Joseph is the son of Joseph Lafayette Stephens and Frances Edith Jones.
His dad was educated at the school in Booneville, MO and began the study of law, afterwards practicing in Booneville. He was captain of a company organized to participate in the Mexican War. The company marched towards the field of action, when they arrival in St. Louis , MO, the war had end. They returned home without having to fight. IN 1804, Joseph Sr. opened a bank in Booneville. Next year , he organized the Central National Bank . He married Martha Gibson on May 10, 1853 and she died on January 20, 1877 . Then he married Fannie Jones in June 1878 .

Joseph had several half sibling by his father Joseph SR., by Martha Gibson. There were 7 sibling.
1. William Speed Stephens 1854-1936. He married Virginia Corbyn Thompson on Jun 23, 1880 in Boonville , MO They had 6 children. They had 4 girls and 2 boys.
2. William Gibson Stephens born on May 15, 1856 in Cooper County, MO. and died on Aug 26, 1876 in Boonvile, MO He was 20 years old.
3. Lawrence Vest Stephens 1856-1932 He was a governor and state treasurer of Missouri. He server as state treasured form 1890-1897 and governor from 1997-1901 . He had several banking enterprises. He married Margaret Nelson on Oct 5, 1880 in Jefferson City, MO. She choose Lon to marry because he was from another prominent local family. As a governor wife , she was charming, stylish and graceful hostess , and fond of entertainment, They no children.
4. Mittie Nelson Stephens-1863-1912 She married Abiel Leonard on May 10, 1883 in Boonville, MO . They had 4 children.
5. Alexander Hamilton Stephens 1866-1943 He married Adda Edgar on March 1, 1888 in Boonville, MO They one son.
6. Rhoda Earle Stephens 1870-1952 She married Wilbur Trigg Johnson on Oct 26, 1892 in Boonville, MO They had 2 children.
7. Margaret Bell Stephens 1873-1947 She married Paul Byrd Moore in 1895. Paul was a highly political figure of the state of MO. He was the private secretary to Governor Lon V. Stephens. They had 3 children.

His dad Joseph SR. married Frances Edith Jones on June 1878 in Booneville, Mo. (Joseph JR Mother) They had 2 boys. Joseph Jr was the youngest.
1. Curtis G Stephens- He married Katherine Mc Mahon on Sep 1899 in Baltimore ,MD They had 3 children.
After Joseph SR pass away , Frances (his Mom) married William Marshall Ladd on Jul 7, 1884 in St. Louis , MO. They had 4 children.

Joseph Jr Paused away in LA, CA and was bury in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Booneville, MO . He married Edith Lee on Mar 2, 1905 in Alton MO. Edith was born on Aug 2, 1882 in New Philadelphia, Ohio and died on Feb 12, 1968 in Kirkwood, MO . She donated her body to medical science at Washington UN in ST Louis MO .
They had one son. Joseph Lafayette Stephens He was born on Nov 7, 1907 in Booneville, Mo and die on Jan of 1972.

Bio by MCM