Mississippi, Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedia Form, Dunbar, Rowland, LL D, Vol. III copyright 1907
Stephens,
Zazariah (sic) M., is one of the leading members of the bar of Union County, being established
in the practice of his profession in New Albany and being ex-judge of the Third judicial circuit. He has also served in both branches of the State legislature
and has been prominent in the councils of the Democratic party in Mississippi. Judge Stephens was born in Itawamba county, Miss., in 1853,
and is a son of Dr. Reden B. Stephens, who was born in Alabama and who has long been engaged in the
practice of medicine in New Albany, being one of the representative physicians of this section of
the state. Judge Stephens was afforded the advantages
of the schools of Union county, where he was reared to maturity, and he then took up the study of
law, securing admission to the bar in 1875. In the
preceding year he had been elected to represent Union county in the State legislature and he served
one term. In 1892 he was again called upon to represent
his district in the senate, of which he remained a member until 1896, in which year he was appointed
judge of the Third judicial district, by Governor McLaurin, remaining on the bench for one term, of
four years, and making a most excellent record as a jurist. He
has been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession in New Albany and has built up a
large and representative business. He is a member of
the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. In October, 1874, Judge Stephens was united in marriage to Miss Letha A. Coker,
daughter of Edward (Elijah is the correct first name) M. Coker, of Union County, and they have three
children: Hubert D., Edgar J., and Jennie Belle.
Z M Stephens childhood and youth. He was reared in Itawamba County and
attended school somewhere close to Tupelo, maybe Fulton. I am not sure of the exact
place. After the Civil War, the family was in Memphis and moved to Union Co about 1870.
Redden Byrd Stephens was a Captain in the Civil War and a surgeon. He practiced medicine and
lived at Keownville before coming to New Albany. Sent in by Martha
Cofield
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