Harriet Martin, Second Wife of F.P. Stephens

Though not a direct anecestor, Harriet was an affectionate surrogate mother to her step-children, who held her in high regard.

Harriet Martin, b. March 7, 1869 in Talladega County, Alabama, to John J. and Elizabeth Bonner Martin, was the second wife of Franklin Pierce Stephens and step-mother to Helen Stephens Hughes. She was in her 40's when she married Frank, who was her only husband. They had no children of their own.

Harriet's siblings were John, Christopher, Andrew, Thomas, Alfred, and Mary.

In 1898, Harriet's widowed mother left Alabama with her children and traveled by covered wagon to Texas. They settled in Bryan County in the latter part of 1898 and later moved to Caldwell County where they built a large two-story log house. In 1901, most of the family came by wagon to Marietta, Indian Territory.

After Harriet married Frank Stephens, they lived on her family's place at Oil Springs until their later years when they moved into a small house on East Mill Street in Marietta. Harriet died July 29, 1954, and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery next to her husband, in the northwest corner of the cemetery under the big tree.

An old letter in our possession indicates that she was at one time a children's nurse--probably what we would today call a nanny--and she was affectionately remembered 50 years later by a little boy she once cared for.

Her obituary follows.