John Edmondson “Mug” Stephens was from Nashville, Tennessee. He was born on 8 November 1874 in Brentwood, Tennessee, just 9 miles from Nashville and was studying at Vanderbilt University when appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point in the class of 1898. He was the son of John and Eliza Edmondson Stephens of Brentwood, Tennessee.
He left Vanderbilt, but finished his degree there between graduation from West Point and his first assignment. (Editor’s Note: West Point graduates did not receive college degrees until 1934.)
As an Artillery officer, Stephens served at posts across New York State before teaching mathematics at West Point from 1900-04. He then went to the Philippines and returned to the States to work in the Inspector General Department. Just prior to the war, he was Chief of the War Plans Branch of the War Plans Division.
Following this assignment, Stephens was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the 61st Artillery Brigade. While in the field in France, General Stephens contracted pneumonia and died, after a brief illness, on 4 January 1919, at Camp De Coctquindia, France. He was 44 years old.
Although a strict disciplinarian who demanded uncompromising obedience and courtesy from his officers as well as his enlisted men, he was the first one to set the example of what he expected. If there was any discrimination not he part of the General it was toward his enlisted men for whom he was a father-figure as well as a demanding leader. He was always alert to provide for the men int he best ways he could determine in both working and entertainment situations. His driver described the General as "indefatigable." It is suspected that the zeal he had for performance of his duties was instrumental in his death. He traveled across all corners of his command to assure his soldiers' duties were being conducted efficiently and proficiently. (Reference: "Trail of the 61st: A History of the 61st Field Brigade During World War 1917-1919" by Private Rex F. Harlow, 1919, published by Harlow Publishing Company, Oklahoma City.)
