Stephens and Yount Family Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Stephens and Yount Family Papers, 1812-1995, SC 0251, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
2.4 cubic feet 7 boxes
Creator:
Stephens, Richard A., 1831-1890, Stephens family, Yount family, eBay (Firm), Tim Abbott Americana, and Rolling Hills Antique Mall
Abstract:
The Stephens and Yount Family Papers, 1812-1995, primarily document the Richard Stephens family of Rockingham County, Virginia and his descendants. Materials include correspondence, receipts, financial documents, indentures, deeds, photographs, and ephemera.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Stephens and Yount Family Papers, 1812-1995, SC 0251, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Stephens and Yount Family Papers, 1812-1995, primarily document the Richard Stephens family of Rockingham County, Virginia and his descendants. Materials include correspondence, receipts, financial documents, indentures, deeds, and ephemera. Documents of particular interest relate to the sale, purchase, and hire of enslaved persons, and Richard Stephens' medical exemption from military service during the Civil War.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Anderson Stephens, variously spelled Stevens, Steven, and Stephen, was born January 6, 1831 to John Stephens (1804-1848) and Martha Burnsides Stephens Cowan (1806-1895) of Melrose, Rockingham County, Virginia. He is the grandson of Ludwig/Lewis Stephens (1747-1817) and Elizabeth Wolf Stephens (1775-1836). Documentary evidence contained within this collection confirms that John Stephens owned enslaved persons and Richard Stephens was involved in financial transactions concerning said enslaved persons after the death of his father and prior to the end of the Civil War.

Stephens married Mary Dovel Stephens and together they had nine children, six of whom lived into adulthood – Martha Josephine "Josie" (1856-1899), Laura Belle (1862-1934), Myrtie Alice (1867-1946), Sallie Georgiana (1870-1938), Bettie Lee, and John W. All of the aforementioned children are documented in this collection, with some to a lesser degree than others.

Documentary evidence suggests Stephens likely did not serve during the Civil War. As early as June 19, 1861, he was deemed medically unfit from serving during the Civil War. His exemption was due to a chronic "disease of stomach and bowels of long standing."

According to the U. S. Census, Stephen's occupation was that of a farmer though he also held other positions in the community. He acted as the administrator of the estate of Reuben Holt Humbert of Augusta County and also served as the guardian for his younger siblings William L. Stephens and Fannie Stephens. In November 1861, Stephens was appointed Collector of the Confederate States War Tax for the 3rd District of Rockingham County. As early as 1887 he was appointed director of the Valley Turnpike Company. Richard Stephens died November 5, 1890 and is buried in Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg alongside much of his family.

A large portion of this collection also documents Myrtie Stephens (1867-1946), daughter of Richard and Mary Dovel Stephens. Myrtie married Joseph Byron "J. B." Yount (1848-1934) of Augusta County on September 23, 1891. The wedding was held at the home of Mary Stephens, near Melrose. The courtship between Myrtie and J. B. is chronicled in this collection with dozens of letters written between the two. It is likely that Myrtie and J. B. were semi-distant cousins as J. B. often refers to his future wife as "Cousin" in his letters to her. Additionally, Myrtie's maternal grandmother was named Barbara Yount Dovel (1797-1863), and it is through this family line that the couple was likely related. Myrtie was a school teacher for at least part of her life. This collection documents her career with lesson books, teaching contracts, and correspondence. The children of Myrtie and J.B. Yount are documented in the 2018 accession materials.

Acquisition information:
Acquired in many parts from eBay auctions and directly from the seller, Tim Abbott. Two additions were acquired in 2018 from Black Swan Books and Rolling Hills Antique Mall.
Appraisal information:

Out of scope materials and materials with negligible research value including assorted newspaper clippings and obituaries, Christmas cards, large quantities of empty envelopes without correspondence, real estate listings, and assorted printed ephemera were heavily weeded from the 2018-0430 accrual.

Custodial history:

The materials that comprise this collection descended through the Stephens and Yount families of Rockingham and Augusta counties. After the October 2, 2016 death of Joseph Byron "J. B." Yount III, much of the Yount estate was sold by Green Valley Auctions in Mt. Crawford, Virginia on June 9, 2017.

Processing information:

Given the age and condition of the collection, select items underwent preservation treatment for stabilization, including flattening. Particularly fragile documents are housed in Mylar sleeves. The materials in this collection were largely received piecemeal, in addition to one large acquisition. There was no particular arrangement to the materials and as a result, the archivist imposed an arrangement based on material type, creator, and date. Photographs related to presumed genealogical research trips were removed from their paper backing and foldered in their original order. All corresponding captions were written on the backs of the photographs.

Arrangement:

The collections is arranged in five series:

  1. Personal Papers, 1813-1938
  2. Correspondence, 1857-1931, 1991
  3. Ephemera, 1916-1957
  4. Genealogical Materials, 1812
  5. 2018 accessions, 1867-1995
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard