60 years later. He died on Sep 30 1948 in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. Thaddeus' obituary in the Aurora Illinois Beacon News dated October 1, 1948 reads: "Rev. Stephens, Former Pastor, Dies at Elgin... Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens, formerly of Aurora, died in the Sherman Hospital at Elgin Thursday afternoon, Sept. 30. For two or more years he had been unable to continue pastoral work because of ill health. The Reverend Mr. Stephens was a former student at Aurora College. In his student days he served as pastor at Claim Street Baptist church. For a number of years before his illness he had served as pastor of several Baptist churches in Illinois."

His death announcement in the Elgin Illinois Courier-News stated: "Services at 1:30 Monday afternoon in the Norris Mortuary for the Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens will be conducted by the Rev. A.E. McKenney, pastor of First Baptist Church, and Dr. O.P. Jenks of Aurora. Burial will be in Bluff City Cemetery."

Dr. O.P. Jenks listed in his obituary was the former president of Aurora College. He was buried on Oct 2 1948 in Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens published obituary reads: The Rev. A.E. McKenney, pastor of First Baptist, Elgin, and Dr. O.R. Jenks of Aurora will officiate at the services at 1:30 Monday afternoon at the Norris Mortuary. Burial will be in Bluff City cemetery. Thaddeus was associated throughout his life with two religious denominations. First he was affiliated with the Advent Christian Church and then the Baptist faith. It is interesting to note that his father Harley W. Stephens was ordained into the Advent Christian Church four years prior to Thaddeus' birth, so it would be correct to say that his religious upbringing was Advent Christian due to his heritage. In addition, the marriage announcement of Thaddeus and his wife Abbie state that they actually honeymooned at Mendota, Illinois which was the site of the Bible college that eventually became Aurora College where he worked and attended.

Prior to his marriage, Thaddeus relocated from the northeast Arkansas and southwest Missouri region to western Wisconsin. The date of this move is not exactly known, but another family fact emerges that Thaddeus' father was an Evangelist and that he would have travelled around the midwest preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is my opinion that as Thaddeus grew up, his father would take him on Evangelism trips where he was exposed to much preaching of the Word. It is possibly through these travels or even through a contact of his father's that Thaddeus was called to Sparta, Wisconsin to begin his pastoring.

Another possibility to the Sparta, Wisconsin connection is that a long time friend and colleague of Thaddeus Stephens was Orren Jenks. Dr. Jenks was the president of Aurora College and was called the most important man in Advent Christian religion history. Dr. Jenks early in his ministerial career also lived in Sparta, Wisconsin. It is more than just coincidence that these two ministers would have connected in Sparta and then again at Aurora, Illinois both working for the same college and both with the same denominational affiliation. Lastly, with the longevity of over fifty years of their friendship, it was Dr. Orren Jenks that eulogized Rev. T.L. Stephens at his funeral.

Back to Thaddeus in Sparta...Elder Stephens, as he was called at that time, was well known in the Wisconsin area as his marriage announcement stated. It is evident that Thaddeus Stephens travelled throughout Wisconsin because of the fact that he, residing in northwest Wisconsin near Minnesota would have met a lovely girl from southern Wisconsin.

After returning to Sparta, Wisconsin with his bride Abbie, they resided there only about four more years, long enough for their first child, Miriam, to be born in Sparta. Thaddeus and Abbie were then in Illinois in 1911 and 1912 where their second son Owen was born. In November 1913 and July, 1914 the Stephens were in Chetek, Wisconsin and then in 1915 they moved to Aurora, Illinois just before the birth of the triplets. In moving to Aurora, Thaddeus was enrolled in Aurora College and served as the College's Secretary prior to becoming the pastor of the Claim Street Baptist Church. He is listed as Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens with his wife Abbie in the 1915 Aurora, Illinois City Directory as secretary and treasurer of Aurora College, living at 163 Calumet Avenue. The Aurora Beacon-News stated that "Aurora had five Baptist churches in those days. Claim Street Baptist, on Claim Street at the corner of State Street, had Rev. T.L. Stephens as pastor."

