James Charles Stevens, Jr. was born son of James Charles Stevens, Sr. and Martha Stevens, born in London, England ca. 1825.
James Charles Stevens, Jr. immigrated to America in 1858.
James Charles Stevens, Jr. married Amanda Melvina Ashley on January 4, 1857 in Nashville, Davidson County, TN. Both the marriage bond and the marriage license are dated December 29th, 1856. Amanda was born September 23, 1826 in Nashville, Davidson County, TN.
The children of James Charles Stevens, Jr. and Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens were:
- James Wharton Stevens, b. June 25, 1858, Nashville, Davidson, TN and died January 16, 1930, age 71, Memphis, Shelby, TN.
- William George Stevens, b. April 12, 1860, Nashville, Davidson, TN and died July 3, 1932, Memphis, Shelby, TN.
- Charles “Charlie” Richard Stevens, b. April 2, 1862, Nashville, Davidson, TN and died July 20, 1863, Nashville, buried Nashville City Cemetery in plot with Maria Louise Custis/Curtis Ashley (his grandmother).
- Emma Stevens, b. July 10, 1864 (6 years on 1870 census, b. TN, not listed 1880)
- Charles George Stevens, b. June 15, 1868/1869, TN.
1860 Census, Nashville, Davidson County, TN, 8th Ward of Nashville, D-5-171
- James Charles Stevens, Jr. (34), machinist, b. England
- Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (33), b. TN
- James Wharton Stevens (2), b. TN
- William George Stevens (2/12), b. TN, April 1860
1870 Census, Nashville, Davidson County, TN, 8th Ward, D-443, (584/706)
- James Charles Stevens (Stephens), Jr. (43), railroad machinist, b. England
- Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (Stephens) (40) b. TN
- James Wharton Stevens (Stephens) (12), b. TN, attending school
- William “Willie” George Stevens (Stephens) (10), b. TN, attending school
- Charles Stevens (Stephens) (7), b. TN, attending school
- Emma Stevens (Stephens) (6), b. TN
- Charles George Stevens (Stephens) (2), b. TN
1880 Census, Nashville, Davidson County, TN, 10th District, E.D. 70, p.12 (133)
- James (Jos.) Charles Stevens, Jr., (55), machinist, b. England, parents b. England
- Amanda (A.M., Mrs.) Melvina Ashley Stevens (53), wife, b. TN, parents b. TN
- William George Stevens (20), son, apprentice, b. TN
- Charles George Stevens (11), son, born TN
- James Wharton Stevens (22), son, machinist, b. TN
- Emma Ann Williams Stevens (24), wife of James Wharton Stevens, b. TN
- Emma Gertrude Stevens (5/12), their baby born July 1879 in TN.
1880 &1885 Nashville City Directory
- James Charles Stevens, Jr., foreman at Penitentiary, lived Bilbo Ave. & Waller.
- William George Stevens lived at the same address.
1888 Nashville City Directory
- James Charles Stevens, Jr., machinist, lived Spruce and Bass.
- Charles William Stevens, machinist, at same address.
1890 Memphis City Directory
- James Charles Stevens, Jr., engineer, lived at 141 Looney Street.
- Charles George Stevens, laborer, at same address.
1891 Memphis City Directory
- James Charles Stevens, Jr. engineer, lived at 141 Looney Street.
1892 James Charles Stevens, Jr. and Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens divorced.
- Can not find divorce records.
1892 James Charles Stevens, Jr. married Esther “Essie” Groves Wirt Stevens on November 5, 1892 in Keithsburg, Mercer County, IL (Aledo, county seat), marriage #4527, book 1, page 4. They were married by J. E. Wasmuth, minister of the M.E. Church in Keithsburg. It was the second marriage for both.
Essie was born in England 1831 and her parents were George Groves and Margaret Sires Groves, b. England. Essie’s first husband was Martin Wirt who died August 5, 1879. Essie died August 8, 1917 and was buried with Martin Wirt and their children in Greenmound Cemetery and went back to the name Wirt after the death of James Charles Stevens, Jr.
1900 Census, Shelby County, TN, 14th District, E.D. 99
- James Charles Stevens, Jr., engineer at the U.S. Marine Hospital, b. April 1839, married, b. England, parents b. England.
1900 Census, Memphis, Shelby, TN, 12th Ward, E.D. 99, p. 24 (171/433/462)
- James Charles Stevens, Jr. (shows 61, should be 76), b. 1839, married 10 years, b. England, parents b. England, machinist & engineer, 1857 was year of immigration to U.S., 43 years in U.S., naturalized citizen.
- Esther Groves Wirt Stevens (“Essie/Adalade”) (41), b. Feb. 1859, married 10 years, mother of two children, two living, b. MS, parents b. MS.
- Guy G. Stevens (9), son, b. Sept. 1890 in TX
- Mary Stevens (6), daughter, b. July 1894 in TN
Boarders living with them:
- Robert Ward (30), b. GA (worked in cotton mill)
- Lee Acker (21), b. TN (worked in cotton mill)
- Fred B. Smith (32), b. Delaware (cotton spinner)
Residence: Delaware Avenue.
1900 Census, Memphis, Shelby, TN, 5th Civil District, E.D. 90, p. 1 (129/34/41)
- Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (Stephens) (73), b. Sept. 1826 in TN, her father b. NC, and her mother b. TN., widowed (“Grass widow”, divorced, husband not dead, still above ground), mother of 7children, 3 living.
- Charles George Stevens (Stephens) (30), b. 1869, single, engineer in sawmill. They lived at 129 Looney Street.
1914 & 1915 Memphis City Directory
- James (Jos.) Charles Stevens, Jr. lived at 337 W. Johnson Place.
1915, November 2, James Charles Stevens, Jr. died in Memphis, Shelby, TN and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown.
Obit for James Charles Stevens, Jr., Memphis Commercial Appeal, November 3, 1915, page 7.
Stevens-at residence No. 337 West Johnson Place, Tuesday evening, November 2, 1915, at 7:30 o’clock, James C., husband of Adda (Essie) Stevens, father of J.W., W.G., C.G., and Guy G. Stevens and Mrs. Ben Floyd, brother of C.W. Stevens of Nashville, TN and Mrs. M.C. Lynn of Manhattan, Kansas, age 74 (91) years. Funeral will take place from the parlors of John J. Collins. Due notice of the time will be given.
1916 Memphis City Directory
- Essie, widow of James Charles Stevens, Jr. lived at 337 W. Johnson Place.
1917 Memphis City Directory
- Property at 337 W. Johnson Place was owned by G. F. Morrell.
James Charles Stevens, Jr. died November 2, 1915 at 7:30 p.m., at age 91 in Memphis, Shelby, TN, and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, section B Adult, Lot 883 single, burial # 3917, November 4, 1915. Male, white, married, cause of death senility, general debility, place of death, 337 W. Johnson Place, physician, S. W. Thorn, undertaker, Jno. J. Collins. State of TN Board of Health file #2756, Registered # 2757, showed length of residence at address as 4 yrs., in the state 20 yrs., father was James Stevens, b. England, mother was unknown, birthplace unknown. It showed his age at 74 (91). Death certificate informant was Mrs. J. C. Stevens.
Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens died March 28, 1901, age 79, in Memphis, Shelby, TN, and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, section A Adult, Lot F 90, burial #365 on March 29, 1901. Female, white, cause of death, Senility La Grippe, place of death, 129 Looney Street, physician, J. F. Cochran, undertaker, Holst Bros., Shelby County Pre-1902 Death Records, File # P.151.
submitted by Peggy Rhinerson