Individual Notes

Note for:   Celia H. Stavely,   ABT 1863 -          Index

Individual Note:
     THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Celia Stavely

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Celia H. Stavely; Sex: Female; Race: white; Age 47; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Texas; Place of birth of father: Tennessee; Place of birth of mother: U.S.; Occupation: Dress maker in Unity; Employee or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.



Individual Notes

Note for:   E. Benson Steele,    - 1934         Index

Individual Note:
     THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: E. Benson Steele from Canada

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: Benson Steele; "One time editor of THE FLAMING SWORD."--Vesta Newcomb

See the DOUBLE EDGED SWORD from February-March 1934. Steele was one of the laders of the "Order of Theocracy", the small group who broke away from the Koreshans in Estero. There is an obit (of sorts) in this issue, but the exact day/date of his death is not noted.



Individual Notes

Note for:   Joel Perry Stephens,   2 DEC 1866 - 4 NOV 1923         Index

Occupation:   Farmer

Residence:   
     Place:   Amity Place/Koreshan State Hist. Site

Event:   Estero, Lee, Florida
     Type:   Census/1920
     Date:   2 JAN 1920

Burial:   
     Date:   4 NOV 1923
     Place:   Estero, Lee, Florida

Individual Note:
     THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Joel Perry Stephens; Born: 2 Dec 1866, North Carolina; Died: 4 Nov 1923, Age 56 years and 11 months; Joined K.U. Estero 13 Mar 1918.

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: Perry Stephens, father; "Cora sometimes came to Tampa and always visited us, usually overnight. She sent Mace to a "work and learn" school somewhere in central Florida. Alafae later worked in Detroit and married a Norwegian; understand she has made several trips to that country. Wade lives in Tampa."

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, December 1994: Joel P. Stephens; Place of residence: Amity Place; Family visitation number: 18; Relation to head of family: head; Age 53; Married; Place of birth: North Carolina; Place of birth of mother and father: North Carolina; Occupation: Farmer/ K.U. farm.

Burial: Horseshoe Bend on the River--Koreshan Unity Cemetery/Estero, Florida--13; Inscription: Joel Stephens/Nov. 4-1923

See Stephen's collection at the Koreshan State Historic Site.



Individual Notes

Note for:   Cora Stephens,   27 AUG 1881 -          Index

Occupation:   Koreshan Unity Kitchen and Dining Hall

Event:   Estero, Lee, Florida
     Type:   Census/1920
     Date:   2 JAN 1920

Individual Note:
     THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Cora Stephens; wife of Joel Perry Stephens; Born: 27 Aug 1881, South Carolina.

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Cora sometimes came to Tampa and always visited us, usually overnight. She sent Mace to a "work and learn" school somewhere in central Florida. Alafae later worked in Detroit and married a Norwegian; understand she has made several trips to that country. Wade lives in Tampa."

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; December 1994: Cora Stephens; House number: 8; Dwelling number: 12; Family visitation number: 14; Relation to head of family: head; Age 38; Married; Place of birth: South Carolina; Place of birth of mother and father: South Carolina; Occupation: None.

U.S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; January 2003: Cora E. Stephens; Radio set: none listed; Sex: female; Color: White; Age at last birthday: 48; Marital condition: widow; Age at first marriage: 23; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: North Carolina; Place of birth of father: South Carolina: South Carolina; Place of birth of mother: South Carolina; Able to speak English: yes; Occupation: House keeper; Industry: General work; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day): no.

See Stephens collection at the Koreshan State Historic Site.

COURT RECORD/Lee County Court House--WARRANTY DEED: Cora Stephens; 25 Apr 1924; No. 26759; Deed Book 70; Page 209; Entry number 1.

Notes from Evelyn Horn: Cora Stevens (Stephens)
Cora Stevens (sic) came to the Koreshan Unity, Estero, Florida April 1918 with her husband J. P. who was a Baptist.

From their home in Mt. Tabor, N.C. with three children, Wade only eight years old--Mace, who became a printer and barber by trade--Alafae, a beautiful teenage girl. The children were all educated at the Koreshan School. They were all active in music and performing in plays, entertaining in the Art Hall. Alafae was a dramatic reader of poetry. Sister Cora worked in the kitchen and dining hall. She loved to make beautiful cakes for special occasions of Koreshan celebrations. In late years she often visited her grown-up children, who married. Alafae Strande who lived in Phil. and the sons in Tampa, Florida.