W. C. STEPHENS, Platteville, is a son of Michael and Mary (Conlin) Stephens. He is one of ten children, and was born Oct. 22, 1820, in Peyrdinzabuloe Parish, Cornwall, England. His father was born same place Nov. 11, 1797. In June, 1842, no less than forty-nine members of this historic family arrived in Platteville, and it was the settled home of the different branches of the family until the outbreak of the California gold fever in 1850-51. In 1852, Michael Stephens and his sons went to California, remaining until 1853. W. C. Stephens built, in 1844, a frame house near his present residence, and a family is now sheltered under the same shingles he laid thirty-six years ago. The pleasant home which his family now enjoy is the result of his own handiwork, he having accustomed himself to the use of carpenter's tools from boyhood. Mr. Stephens has a 146-acre farm on Secs. 1 and 12 in Platteville, which was his home for twenty years. He married, March 28, 1842, in England, Miss Ann Mitchell, of his native Parish. They have four children - Mary A., Allie, George and Amo, all born in Platteville. Mr. Stephens is a Republican, and is with his wife a member of the P. M. Church. His aged father is a twin brother of John Stephens, and both are wonderfully well-preserved specimens of the hardy and stalwart men who have so proudly and successfully carried old England's flag around the globe.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.