Nora Alice (Lee) Stephens (1883 - abt. 1969)

I was born and lived in Johnson County until September 1. 1896. After Fall cotton picking in Ellis County, near Venustown, we moved to Erath County, settling on the farm of JH Hill, an Uncle. The farm was located on Barton's creek, 4 miles southeast of Thurber in Erath County. My last school days were in the old Fitzgerald school, 1 mile north of home.

On September 1, Thursday evening at 9o'clock, in my home, I exchanged vows with Frank Russell Bowers in an1898 ceremony performed by a methodist preacher. Rev. Fulfer of Exray. My maid of honor was Miss Nora Wolfe and we were attended by relatives and friends. My dress was white organza, trimmed in lace with a tight fitted bodice, full gored skirt and hemmed to walking skirt length. My trousseau was 2 day dresses, baby pink, with fitted bodice and full skirts.

Our first home was 4 miles south of Gordon on the old Browder farm. It was a dry year, so we traded our crop prspects to A. E. Bowers, My father-in-law. We moved to Thurber, a mining camp, on July 4, 1899. On August 24, a son was born prematurely and was deformed. He was buried in an old Gordon Cemetery on Sept 1, 1899. Odus ORen was born June 8 1900. He died Decmber 20, 1965 in Paetta, Idaho and was buried there on December 29. Edith Irene was born September 30, 1903. She married Clyde Carr of Dallas on Jan 18, 1920. She died Jan 9, 1943 and is buried in the Garden of Memories, DAllas, Texas. Sugs funeral home was in charge of the funeral at the Peak and Garland Assembly Church, Reverend Statts preached at the funera and the songs were "Safe in the arms of Jesus" and "Farther Along", and the Reverend Statts sang "Good Night, There is a Good Morning up There."

Frank Russell Bowers died on June 22, 1904 after 2 years of illness. He suffered from Cancer of the liver. He is buried in Old Gordon Cenetary 3 miles north of Gordon.

Being left with 2 babies and having a host of relatives, I returned to my father's home in Mingus, Texas about November of 1904. However, I returned home, not as a daughter, but as a servant. My father moved onto the farm of JT Hill, 3 miles south of Thurver. JT was a bachelor brother of my mother, and he had lived for many years with their mother, who was by then aged and partially helpless. Our home 1/4 mile from their house, on the same farm. I worked for my children's and my board and one room. I was permitted to work during cotton chopping and cotton picking, but only for enough to buy our clothes.

I was raised by strict Baptist parents who kept us in on Sunday school and church. In Augusto fo 1895, a Methodist circuit rider and his wife held a revival in our community. While kneeling at the altar, I was seeking to know God's will for me, and the experience was so great to me that I could never doubt the release I received. The blessing is still so plain...even the plainer in declining years. God's promises are so true that I can recommend them to any honest soul. His conditions and laws for us to keep are very plain. I am not a perfect person, but I have a love of God and I try to recommend him to all who seek him. I joined the Methodist church in 1898, In early 1905, I joined the First Baptist Church of Thurber. I transferred my membership to Unity Church, a rural church, where I served as Clerk for 2 years. I was elected adult teacher in this rural church, where my father was a deacon. He was so happy! I never moved my church membership, but transferred to Edwardsville where I again taught the ladies adult class. I taught there for two years missing only 2 Sundays. I still seek God's will and I find the bible is full of help for a child of God.

I joined the Rebekah Lodge, my father being a member of the I.O.O.F (he again was so happy) I belonged to the Mistletoe Lodge #189 in Thurber until the strike. (coal mine strike)

We were 20 months in Mingus, then transferred to REbekhah Lodnge #402, moving to Edwardsville, Illinois. We were then transferred to Texhoma, thereafter to Lamesa, Texas, where I am still paying dues. It has enlarged my field of service for others, and I have been paying dues since Aril 1905. I love friendship, love and trugh.

I met Ewin Stephens in April of 1906. We were married June 16, 1907. To this union was born 3 boys and 2 girls.

The ceremony was performed June 16, 1907 by an aged, retired Baptist minister in his home near Mingus, Palo Pinto County, Texas. His son and wife stood with us. The service was performed at 11:am and harlie and Nannie Turnbow gave the wedding dinner in Thurber. Meeting with Uncler Ferd Hill, he showered us withshelled corn, as we were going by to greet Grandmother Hill and her bachelor son J.T. Hill. We went on to my father's home where a large number of my friends greeted us. A number of the community men "shivereed" us at night. Thirteen gallons of home made icecream and cake were served the night of the wedding.

We moved to Thurber the 19th, amongh former friends and a host of relatives. In 1921, striking miners moved to Mingus where we lived for 20 months, then Ewin went to Illinois in November 1922. The family moved to Illinois in January 1924. Our first home was on Page Road, where we lived for 2 years. We moved from there and lived in a lovely block house for 8 months. We then left on a vacation trip by car, to Texas, and after spending 3 months in Post, we decided to settle in Dawson County, Landing on the farm January 29, 1926. We had left Illinois in August 1925. Clarence, this is our family record and part of my father's and mother's. If you want, I will write my father's parents, as I wastaught, and my mother's also. We are all up and going and have had a nice rain and a nice shower again Sunday the 17th (the good rain was the 10th) when you have time, write me a long letter or have Pearl or Linda to write.

Love, Mother (Mom)"