Shelby  County  Indiana
Newspaper  Articles

Stevens - Stephens

The  Shelbyville  Republican
Monday April 27, 1925
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FATHER  GIVEN  CHILD
BY  ORDER  OF  COURT
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          Omer Stevens, of Franklin, has been granted the custody of his child, Myrtle Frances Stevens, by Judge Fremont Miller, in the Johnson Circuit Court.  The mother of the child, Mrs. Hazel Terhune, had asked for the child’s custody.  Stevens and the mother had been married but had separated after it was learned that Stevens has another wife living in Florida.  He had believed that he was divorced.  Later he obtained a divorce from the Florida woman, but the Johnson county woman, mother of the child, refused to again marry Stevens.  Stevens then took court action to legally adopt the child, to make it his legitimate heir, with the consent of the mother.  Later the mother, who had married  Harry Terhune, of Johnson county, filed a petition asking that she be given the custody of the child.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Democrat
Thursday August 2, 1923
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COURT  RULES  STEVENS
MAY  REMARRY
AT  ONCE
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(From Fridays’ Daily)
          Omer Stevens, of Franklin, Indiana, principal in the strange matrimonial entanglement that was revealed in a trial here last Saturday, was granted an absolute divorce Thursday evening in the Shelby circuit court from Queenie Alline Stevens, of Loyce, Florida. The nature of the ruling in the case by Judge H. C. Morrison permits Stevens at once to remarry his second wife, from who he separated February 22, this year, when the status of his first marriage was questioned by the government.
          Evidence in the case, which was instituted by Stevens, was the most unusual in the history of the court here and required several days for deliberation before the court reached a decision that establishes a precedent, probably of importance for the entire state.
          Stevens desired an absolute divorce in the trial of the case in which the defendant was not present in order that he might immediately marry again. The Indiana law prohibits remarriage for two y ears where a divorce is granted, and only newspaper publication of the case has been made, the defendant not being present at the hearing. However, Judge Morrison granted the decree as absolute on the theory that the defendant, residing in Florida, was aware of the proceedings, had every knowledge of the pendency of the complaint and that she had signed a waiver of appearance at the trial. Therefore, he ruled that Stevens would not be bound to observe the letter of the law by remaining single for the two years’ period, as he desired to rejoin his second wife and legitimatize their child by the marriage.
          Stevens plans to immediately marry the woman who became his wife three years ago, with whom he was living at the time the unusual case came up. Stevens married his first wife at Loyce, Florida in 1916, when he claims he was forced to enter the marriage at the business end of a gun held by her brother. A child was born to Mrs. Stevens three months later. Mr. Stevens not only claimed he was not the father of the child but asserted that Mrs. Stevens became familiar with other men within a short time. He left her, went to Tampa, Florida, enlisted in the Florida National Guard and was in service in the Mexican border at the outbreak of the World war. He was inducted into federal service and almost immediately was sent overseas.
          During a battle in France, Stevens was wounded and gassed. He was reported killed in action. The wife in Florida received the report and not even caring enough to make an effort to collect his government insurance of $10,000, married another man at once. But, Stevens recovered, was returned to the United States and ultimately reached his boyhood home in Johnson county.
          Then it was that he learned his first wife had married again and was the mother of two more children. He supposed she had divorced him and he courted and won a young woman at Franklin, Indiana. Their marriage followed and the happiness of their life together was ideal. Added to their perfect union was the arrival of a chubby little baby who brought delight and further happiness to the parents. A cloud arose when Mr. Stevens received a questionnaire from the government requesting information on the status of the divorce or death of his first wife. He had been receiving compensation and was being given vocational instruction by the government but his divorce or the death of the first wife had never been established. Mr. Stevens investigated and to his surprise found a divorce had never been secured. He and his second wife separated at once until he could secure a decree and remarry her.
          Now that the case is settled, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens and their little baby will have a happy reunion that will be almost a second honeymoon to the war veteran and his bride.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Republican
Thursday August 2, 1923
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COURT  SETTLED  TANLGED  CASE
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Omer Stevens, Of Franklin, Was Granted
A Divorce From Queenie Stevens
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PARTIES  HAD  RE-MARRIED
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          Omer Stevens of Franklin, was granted a divorce in the Shelby Circuit Court Thursday evening, from Mrs. Queenie A. Stevens, of Loyce, Florida, by Judge Harry C. Morrison.  The case attracted much attention because of the fact that both parties had married the second time, not aware that their action had been illegal.
          Mrs. Stevens had received the report that Stevens had been killed in the action in France during the war.  The husband, home after the war, was informed that his wife had married again. Believing that she had obtained a divorce, he also married, his bride being a young woman of the Edinburg community. When Stevens and his second wife learned that the first wife had not obtained a divorce, they separated, agreeing that they would not live together until a divorce had been obtained. A child had been born to them.
          Judge Morrison, in granting the decree, held that Stevens and his second wife might marry again immediately.  He did not rule that the plaintiff should not marry again for two years, as the law provides in cases where the defendant is not represented.  The first Mrs. Stevens had mailed a waiver of summons in the case and agreed to the granting of a divorce. Judge Morrison held that the waiver was sufficient knowledge that Mrs. Stevens knew of the suit, and that service had been made on her.
          Mr. Stevens and his second wife planned to re-marry without delay.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelby  Republican
Thursday June 21, 1923
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DIVORCE  SUIT  VENUED
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          A complaint for divorce filed by  Omer Stevens, of Franklin, against  Mrs. Queenie A. Stevens, of Florida, was received in the Shelby circuit court today, on change of venue from the Johnson circuit court, at Franklin. The couple was married June 15, 1914, and separated January 20, 1917. The plaintiff alleges cruel treatment and abandonment.
Contributed by Barb Huff

