"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 596.
 
SMITH STEPHENS

     The owner of one of the attractive homes and fine farms of Yamhill county
is Smith Stephens, who, throughout his entire life, has devoted his energies to
agricultural pursuits, with the result that excellent success has attended his
efforts. He was born November 15, 1851, in Appanoose county, Iowa, a son of
Aaron Stephens, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1828. During his boyhood
the father accompanied his parents to Virginia, and at an early date in the
history of Iowa they became residents of the latter state, arriving there about
1850. Aaron Stephens afterward married Miss Mary McGarvey, a native of Virginia,
and they resided in Iowa until 1862, when they, too, joined the emigrants who
were in those years continually crossing the plains in order to reclaim the wild
district of the far west for the purposes of civilization. In addition to the
difficulties incident to a long journey across the stretches of hot sand and
over the mountains, almost impassable, they had trouble with the Indians, and
were continually on their guard for fear of being molested by the savages. When
six months had passed, however, they arrived at Portland, and Mr. and Mrs.
Stephens came on at once to the Willamette valley, settling upon a tract of land
adjoining Hopewell. Mr. Stephens purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land,
and upon the place made all of the improvements, including the erection of
substantial buildings and the transformation of the wild land into productive
fields. Both he and his wife continued to live upon that farm until called to
the home beyond, he passing away at the age of seventy years, while his wife
lived to be sixty-nine years of age. They were life-long members of the Baptist
Church, and their upright characters won for them the warm regard of those with
whom they came in contact. They became the parents of five children; Malissa,
the wife of Enoch Cooper, who resides upon a part of the old home place; Smith,
of this review; Frank S., a resident of Hopewell; Leila, the wife of Isaac
Lynch, of Hopewell, and one that died at the age of two years.
     Smith Stephens spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his
nativity, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Oregon, remaining
upon the old homestead farm until the time of his marriage. During the period of
his boyhood he had obtained a good education in the district schools and in the
Salem Academy. He wedded Miss Emily Allison, a native of Canada, and they took
up their abode upon a part of the old homestead, living there for about ten
years, when Mr. Stephens purchased what is known as the Richardson donation
claim. Upon the tract which thus came into his possession he made all of the
improvements, and he now has splendid modern buildings and a fine farm. At the
present time he is in possession of eight hundred acres of land, and he carries
on general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business proving
profitable. During the year 1892 he raised fourteen thousand pounds of hops˜a
crop which has become an important one in the northwest, and brings a good
financial return.
     Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were born five children, but they lost their
first child, Myrtle. The others, Mabel, Charles, Howard and Ina, are all at
home. Mr. Stephens belongs to the United Brethren Church, of which he is serving
as a director. As every true American citizen should do, he keeps well informed
on the political questions and issues of the day, and his support is given to
the Republican party. He is now serving as school clerk, and has been road
supervisor, and for many years has been judge of elections. His success is well
merited, because it has come to him through legitimate channels of business. He
realized that there is no royal road to wealth, and that the surest foundation
upon which to build prosperity is industry and integrity. Upon this, therefore,
he has placed his dependence, and as the years have passed his careful
management and energy have been the means of winning for him a leading position
among the substantial citizens of his community.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.