It was at this point that Elder T.L. Stephens became Rev. T.L. Stephens with his ordination into the Baptist faith. The following text is recorded as Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephen's Ordination:

"A council was called at the Claim Street Baptist Church of Aurora on July 20th, 1915, to consider the matter of ordaining it's pastor, Thaddeus Stevens (Stephens). Rev. R.H. Claxon of Aurora was elected Moderator, Rev. C.A. Neyman of Joliet, clerk. It is reported that the candidate passed a highly satisfactory examination. Dr. E.W. Lounsbury of Aurora delivered the sermon and Dr. J. Stanley Brown of Joliet gave the charge to the candidate. Rev. C.A. Neyman of Joliet gave the charge to the church and Rev. Henry Clay Miller of Aurora presented the Bible and Rev. J.D. Crumley of Plainfield offered the ordaining prayer."

The Claim Street Baptist Church was at the time one of the largest and most growing Baptist Churches in the area. It was in Aurora that Thaddeus' last two children were born and his affiliation with Aurora College continued. After serving Claim Street Baptist Church in Aurora for five years, Thaddeus and family moved to Elgin, Illinois where he pastored Immanuel Baptist Church. It was in Elgin where many lifelong ties were formed and the home of many of his children and grandchildren. It was at Immanuel Baptist Church that Grace Stephens Marquis (the last surviving Stephens) had her membership all these years.

As the Great Depression came, Thaddeus took a pastorate in Rochester, New York with a small but active congregation. The Baptist Church building in Rochester was about the size of Immanuel Baptist Church in Elgin. One important fact about this pastorate was that Thaddeus went alone to Rochester, leaving his wife Abbie and the children back in Aurora, Illinois. Grace Stephens Marquis relates that this was a very hard decision for Thaddeus and Abbie but that times were hard and they had to do what they could to get by. Many letters and photographs were sent back and forth and Thaddeus and Abbie saved enough money for her to take a trip to Rochester to visit her husband and his eastern congregation. On that trip, Abbie took her daughter Lois and her son David via rail to Rochester.

While in Rochester, the Stephens took a trip to Vermont and New Hampshire and visited with Abbie Bennett Stephens' half-sister Carrie Whalen. It is apparent from the photographs that T.L. took that they had a wonderful time visiting the Northeast. Having visited there myself with my family, I could easily concur that it is a spectacular place to visit.

A point to ponder is whether on the trip to Rochester, Abbie would have gone to visit the area of her grandfather's birth. E.R. Bennett was born at Conquest, New York and that is just to the southeast of Rochester. One can only imagine that she would have travelled through the Conquest area on their way to Vermont and that they would have possibly visited some distant relatives. No fact or story of this visit is evident, only author speculation because of my visiting the actual places where my ancestors lived. This to me was very exciting to be in the same spot, literally, as my fore-family would have been, but that is part of being passionate about genealogy and family history.

To continue, in 1934, Thaddeus left New York and returned to the midwest taking a series of pastorates in western Illinois. He was actually pastor of a group of small churches that could not afford to have a full time pastor. It was in Roseville and Plymouth, Illinois that Rev. T.L. Stephens served more than one congregation. The First Baptist Church in Roseville was the center of his ministry as he travelled to the other congregations on rotating Sundays.

