Jacob Stephens was born about 1820 in Tennessee. According to the 1880 census, both his parents were born in Georgia, but nothing more is known about them. Jacob married Martha Shinn. Though the exact date is unknown, their first child was born in 1850. They moved from Tennessee to Illinois about 1862. In 1880 they were located in Jefferson County. That's the last trace I've found of either one of them. Their death dates and locations are unknown.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Sondra Lou Kasl for the information she has shared with us.