John Thomas Stephens

John Thomas Stephens is one of my brick wall ancestors. I seem to be having an unusually hard time finding him. (I blame the 1890 census!) Following is what I know about him.

I have found conflicting information on his birth so far. The 1900 census lists John's birth as being in July 1866 in Ohio. The 1910 census lists his birth as being in about 1868 in Iowa. The 1910 census for his son, Grover, lists his birthplace as Virginia. The 1920 census lists his birth as being in about 1867 in Iowa. The 1920 and 1930 census for Grover both list his father's birthplace as Missouri. The 1920 census for his son, Charles, lists his birthplace as Indiana. The 1930 census for Charles lists his father's birthplace as Missouri.

I'm leaning towards Iowa as the actual state. It was the most consistent I've found in the early years. (I think Cora thought his birthplace was Iowa too because his children still at home list their father as being born in Iowa in the 1930 census.)

I have found a Thomas Stephens, age 13, living a Norton family in 1880 in Prairie City, Jasper County, Iowa. I don't know if this is John Thomas or not.

Clipping from 1880 Prairie City, IA Census

The census shows Thomas Stephens' parents as being born in Pennsylvania. This is consistent with a few of the other censuses that I have found for John Thomas (1900-1920).

Clipping from 1900 Clear Creek, MO Census

Clipping from 1910 Lebanon, MO Census

Clipping from 1920 Richland, MO Census

John married Maggie Parkhurst. (I got her name from Charles Oliver's death certificate.) Together, they had at least the following children:

• Grover Stephens, born November 1888
• Charlottie Stephens, born October 1889
• Charles Oliver Stephens, born 14 February 1894

Maggie died before the 1900 census, and I haven't found a death certificate yet for her. I saw on Find-A-Grave that there is a Maggie Stephens buried in Fairview Cemetery in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. She is recorded as being born in 1859 and dying in 1894. I'm not sure if this is the right person, but it's the closest I have found so far. If she died in 1894, I wonder if it was due to complications of childbirth.

After the death of Maggie, John remarried. He married Cora E. about 1901 according to the 1910 census. Cora was born about 1881 in Missouri. I do not know the names of her parents yet. According to family researchers, Cora's maiden name was Ferguson. I have found a Cora Ferguson listed in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri with her parents James M. and Sarah Ferguson. I'm not sure if this is her though.

Clipping from 1900 Forest City, MO Census

Also, in the 1910 census, Cora is listed as having been the mother of three children, only one of which was still alive in 1910. John is listed as being Cora's first marriage, so these unknown children are assumed to be the children of John and Cora.

Clipping from 1910 Lebanon, MO Census

John and Cora had at least the following children:

• Irven Stephens, born about 1903
• Unknown Stephens, born between 1900 and 1910, died before 1910
• Unknown Stephens, born between 1900 and 1910, died before 1910
• Hornine Stephens, born about 1911
• Edgar Stephens, born about 1914
• Inez Stephens, born about 1918

Clipping of second half of the household from 1920 Richland, MO Census

John died some time before the 1930 census. Cora shows up in Richland, Morgan County, Missouri as a widow living with her two youngest children, Edgar and Inez.

Clipping from 1930 Richland, MO Census

That's about all I know. It seems like a lot at first glance, but everything I know seems to be after his first wife's death. If you descend from this man or know anything about him, I would be very interested in hearing from you! Send me a message or leave a comment on here.

Sources:

• 1880 Prairie City, Jasper County, Iowa U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1900 Clear Creek, Cooper County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1900 Forest City, Holt County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Clear Creek, Cooper County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Lebanon, Cooper County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Otterville, Cooper County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1930 Otterville, Cooper County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Richland, Morgan County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1930 Richland, Morgan County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Charles Oliver Stephens (accessed on Ancestry)
• Find-A-Grave Memorial, Maggie Stephens

Hiram and Sally Casto

Hiram Casto was born 3 July 1824 in the area of what is now West Virginia but, back then, was still part of Virginia. His parents were Daniel Taylor and Mary Elizabeth Shamblin Casto.

Hiram moved around quite a bit in his life. He in shown living in Jackson County, Virginia in 1850.

Clipping from 1850 Census

By 1860, he is living in Pekin, Dillon, Tazewell County, Illinois.

Clipping from 1860 census.
Son, George W., is also living with them, but he is on the next page.

He stays in the Dillon area in 1870, but by 1880 he has moved to Washington, Pettis County, Missouri. Then, by 1900, he is living in Williams, Benton County, Illinois. He seems to have stayed in Benton County until he died.

Clipping from 1910 census
Hiram and Sally are living with their son, Mason R. Casto

Hiram married Sarah Casto, the daughter of John George Casto and Katherine Westfall. Sarah and Hiram were second cousins, once removed.

In the 1900 and 1910 censuses, Sarah is listed as having given birth to 12 children.

Clipping from 1910 census showing number of children Sally had and how many are still living in 1910

Five of her children were listed as still living in 1900, and only four of them were listed as living in 1910. I only have seven children listed for her (and her husband), so the other five are still a mystery to me. Here are the children I have so far for the couple:

• Daniel Taylor Casto (born c. 1851)
• Mason Raspburn Casto (born 5 September 1856)
• Harriet Casto (born c. December 1859)
• George Washington Casto (born 5 June 1865)
• John Casto (born March 1868)
• Hiram Franklin Casto (born c. 1871)
• William Casto (born c. 1873)

If anyone knows the names of the other five children I am missing from my list, please send me a message! I would love to complete the family lines here. My brother and I both agree that we think these missing children were very young when they died. Most probably, they were born at least between Daniel and Mason and/or between Harriet and George.

