Person:Stephen Childress (2)

Stephen B. Childress

Stephen B. Childress was born about 1825 in Tennessee. The best guess at this time is that he was the son of Orpha Box and Gowen Childress. The support of this hypothesis is presented below.

Rebecca E. McClusky married Stephen B. Childress on December 3, 1845 in Marshall County, Mississippi.

The young family is enumerated in the September 30, 1850 US Census of Independance Twp, Phillips Co, Arkansas. At this time Andrew was a 5 year old son who had been born in Mississippi and Martha C. was a four month old baby daughter born in Arkansas. Most likely this indicates that Andrew was born in the marriage location of Marshall County, Mississippi and Martha was born in the census location of Independence Township.

The family is next enumerated in the 20 July 1860 US Census Bear Creek Twp,Phillips County, Arkansas. This township of Phillips has since become a part of Lee County, Arkansas. Stephen is recorded as a 36 year old farmer born in Tennessee. E(meline) is 36 year old keeping house and born in Alabama. Their children: Andrew, Martha, William, Alfred, and James are recorded all born in Arkansas except Andrew who was born in Mississippi. The family is recorded as having $600 in Real estate and another $600 in personal property.

At some point between July 1860 and December 1868, Stephen Childress dies and the family had moved up the Mississippi River to Southern Illinois. It is not known if this is before or after Stephen's death.

If the birth family is that of Stephen, then at least three of his brothers served in the CSA. Two in 37th Mississippi Infantry and Burton in the 37th Arkansas Infantry. Burton is said to have died in the Battle of Helena in the same Phillips County where Stephen was enumerated in the 1850 and 1860 census. So far Stephen's service in the Civil War has not been found, but his death in this period might be a clue to his service.

After Stephen B. Childress had died, his wife re-married in Alexander County, Illinois in 1868.

The five know children of Stephen and Emeline Childress are: Andrew S., Martha Caroline, William J. "Billy", Alfred D., and James F. "Jim" Childress.

Chronology And Possible Birth Family

The link to Orpha Box and Goen Childress is not proven but seems to fit. ~b.holmes

c1825 -- Stephen B. Childress is born in Tennessee (25M in 1850 US Census)

1845, March 12 -- Stephen B Childress and Rebecca E. McClusky are married in Marshall Co., Mississippi

1846 Andrew S. Childers was born in Mississippi.

184? -- Stephen and Emeline Childress move to Independence Twp, Phillips Co., Arkansas.

1850, May -- Martha C Childers was born in Independence Twp, Phillips Co., Arkansas

1850, November 15 - US Census (AEH-LD-246) Southern District, Marshall Co., Mississippi

1. 403 Childress, Gowen 52M farmer SC

, Wm(or M) 51F SC

, Isaac 31M constable TN

, Ellen 28F TN

_NOT LISTED, BUT He fits____Childress, Stephen B 25M farmer TN

_Remained of 1850 enumeration___

, Lucy 22F TN

, Burton M. 20M TN

       , Albert	17M			TN

, Gowen 13M TN

, John 12M TN

, H R W 11M Miss

, Martha 09F Miss

, Eliza 02F Miss

G2-GF Stephen Childress seems to fit into this family located in the state and county where he married five years earlier where brother(?) HRW was born about 1839. His surname, place of birth, and occupation also agree! For now, best guess G3-GF is Gowen Childress born in SC c1798, moved to Tennessee about 1818 and on to Mississippi in about 1839.