Our thanks goes to Deborah Abbott for supplying a lot of the information on this page.
Edwin Jenks STEPHENSON was the second son of Robert Bruce STEPHENSON and Laura Effie JENKS
Edwin
Jenks STEPHENSON was born on 22 April 1891 at Lockridge, Jefferson
County Iowa. The birth record also states his father, Robert Bruce
STEPHENSON, age 33, was born in Lockeridge Township, Jefferson
County, Iowa and his mother, Laura Effie JENKS, age 26, was born near
Wooster, Jefferson County, Iowa
Edwin Jenks "Ed" STEPHENSON
married Mary Pearl "Pearl" Martin.
Pearl was born on 14 May 1892 in Hancock, Pottawattamie County, Iowa to William J. Martin and Margret J. Dool.
Ed and Pearl met at the University of
Iowa. Pearl's older sister Elizabeth also graduated from the
University of Iowa. Elizabeth earned an advanced degree in Library
Science, possibly from the University of Chicago. As of 1920 Elizabeth
was Head of the Circulating Desk. She was still the head as of 1926.
She worked her whole life at the public Library in Davenport,
eventually becoming the Chief Children's Librarian.
From the 1915 census we find Edwin living in Forest City, Winnebago County, a Civil Engineer, age 23. He was employeed for 6 months in 1914 and earned $600.00. He completed 8 years of grammer school, 4 years of high school and 7 years of college. Edwin and his parents were all born in Iowa, and he was a Presbyterian.
Edwin enlisted in the military service on 15 August 1917. He was released on 9 August 1919.
Around 1917/18 Ed married Mary "Pearl" MARTIN.
A son was born in late 1918 and died
shortly after birth from the worldwide unfluenza epidemic that swept
through the USA in 1918 and 1919.
From the 5th of January 1920 census we find Ed and Pearl living at 718 Western Avenue in Davenport City, Scott County, Iowa. Edwin is 28 and a Civil Engineer with C & NW Railway(Chicago and North Western Railway. He and his parents were all born in Iowa. Pearl is 27, born in Iowa. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Illinois. Also at the same residence are Pearl's parents, William J MARTIN, age 59, a Manager at a Flour Company. He was born in Pennsylvania, and both of William's parents were born in Ireland. Pearl's mother, Margaret Martin, age 53, was born in Illinois and her father was born in Ohio and her mother was born in Ireland. Also in the household is Pearl's sister Elizabeth, A Librarian in the Public Library. The Martin's own their residence.
In 1921 a daughter was born.
A third child also died in infancy.
From the 1930 census, taken 10 April 1930, the family is living at 2106 Highland Avenue, Davenport City. Edwin is 38, Mary Pearl is 37 and their daughter, Mary E., is 9 years old. The couple got married when they were 26 and 25, so they were married in about 1918. They own their home and it is worth $7,500, and Edwin is a Civil Engineer for Municipal and County. They own a radio.
From the 1940 census, dated 6 April 1940,
the family is still on Highland Avenue in Davenport, and all three of
them are 10 years older. Edwin is a Civil Engineer for the Ordinance
Department, US. Does this mean Edwin was now working for the USA in preperation for WWII?
Ed and Pearl were tall for their day,
while their daughter was also tall when she was young, but suddenly
stopped growing at 5' 4 3/4".
Ed passed away on 23 April 1977. Ed and
his brother Laurence were not close. Laurence did not attend Ed's
funeral, although part of the reason could have been his age, as
Laurence would have been 88 1/2 years old at the time of his brother's
passing.
Pearl passed away in September 1985 in Davenport, Iowa.
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This page was last updated on 13 April 2013