The First Baptist Church is a beautiful building with spectacular stained glass windows. I was fortunate in October of 1997 to visit Roseville and actually go inside the church my great-grandfather pastored. What a thrill to see the sanctuary that hadn't changed much in almost 50 years since Thaddeus's death. I got to see the chair that he sat in prior to preaching and stand at the pulpit where he preached. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I was standing in the very place where my great-grandfather served the Lord. The church historian, Mrs. Alva Hutchins, was very gracious to me and she told me that she remembered Rev. Stephens because she joined the church in 1940 when he was the pastor. It was Mrs. Hutchins that told me the church was basically the same and that the furniture at the altar was there when Rev. Stephens was there. My thanks to God and to Mrs. Hutchins for providing




The Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens served the following churches:

1915-1920 Claim Street Baptist Church, Aurora, Illinois
1921-1929 Immanuel Baptist, Elgin, Illinois
1930-1933 Baptist Church, Rochester, New York
1934-1945 1st Baptist Church, Roseville, Illinois
1st Baptist Church, Plymouth, Illinois

In simple calculation, Rev. T.L. Stephens would have preached about 5,150 sermons or probably more in his lifetime. How beautiful are those that bear "good news!"

He was married to Abbie Bennett (daughter of George Hustus Whalen and Abigail Olivia Bennett) on Aug 24 1909 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. The published newspaper announcements of Thaddeus and Abbie's wedding are:

Stephens - Bennett. At the residence of the bride's mother in Arena Wis., at
high noon of Aug. 24, 1909, Eld. T.L. Stephens of Sparta, Wis., and Miss Abbie
Bennett of Arena, the undersigned officiating.

The bride is one of Arena's best young ladies, well known and highly appreciated
by a large circle of friends in that county. Eld. Stephens is quite favorably
known as a young minister of the A.C. faith in Kansas, Wisconsin, and elsewhere,
and is much beloved at Mendota, where for several years he was a student at
Mendota College. He is at present in charge of the A.C. pastorate at Sparta,
Wis. After the ceremony the wedding pair took the afternoon train for Mendota,
Ill., where they attended the recent camp meeting, afterwards, returning to Sparta,
Wis., where they will be at home to all friends. May they be blessed of God in
the duties of their high and holy calling and see many souls saved in the
Kingdom of God. - Byron N. Meigs

[The Editor and Bro. Stephens' many Mendota friends add kindest wishes and
congratulate themselves upon the recent acquaintance with Sr. Stephens, formed at
the camp meeting. H.P.]

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A quiet wedding took place at the residence of Mrs. Rachel Bennett in Arena on
the 24th of August at high noon when Rev. T.L. Stephens of Sparta and Miss Abbie
Bennett of Arena were united in holy wedlock. Mr. Stephens is at present
pastor of the A.C. church
George and Abbie were married in the home of E.H. Sackett who performed their marriage ceremony. The vows were witnessed by John Ford and M.A. Sackett (probably the clergyman's wife). They were married in Dane County, Wisconsin which is the county just to the east of where the bride and groom lived in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin.

According to the first letter of George H. Whalen to his daughter Abbie (Bennett) Stephens, he addresses Rachel Bennett as "Aunt Rachel". Since his mother Eunice Whalen and Rachel Dodge were sisters, that would make George Whalen and his first wife Abigail Bennett first cousins.

The Registration of Marriages for Dane County, Wisconsin, certificate number 02989, filed November 25, 1878, records some of the only known information about George and Abbie. This document reveals George's middle name, plus Abbie's accurate middle name. Secondly, their marriage date, and then George's father's name: Nelson Whalen. In addition, Abbie's father's name is recorded as Elisha Rue Bennett. Abbie Bennett was born on Apr 22 1879 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Abbie is listed in the 1880 U.S. Census for Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin as being one year old and living with her grandmother Rachel Bennett. It was recorded on her marriage registration that she was born in 1882, but that record is not accurate as verified in the 1880 census record. She died on Sep 4 1963 in Maywood, Cook County, Illinois. The published obituary of Mrs. Thaddeus L. Stephens in the Elgin (IL) Daily Courier News, Thursday, September, 5, 1963 reads: Mrs. Abbie B. Stephens, 84, formerly of 1125 Duncan Ave. and widow of Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens, one-time pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, died Wednesday night in the Baptist Retirement Home in Maywood following an extended illness. Born in Arena, Wis., April 22, 1879, she first cam to Elgin with her husband in 1921 from Aurora. In 1929 they moved to Roseville and Plymouth (IL). Upon his retirement in 1945 they returned to Elgin. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Senior Citizens. All of her children were named in the obituary, plus her half-sister Caroline (Carrie) Whalen of Springfield, MA. At the time of her death, Abbie had 22 grandchildren and 12 great-grand children. She was buried on Sep 7 1963 in Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. The published obituary of Mrs. Thaddeus L. Stephens in the Elgin (IL) Daily Courier News, Thursday, September, 5, 1963 also reads: The Rev. Dr. Willis A. Reed, pastor of First Baptist Church, will officiate at services Saturday at 2pm from the Reber Mortuary. Burial will be in Bluff City Cemetery. Friends may call at the mortuary after Friday noon. A memorial in Mrs. Stephens name has been established for the Deacon's Fund of First Baptist Church.

