Son of: James Charles Stevens (Jr.) and Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens.
Brother of: William George Stevens, Charles “Charlie” Richard Stevens, Emma Stevens, and Charles George Stevens.
1858, June 25, James Wharton Stevens was born in Nashville, Davidson County, TN.
1860 Census, Nashville, Davidson, TN, 8th Ward of Nashville, D-5-171
- James Charles Stevens, Jr. (34), machinist, b. England
- Amanda Melvina Ashley Stevens (33), wife, b. TN
- James Wharton Stevens (2), b. TN
- William George Stevens (2/12), b. TN, April 1860
1870 Census, 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), wife, 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
Certificate: 1876, January 28, United States Inspectors Certificate to Engineers, No. 117.
This is to certify that James W. Stevens has been duly examined by the undersigned Local Inspectors of Steamboats for the District of Nashville, Tenn. as to his qualifications as an Engineer of Steam Vessels and found to be a competent and reliable person to be entrusted with the powers and duties of Engineer of “Special Class” on the Towing St. H. L. Hall and boats of her ? and he is therefore hereby Licensed to act as such for the term of one year from this date. Given under our hand this Twenty eight (28) day of January 1876. Signed by Inspector of Boilers and Inspector of Hulls. (can not read names)
Cards: “Memphis Temperance Pledge, January 1, 1877, with charity for all and malice toward none, I, the undersigned, DO PLEDGE, GOD HELPING ME, that I will forever abstain from the use of all Intoxicating Liquors as a beverage; and that I will, by all proper means, encourage others to abstain. Signed, James W. Stevens”. (also, have same card signed by Miss Emma A. Williams.
1879, February 23, James Wharton Stevens married Emma Ann Williams in Memphis, Shelby, TN by Thos. C. Holmes, Minister, M.E.Church, South. Marriage Bond was dated February 22, 1879, signed by James W. Stevens and Adolph R. Frey. Emma Ann Williams born Shaler Township, Allegheny County, PA, December 16, 1858 and died December 1, 1921, Chattanooga, TN. James Wharton Stevens was educated at Vanderbilt College, Nashville, TN.
The children of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens were:
- Emma Gertrude Stevens (Mrs. William S. Randolph, Sr.), b. January 7, 1880, Nashville, Davidson, TN, died September 17, 1957, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN.
- Margaret Louise Stevens (Mrs. Robert Burgher Pirtle), b. August 15, 1882, Nashville, TN, died March 23, 1963, Memphis, TN, buried Memphis National Cemetery, side by side w/Robert Burgher Pirtle.
- Jimetta Stevens (Mrs. Eugene Johnson Bettis), b. July 7, 1884, Nashville, TN, died October 31, 1965, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN.
- Arrabelle Stevens (Mrs. Tommy G. Tucker), b. November 20, 1887, Memphis, TN, died December 13, 1973, Memphis, TN, buried Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN
1880 Census, Nashville, Davidson, TN, 10th District, E.D. 70, page 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, b. TN
- James Wharton Stevens (22), son, machinist, b. TN
- Emma Ann Williams Stevens (24), wife of James Wharton Stevens, b. PA
- Emma Gertrude Stevens (5/12), their baby b. July 1879 in TN
1880, January 7, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Emma Gertrude Stevens was born.
1882, August 15, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Margaret Louise Stevens was born.
1884, July 7, Nashville, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Jimetta Stevens was born.
1887, November 20, Memphis, TN, the child of James Wharton Stevens and Emma Ann Williams Stevens, Arrabelle Stevens was born.
1910 Census, Memphis, Shelby, TN, E.D. 240, page 211:
- James Wharton Stevens (51), traveling salesman, mill supplies, b. TN, father b. England, mother, b. TN
- Emma Ann Williams Stevens (53), wife, b. PA, father b. Wales, mother b. NY
- Arrabelle Stevens (22), daughter, single, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA
- Charles George Stevens (42), brother of JWS, single, engineer fiber plant
- Robert Burgher Pirtle (29), son-in-law, salesman grocery store, b. TN, parents TN
- Margaret Louise Stevens Pirtle (27), daughter, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA
- Eva R Pirtle (7), stepdaughter, parents b. TN
1920 Census, Chattanooga, Hamilton, TN, E.D. 194, sheet # 21A, part of Ward 11
- Robert Burgher Pirtle (39), clerk, Southern Express, b. TN, parents b. TN
- Margaret Louise Stevens Pirtle (37), wife, b. TN, father b. TN, mother b. PA
- Eva R Pirtle (17), b. TN, parents b. TN
- Emma Ann Williams Stevens (62), mother-in-law, b. PA, father b. Wales, mother b. PA
- James Wharton Stevens (62), father-in-law, traveling salesman, mill supplies, b. TN, father b. England, mother b. TN
1921, December 1, Emma Ann Williams Stevens died in Chattanooga, Hamilton, TN and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, Shelby, TN.
1930, January 16, James Wharton Stevens died in Memphis, Shelby, TN at age 71 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, TN, Section 10, S ½, Lot 20, burial no. 8827, lot book 1, page 8, date of burial January 17, 1930.
State of Tennessee, Certificate of Death, file # 3597, registered no. 154, filed January 17, 1930, J. W. Stevens, age 71, male, white, married (to Lula Stevens, 285 N. McLean), occupation-engineer, b. TN, father, James C. Stevens, b. England, mother, Amanda Ashley, b. England (s/b Nashville, TN).
Obit for James Wharton Stevens: Stevens-At St. Joseph’s Hospital, Thursday afternoon, January 16, 1930 at 1:40 o’clock, James W. Stevens, husband of Lula Stevens, father of Mrs. W. M. (S.) Randolph, Mrs. E. J. Bettis, and Mrs. T. G. Tucker of this city and Mrs. R. B. Pirtle of Chattanooga, Tenn, brother of W. G. Stevens, aged 71 years. Funeral will take place from residence of daughter, Mrs. T. G. Tucker at 285 North McLean Boulevard, this (Friday) afternoon at 3:30 o’clock, services conducted by Rev. Geo. H. Martin. Interment in Forest Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Collins Funeral Home.
1930, February, The International Engineer, Volume LVII, No. 2, page 158.
Article from Local Union No. 92, Memphis, Tenn. “Bro. J. B. Barry announced the death of J. W. Stevens, brother-in-law to the Local’s business manager. Jim Stevens was conceded to be the best oil-mill Superintendent in the oil-mill district. He was educated at Vanderbilt College, Nashville, Tennessee. For twenty years he had traveled for the well-known mill-supply firm of Reed and Duecker of Memphis.”
