Recently, I have discovered through this website another cousin. I have long wondered about the descendants of Catherine (Stephan/Stephens) Schleier, daughter of Magdalena Stephens who stayed in Buffalo, New York after her marriage. I was contacted in early December 2003, by Lyle Schlyer from southern California, and in addition to meeting over the 2003 holiday season, we shared much family data. There is no doubt we are related. Whether we are 3rd or 4th cousins is yet to be determined. Lyle has provided me with additional evidence of the descendants of Catherine and his information has raised more questions than answers were provided. It offers fruitful research possibilities on a long lost line of the Stephens family. Both Lyle and I are working on developing the links and evidence that connects this side of our family.

Within the past two years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Shirley (Kirk) Stewart, a great grand daughter of Margaret (Stephens) Smith. Jeanie, Matthew and I met Shirley and her husband Fred, in Chesterton in 2002 to talk about the Stephens Family. She provided me with much information about Margaret's descendants.

About a year ago, I was contacted by Joan (Farrell) Valenziano, a great great grandaughter of Margaret (Stephens) Smith. Joan and I have corresponded by email sharing data and stories about the Stephens family. Her contributions to the family database are included in this web site. Joan and I are working on meeting in Chesterton as soon as the winter snows melt and the weather warms a bit.

About four years ago, I was introduced, through this web site, to Gill Jones from Darlington, England. Gill and I turned out to be 5th cousins with our common ancestor to be Thomas Hepburn, Sr. Gill has filled in many holes in my mothers ancestery and provided me with several stamps issued by HRM Postal service honoring Tommy Hepburn for his work in his organizing efforts to form the Coal Miners Union in England. In 2000, I met Gill along with her husband Bryan, and sons Matthew, Andrew and Philip in County Durham, England.

Working on the Stephens Family Genealogy has been a long and rewarding process. It has introduced me to many family member I didn't know about and reaquinted me with family members I had lost track of.