Sarah died 22 April 1913 in Cole Camp, Benton County, Missouri. Hiram died a few years later on 25 October 1924, also in Cole Camp. They are buried at Union-Williams Cemetery in Cole Camp.

Sources:

• 1850 Jackson County, Virginia U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Pekin, Dillon, Tazewell County, Illinois U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1870 Dillon, Tazewell County, Illinois U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1880 Washington, Pettis County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1900 Williams, Benton County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Williams, Benton County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Mason Raspburn Casto (accessed on Ancestry)

Charles O. Stephens and Ethel O. Casto Stephens

I have seen a lot of posts this week from one of the Facebook groups I follow. It's a group centered around one woman's blog about her Casto relatives called Casto Connections. That got me thinking about my own "Casto connection," my great-great-grandmother, Ethel Ona Casto.

Ethel was the sixth (or seventh) of eight children born to Mason Raspburn and Rachel Francis Ferguson Casto. She was born 31 August 1892 in Benton County, Missouri. (I told you I had a lot of Missouri roots!)

She married Charles Oliver Stephens on 4 January 1920 in Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri.

Charles and Ethel's Marriage License

Charles was the son of John Thomas and Maggie Packhurst (or Parkhurst) Stephens. He was born 14 February 1894 (although his death certificate says he was born in November).

Since Ethel is my Casto connection though, I'll mostly focus on her.

The 1900 census is the first time we see Ethel appear. She is surrounded by a bunch of Castos! She's living in Williams, Benton County, Missouri. Her Uncle George Washington Casto is living right next door, and her grandparents, Hiram and Sarah Casto are living next door to them. (Her grandmother Sarah's maiden name was also Casto.)

Clipping from 1900 census

Clipping from 1900 census showing the rest of the kids in Mason's household

In 1910, she's found still living at home with her parents and her sister, Lydia. Her grandparents have also moved into the house with them.

Clipping from 1910 census

*Notice Sally Casto had 12 children! I can't even imagine that!

Charles and Ethel show up together in the 1920 census. They are living in Sedalia, renting a room or apartment from Rosa Hayes. I don't know who this Rosa Hayes is, but one of her sons, Ross is listed as being a "locomotive fireman" and Charles is listed as being a "fireman roundhouse." Then, after their occupations, it says "Katy." I wonder if these two boys worked together on the Katy railroad, which ran from Missouri to Texas.

Clipping from 1920 census showing occupations of people living in Rosa Hayes' house
Rosa Hayes (head), Ross Hayes (son), Lloyd Hayes (son), Ida Shumate (niece), Charley Stevans (head), Ethel Stevans (wife)

As far as I can tell from the census records, Charles never liked to stay in one place. He always rented homes, never buying. He constantly moved to new cities, though he stayed in Missouri most, if not all, of his life. I wonder if Ethel was the one to keep them from leaving the state.

Together, Charles and Ethel had at least four children:

• Joy Decimund Stephens
• Marion Oliver Stephens
• Isabella Rebecca Stephens
• Robert David Stephens

*I've also seen mention amongst other researchers of a child named Ruth Stephens I don't know when Ruth was born. I can't find her in the household in the census and I haven't found a birth or death record for her yet.

I don't know much about Charles or Ethel's married life or their life past the 1940 census. I know Charles fought in World War I, but that particular War is not (yet) an area of expertise for me. I hope I can find some more stories for this side of the family soon.

Charles died 4 February 1957 at the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. His cause of death was recorded as brochopneumonia due to multiple liver abscesses and bacteremia.

Clipping from Charles Stephens' death certificate showing cause of death

Ethel died 6 February 1968 in Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri. Cause of death is presently unknown as the death records online only go to 1963.

Charles (and I assume Ethel too) is buried at Union Cemetery in Pettis County, Missouri.

Sources:

• 1900 Williams, Benton County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Williams, Benton County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1930 Mokane, Callaway County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1940 Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Charles O Stephens Death Certificate (accessed on Missouri Digital Heritage)
• Katy Railroad Historical Society
• Marriage License, Charles O Stephens and Ethel Casto (accessed on Ancestry)

Robert Richerson and Frances Isabelle Richerson

Robert Richerson was born 6 December 1876 in Dallas County, Missouri. I have a lot of Missouri roots on both of my parents' sides of the family. I wonder not only what took so many people to Missouri, but also what kept people living there.

Robert was the ninth (or 10th) of 11 children born to James Washington Richerson and Arena Burselia Bowman.

Clipping from 1900 census showing the newlyweds living with Robert's parents

I only have 10 children so far for Arena, and according to this census, it looks like she had one die early. I haven't found the name of this child yet.

He married Frances Isabelle Skaggs on 3 November 1899 in Dallas County, Missouri.

Robert and Isabelle had the following children:

Clipping from 1910 census

Here's a clearer list of the names of the kids:

• William Parker Richerson
• Thomas Arthur Richerson
• James Dolan Richerson
• Irene F Richerson
• Edna Florence Richerson

Robert and Isabelle led a relatively uneventful life. They lived in the same town almost their entire married life, and they seemed to be simple farmers. Since they lived in the 1900's mostly, there are no agriculture censuses for me to check online to see what they may have farmed. I wish I knew more about this family. I think a trip to Missouri is in order to get a better grasp on them and their circumstances.

Sources:

• 1900 Washington, Dallas County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1910 Washington, Dallas County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Washington, Dallas County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1930 Washington, Dallas County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1940 South Benton, Dallas County, Missouri U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)