Arletha was born in Ducktown Mines, Tennessee on March 18, 1855...the sixth child of Calaway Stephens and Sarah Ann Little. Her parents had moved there from Benton County, AL in 1853 or 1854 where Calaway owned or worked in the mines. When Arletha was a little over three years old, her parents moved back to Alabama, this time to Lawrence County in the far northwest corner of the state where Calaway owned and operated a grist mill and also was a blacksmith.

When the Civil War broke out, her father enlisted in the 23rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment which served in eastern Tennessee and was then captured at the Battle of Vicksburg. He came down with Typhoid and died while on furlough at his parents home in Marengo County, AL in July 1863.

Lawrence County was almost a no-man's land during the war. Troops from both sides of the conflict scrounged the country side for food and supplies...and what they could not take with them, they burned or destroyed to keep it from the other side. Thus, Calaway's house and gristmill were burned and 8 year old Arletha found herself walking with her mother and siblings on a 150 mile trek across the state back to Benton County where her grandparents lived.

After the war, the family lived for about 3 years in Trigg County, Kentucky and in the fall of 1870 they moved to Newton County, Arkansas. There, on January 15, 1874 she married Richard Carol Owen, whose father Richard Owen had fought for the Union cause with the 1st Arkansas Infantry Volunteers.

About 1879 Arletha and Richard moved their family to Bear Creek in Boone County, Arkansas and then, in the fall of 1885 they moved to near Avalon in Ellis County.

Arletha and Richard had a total of 12 children with 8 surviving to adulthood. About 1914 they bought 60 acres of farm land near the heart of Rankin and during the 1920s and early 1930's their youngest son Dick operated a store and automobile garage there.

Her husband Richard died December 19, 1926. Arletha continued to live on her place 15 more years. She died September 23, 1941 from loss of blood after falling and striking her head while spending the night at her daughter Texas's house.

Arletha was born in Ducktown Mines, Tennessee on March 18, 1855...the sixth child of Calaway Stephens and Sarah Ann Little. Her parents had moved there from Benton County, AL in 1853 or 1854 where Calaway owned or worked in the mines. When Arletha was a little over three years old, her parents moved back to Alabama, this time to Lawrence County in the far northwest corner of the state where Calaway owned and operated a grist mill and also was a blacksmith.

When the Civil War broke out, her father enlisted in the 23rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment which served in eastern Tennessee and was then captured at the Battle of Vicksburg. He came down with Typhoid and died while on furlough at his parents home in Marengo County, AL in July 1863.

Lawrence County was almost a no-man's land during the war. Troops from both sides of the conflict scrounged the country side for food and supplies...and what they could not take with them, they burned or destroyed to keep it from the other side. Thus, Calaway's house and gristmill were burned and 8 year old Arletha found herself walking with her mother and siblings on a 150 mile trek across the state back to Benton County where her grandparents lived.

After the war, the family lived for about 3 years in Trigg County, Kentucky and in the fall of 1870 they moved to Newton County, Arkansas. There, on January 15, 1874 she married Richard Carol Owen, whose father Richard Owen had fought for the Union cause with the 1st Arkansas Infantry Volunteers.

About 1879 Arletha and Richard moved their family to Bear Creek in Boone County, Arkansas and then, in the fall of 1885 they moved to near Avalon in Ellis County.

Arletha and Richard had a total of 12 children with 8 surviving to adulthood. About 1914 they bought 60 acres of farm land near the heart of Rankin and during the 1920s and early 1930's their youngest son Dick operated a store and automobile garage there.

Her husband Richard died December 19, 1926. Arletha continued to live on her place 15 more years. She died September 23, 1941 from loss of blood after falling and striking her head while spending the night at her daughter Texas's house.