**Great-grandmother Abbie's wake was the first time I had ever seen someone lying in a casket. I remember everyone speaking of her with such great love that it really did not bother me at such a young age (6 years old). - Daniel L. Robbins. Abigail's mother died three weeks after Abigail was born. Bennett is her grandmother's surname. After her mother died, her grandmother Bennett took custody of her from her father George Whalen. Abigail did not know until she was 12 years old that she was actually being raised by her grandmother "Ma" Bennett.

Her father, George Whalen in later years tried to get back in contact with his daughter. The following letters are the first ones he wrote to Abbie while he was in Nova Scotia:

Canning, November 1911

My dear daughter Abby I am going for the first time to write you a few lines I don't know how to commence. I was so glad to hear from you through Uncle Nelson who sent me the letter you wrote him. I could not belive my own eyes the letter was written by your own hand. I don't know how to express my self I felt so glad to hear from you. Now Abby I am going to tell you that you have three brothers and two sisters they are scattered. My oldest girl Carry has been teaching school in Boston for the last six years the next is married and lives in Wolfville eight miles from me the third is in Boston this winter. I forgot to tell their names Josie and Alma. The oldest boy is married and lives in Saskatchewan the Canadian north west his name is Ralph. The two youngest boys Harry and Lance is at home with me. The youngest is nineteen past. Now Abby I want you to tell me how long Aunt Rachel has been dead and whether there is living among our folks and how long since you left Arena and where did Aunt Rachel live when she died. Uncle Nelee tells me they are most al dead. There has been a great many changes within the last thirty years. I would like to see you I have been trying to get time for the last two years to go west to try and find you but thank to the good lord I have heard of you now. Abby I want you to send me your picture and your husband and little girl. I will stop for this time. I will try and do better next time. Excuse this poor handwriting and spelling. I forgot to tell you my mother lives with me she is ninety one years old the thirty first of next month. I have to lift her in and out of bed and dress her every day she is not very well at the present.

Good Bye

We all join in sending our love to you. Remember me to your husband. Write soon as you get this. Good bye again.

From Father

Address George H. Whalen
Canning
Kings County
Nova Scotia

The second letter from George Whalen to his daughter Abbie reads:

Canning, December 14 1911

Dear Abby I received your welcome letter three days ago and likewise your pictures. I was more than pleased to get them it was so strange how things come around well I will not enter into any debates at the present but hoping to see you again. I hope you will come next summer to see me as I expect Ralph will be home from the west if all is well the rest was home and we will have a good time. I wish it was so that you all could meet this Christmas but it is not that they can...well I cannot stop to scribble any more this time as I want to catch the mail. I am going to send you a little Christmas present an order for ten.. am hope to be remember to your husband will write more next time write soon.

From Father
Rev. Thaddeus Luther Stephens and Abbie Bennett had the following children:

child+24 i. Miriam Ruth Stephens.
child+25 ii. Owen Keith Stephens.
child+26 iii. Margaret Elizabeth Stephens.
child+27 iv. Grace Naomi Stephens.
child+28 v. Lois Venora Stephens.
child+29 vi. Harley Whalen Stephens Dr..
child+30 vii. David Robert Stephens.

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