Stephens-Williams Cemetery

The Stephens-Williams Cemetery exists somewhere near the southwest corner of the intersection of Tipton County Roads 975W and 400S. This twenty by twenty foot plot contains five graves and at one time was surrounded by an iron fence. Mr. Kirby who purchased the land containing the cemetery in 1917 tended to its upkeep until his death in 1946. At some unknown time after that the cemetery was dismantled and the markers were dumped into a pile of field stones. Today the cemetery is alternately covered with corn and soybeans.

During the 1977-1978 survey of Tipton County cemeteries conducted by the D.A.R., the ladies found Isaac Stephens’ headstone and the footstone for Susanna Williams in a pile of rocks. It was said they removed both markers to the Tipton County Courthouse Museum. We have not located them yet .

October 22, 2014  Using Google Earth, I found what I believe to be the D.A.R.'s pile of rocks.

October 25, 2014   Shazbot!! No markers among the rocks. Maybe Gae and I should try dowsing rods next.

Problems with Isaac Stephens   Isaac’s date of death cannot be 1845 as reported by the D.A.R. In 1846 he married Mary Jane Willams (to compound problems, the date on their license is recorded as Feb 30, 1846 – poor handwriting or transcription mistake? – Mary Jane later married James Conklin September 10, 1848 in Tipton County). My date of birth for Isaac is based on his age as recorded by the D.A.R.: 24Y 9M 21D. Other sources list Isaac's dob as December 25, 1821.

An article about the Williams family and cemetery as published in the Tipton Tribune March 14, 1923 is included here.  (I tried my best with PhotoShop, folks)