Los
Angeles County
Biographies
ELMIRA T. and DANIEL G. STEPHENS
Affectionately termed “the mother of
Santa Monica,” Mrs. Elmira T. Stephens is one of California’s honored pioneer
women. Much of her life has been devoted
to public service, to welfare, philanthropic and club work, and in every
instance beneficial results have attended her intelligently directed
efforts. She was born in Somerset
County, Maine, on November 27, 1838, a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Young)
Wethern, and was reared and educated in her native state. In 1867 with her sister she left home to come
to California, stopping en route in Wisconsin to visit her parents who had
settled in that state. She was at their
home when news of Lincoln’s assassination came to her father who was a strong
Republican. Miss Wethern came to San
Francisco, via the Isthmus of Panama in 1867 and three years later came down to
Los Angeles, which has since been the scene of her activities.
In Los Angeles in June, 1871, Miss
Wethern was united in marriage with Daniel G. Stephens, a California pioneer of
the ‘50s. Mr. Stephens was born in Mount
Olive, New Jersey, October 27, 1833, and was one of a family of thirteen. His education was limited as he had to go to
work to earn his living at an early age.
When he was twenty-one he left home, located for a short time in
Illinois, then started for Pike’s Peak where gold had been discovered, and
wound up in California in 1857 with a donkey, his blankets, frying pan and less
than one dollar in cash. He was very
observing and, perceiving the lack of facilities for caring for the freighting,
and the scarcity of animals and drivers, he started a stable and corral and
from that beginning developed one of the leading livery businesses in Los
Angeles. He invested in realty that
increased in value and took an active part in forward movements to lay a firm
foundation for the civilization enjoyed today by the residents of southern
California. In 1906 he moved to Santa
Monica and died there in November, 1920.
He conscientiously discharged the duties and obligations of citizenship
and was a man of fine character and substantial worth. His political affiliations were with the
Republican Party. All who ever came in
direct contact with him held a sincere regard for his public spirit and honesty
of purpose.
Impelled by the spirit of
humanitarianism, Mrs. Stephens assisted in establishing the Los Angeles
Orphans’ Home in 1880, and served as its second president. In whatever activity Mrs. Stephens engaged she
was warmly seconded by her husband, who supported her in every
undertaking. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were
both charter members of the Los Angeles County Pioneer Society. The Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, also
founded by Mrs. Stephens, was first organized as a History Class on the 8th
of December, 1904, and through her efforts this became a regular club in
1905. The cornerstone of its fine
club-house was laid March 9, 1914, and the building was completed and ready for
occupancy on October 5 of that year.
“Growth through Service” is the motto of the club. Mrs. Stephens is a director of the Santa
Monica branch of the Bank of America and a leader in civic work. She has also rendered service of value to her
state and is justly accounted one of California’s outstanding women. Remarkably well preserved, her appearance
belies her ninety-four years, and she is as active as a woman of fifty. Actuated by high ideals, Mrs. Stephens has
steadily broadened her field of usefulness and is esteemed and loved for her fine
qualities of mind and heart as well as for what she has accomplished. Under the caption of “A TRIBUTE,” Alice F.
Lane wrote as follows in 1930:
“Our beloved Club Mother, Elmira T.
Stephens, founded the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club twenty-five years ago, and
through these years has been an example of the ideals toward which we
strive. She has given us her friendship
and we hold it as a precious possession.
She has given us an understanding, for her love sees beneath the surface
and helps us to give our best to the service of others. Not by words alone but by her every-day life
she has taught us that there may be principle in self-denial—honor in a
‘no’—mercy in a smile—truth in friendship—sympathy in the friendly shake of a
hand, and ‘worship of God in a cup of cold water.’
By her ideas of the good, the right
and the spiritually lovely she is an inspiration for the welfare of the social
and civic needs in a city and state.
Among some of the activities which
claimed her services are the following:
She served as presidential elector
from this state and was elected honorary vice president of the Panama
Exposition in 1915. Mrs. Stephens was
appointed by Governor Johnson on the board of directors of the California
School for Girls and for many years served as its president. She was a member of the county charities
commission; founded the Los Angeles Orphans’ Home; was the founder and first
president of the Woman’s Parliament, organized in Los Angeles. She was chairman of the committee which drafted
the charter for Santa Monica’s commission form of government in 1907; was one
of the first women elected to the board of education, acting as its chairman
for seven years; and organized the Santa Monica Council of Social Welfare, of
which she is president.
She founded our Club of Loyalty,
Cooperation and Harmony and by her teaching and personal contact has shown us
that only when a club is maintained by the ‘rule of the majority, together with
the protection of the rights of the minority’ only then can
the spirit of ‘order, justice and courage be carried forward.’
The life of this friend is a
never-ending source of inspiration to us all and the appreciation of this
friendship will be cherished by us and because of it we may live nearer to our
ideals.”
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 373-376, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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