JOHN PATTON STEPHENS was the oldest of 7 children born to Daniel Stephens and Daniels's 1st wife Nancy Couch. The family lived in Wartrace where John's father was the 1st Mayor, a Postmaster, and owned a General Store. John's mother Nancy died when he was 10 years old.

John's siblings, the children of Daniel and Nancy, were:
Joseph Erwin, Nancy Catherine (m. Keller), James Milton, William Joyner, Martin C., and Henry M. a Pvt. in 19th Texas CSA, who was captured at Oak Ridge, LA and died in the Confederate Prison in Alton, IL.

John's father Daniel married 3 more times and had a total of 21 children. John's step-mother's were:
Caroline Keller, Sarah Elvira McClure, and Elizabeth Ayers

John's grandparents were:
John T. Stephens and Elizabeth Joyner
Joseph Elijah Couch, Jr., and Catherine Patton.

John married Rhoda Catherine Bramblett in December 1851. Rhoda was the daughter of John Alvin Bramblett, Sr., 1791-1861, an Elder of the Primitive Baptist Church, and Jane ‘Jeannie' Couch, 1792-1861, of Haley, Bedford County.
(John's mother Nancy Couch Stephens was the niece of his mother-in-law Jane Couch Bramblett).

After their marriage, John and Rhoda lived in Haley, next door to Rhoda's parents, where John farmed. They had 10 children. After the death of Rhoda's parents in 1861, John purchased their property from the estate. In July 1874, John deeded one acre & 15 poles of this land to the "Primitive Baptist Church worshipping at Bethlehem", for the sum of $5.00. John's grandmother, Catherine Patton Couch, died in 1886 and he was an heir to her estate.

After the death of his wife in 1888, John made his home with his son James. John was killed when lightning struck down a fireplace he was standing near.
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John's only child not yet linked to him is:
Minnie Catherine, 1868-1933, m. John Comer Shriver