The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Wednesday, June 23, 1909
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NEWS  NOTES.
----o----

          Frank B. Stephans, ex-trustee of Hendricks township, has had far more than his share of experiences in the runaway line during the last five or six months, as he has figured in some four or five.  This morning for awhile it looked like "Bee" would have another one of these experiences.  Everett Tucker  and Mr. Stephans were coming to this city, driving a young horse belonging to Tucker.  When near the home of  Jesse McCain  the animal became frightened and broke the single tree.  For a while it looked like something serious was going to happen, but luckily Mr. Tucker succeeded in controlling the animal.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Thursday May 9, 1907
Page 1 column 1
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          John Rinehart  and  Miss Rose Stephens  stole away to Covington, Kentucky, Tuesday evening and were married in that city.  The groom is forty-six years of age and the bride is forty-one.  Mr. Rinehart drives a wagon for the Conrey-Birely factory.  He is the brother of  Phillip Rinehart, near this city, and of  George Rinehart, of this city.  Mrs. Rinehart is a sister* of  Mr. George Young*  and  Mrs. Albert Thralls.  The couple intended to keep the wedding a secret, but it leaked out on their return Wednesday.
Contributed by Barb Huff
*  This should be  John Fleming Young  who is the father of  George Young (my grandfather).  Looks like the newspaper got confused.  John F. died in 1906.  George (Mrs. Rinehart's nephew) lived at home with his mother, thus the confusion.  The rest of the details are correct. - George Young

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Saturday, March 2, 1907
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          Mrs. Cynthia Stephens  and son, Charles, of Howard county, are visiting the former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Cherry, of Shelby township.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Monday, September 25, 1905
Page 1
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ADDITIONAL  NEWS  NOTES.
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          Harry K. Carson  and  Mrs. R. W. Davis  spent Sunday with the family of  John Stevens  at Fenns.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyvillenbsp; Daily  Democrat
Monday, May 6, 1889
Page 1 ----------
ADDITIONAL  LOCAL.
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          Jack Stephens  horse ran away this morning and broke up his wagon.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
Tuesday, July 17, 1883.
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L O C A L     N E W S.
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          Oliver Durflinger  has contracted with  Mrs. Leah Stephens  to build her a residence at St. John's Switch.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Cincinnati  Commercial  Tribune
5 Jul 1882
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          JUDGE STEPHEN, Mayor of Shelbyville, Indiana, died at Indianapolis yesterday.
Contributed by John Addison Ballard

The  Shelby  Democrat
Thursday, September 4, 1879
Page 3   col 4
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CRADLE - ALTAR - TOMB.
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Born.
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          STEPHAN - On the 30th day of August, 1879, to  Mr. and Mrs. Philip Stephan,  of Addison township -- a son.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Yankton  Press  and  Dakotan
Dakota Territory
June 23, 1863
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The Enrollment in Indiana
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          Deputy Provost Marshal Stevens, and  Mr. Clayfield,  a detective officer, accompanied by an enrolling officer, were fired upon near Manville, Rush county, Indiana, on the 9th, by some men in a wheat field.  Stevens was instantly killed, and Clayfield mortally wounded, so that he died a few hours afterwards.  The enrolling officer was shot through the clothing, but was uninjured.  Two companies of troops left Indianapolis for the scene of the murder.  A soldier was shot by a deserter at Shelbyville, Indiana, on the same day, while attempting to arrest the latter.
Contributed by John Addison Ballard

The  National  Volunteer
SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
July 13, 1854

          Hymenial - - married on the 10th inst, by William Hacker esq. - - - Mr. Louis Hauss of Louisville, Kentucky to Miss Elizabeth Stephens of Shelbyville, Indiana.
Abstracted by Maurice Holmes, in his book Shelbyville, Indiana, Newspaper Excerpts: 1853-1859.  Submitted by Sherry Badgley Ryan, with permission from the author.

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