Individual Details

In the pension papers request forms filed by and certified by his mother his given name spelling is Earnest and one includes Earnest''s signature. Later records sometimes have Ernest.
In the 1860 Census he is living with his parents in Chemung, McHenry County, Illinois indexed under the surname Severns, family 2109, dwelling 2178.
Some sources indicate Wisconsin birth others Illinois. Family lived close to the Illinois and Wisconsin border probably leading to the confusion.
He is in the 1880 Census (as E. D. Stephens) at Bluff, Sumner, Kansas living with his mother who is listed as A. D. Benway.
In 1900 Census he is in (indexed as Stephens) Magnolia, Rock County, Wisconsin, Page 10, Dwelling 210, Family 211 living with his step-sister Madge Benway Miller and her family.
In the 1920 Census he [Earnest D.] is living in Yuba City, Sutter County, California about 40 dwellings away from his brother Hiram.

Birth	17 Jul 1857	Illinois
Marriage	11 Apr 1884	Grant County, Wisconsin - Ina Janet BROWN
Divorce	Bef May 1897	Ina Janet BROWN
Death	Aft 1920

Spouse	Ina Janet BROWN (1863 - 1897)
Child	Ellora Eve Mae STEVENS (1886 - 1962)
Child	Unknown STEVENS ( - )

Father	Hiram STEVENS (1833 - 1865)
Mother	Adelpha DIGGINS (1837 - 1901)
Sibling	Frank Judson STEVENS (1857 - 1946)
Sibling	Hiram Fremont STEVENS (1859 - 1935)
Sibling	Eva May STEVENS (1863 - )

Notes