Fulton, Illinois, USA (General)

by nancyminer , Monday, March 12, 2012, 01:29 (4635 days ago) @ calzeat

My great-grandparents, John, Sr. and Harriet Stephens also moved to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois from the Forest of Dean, in 1882, with most of their children. One son, William Stephens, remained in England. Two sons and a son-in-law, James Phillips, had already moved to the states. They immigrated because of the coal mines. In John, Sr., obituary it states, "...Mr. Stephens was a miner by occupation and continued to work at his trade after coming to America. He was associated with others in the incorporation of the Simmons Coal company, and continued with the company until its removal to its present quarter, north of Canton, when he withdrew his stock." Canton Daily Register, Dec. 4, 1915
I don't know if there was any connection to the Yemm family, but that name comes up in the census as close neighbors in Drybrook.
William Stephens married Elizabeth Cinderey, and their daughter, Emily Turner and husband, Rowland Turner,later (1910) moved to Canton, and most certainly went there because their grandparents and other family members lived there. I hope this helps somewhat.