The son of Wesley and Mary (Kepley) Golden, Stephen was raised in Flora, Clay Co., IL.

In 1885, he got a job in Pana, Christian Co., IL as a postal clerk working for the B & O Railroad. The town was a railroad hub.

He married on 10 Jun 1889, Christian Co., IL to Mary Ellen Ingraham, daughter of Barton B. Ingraham and his wife Jane C. Johnston.

1900 census, Christian Co., IL, Town of Pana, Pana Township, p. 48
Steven B. Golden, b. Oct 1866, age 33, married 10 years, b.IL; fath. b. IL; moth. b. VA; can read & write; Postal clerk, owns a house with mortgage
Mary E., b. Aug 1865, 34, 3 chdn; 3 living, IL IL PA; can read & write
Wesley, b. Jan 1891, age 9, b. IL, in school
Waldo, b. Jun 1895, 6, IL, in school
Dios, b. Sep 1897, 2, IL, in school

By 1910, they had moved to Beardstown in Cass Co., Illinois:

1910 census, Cass Co., IL, 3rd Ward Beardstown, p. 53
Stephen B. Golden, 43, married 19 yrs, IL IL VA manager of d_______ store; owns store
Mary E., 45, IL OH PA, sales lady
Wesley B., 19, IL, in school
Waldo E., 16, IL, in school
Dios E. , 12, IL, in school
Fay I., 9, IL, in school
Manard Ora (female), 20, housekeeper, IL US IL

In 1911, when son Wesley graduated from high school, the family moved to Urbana/Champaign, Champaign Co., IL so he could attend the University of Illinois. Stephen and Mary ran a boarding house. Wesley graduated in 1915 with a Liberal Arts degree. Waldo studied at the same university and then went on to medical school and became an M.D.

When the U.S. entered World War I in 1919, all three of the older boys signed up. Wesley served as an officer commanding an all-black platoon and was wounded in France. Waldo joined the navy as a medical doctor and served on a gunboat in China, among other places.

1920 Champaign Co., 4th Ward Champaign, p. 92
Stephen B. Golden 56 IL US US Salesman – tranching? Gues?
Mary E. 54 IL PA PA no occupation
Wesley B. 29 IL IL IL
Waldo E. 26 "" Dr. US Navy
Dios E. 22 "" school
Fay I. 19 "" ""
Vernon Laneago? 21 roomer

In 1920, son Waldo married. He had remained in the Navy and would make it his career.

In 1923, Stephen and Mary moved to Oakland, Alameda County, California with sons Dios and Fay. Son Waldo was stationed at the Alameda Naval Station. They opened a grocery store, "Golden's Service Grocery" at 2205 Telegraph Avenue.

Wesley married back in Illinois in 1925 and came to California the next year with his bride and new baby (named Mary after her grandmother) to join the rest of the family. He became a traveling candy salesman and Dios a successful accountant. Fay worked for his parents in the store.

Stephen's health began to fail in 1925 as he suffered from heart trouble, and by 1928 he could no longer work and they were forced to sell the store and move in with Wesley and his family. Stephen died just a few months after selling the store, on March 5, 1929, of complications after surgery to remove a kidney stone.

Mary lived only four years longer and died on September 29, 1933. She was buried next to Stephen in the Watsonville cemetery, which is now called Pioneer Cemetery. She had been a member of the War Mothers.

Obituary:

"Stephen B. Golden, son of Wesley and Mary Golden, was born near Flora, Ill. October 29, 1866. Passed away March 5, 1929, age 62 years, 4 months, and 6 days.

He was married to Mary Ingraham, daughter of Barton B. and Jane C. Ingraham, of Flora, Ill., in 1890.

For sixteen years he served as mail clerk on the B. & O. railroad. In 1911 he moved, with his wife and children, to Champaign, Ill. to send the children to the university.

When war was declared, three boys went to France in service of their country.

In 1923 they moved to Oakland, Calif, 1024 Sunny Hills Road.

For three years he was an invalid, suffering from dropsy and heart trouble, so kind and patient through all his long suffering. He was a loving husband and father.

He leaves his wife and four sons, Wesley B., Waldo E., Dais E., and Fay I. Golden. One son at Great Lakes, Ill, three in California, also three sisters living in Illinois, one brother in El Dorado, Kansas, with other relatives in Illinois.

He will be greatly missed in the home, but the Lord knew best and called him home, where there is no suffering or pain.

His funeral was held at Miller's undertaking parlor. Chapel services were conducted by Rev. Clark of the M. E. church March 7th. Internment was in the I. O. O. F. cemetery at Watsonville, California. – A Friend"

Second obituary:

Obituary from the Oakland Tribune, March 7, 1929, Section B, page 43, col 8.

Golden – In Oakland, March 5, 1929, Stephen B. Golden dearly beloved husband of Mary E. Golden, loving father of Wesley B., Waldo E., Dio E., and Fay I. Golden and brother of Mrs. Jane McDuffee, Mrs. Charlotte Nash, Mrs. America Jones, and Edward Golden, a native of Illinois aged 62 years.

Friends are invited to attend the funeral at the Grant D. Miller Mortuary, 2372 East 14th Street, corner 24th Avenue, Oakland, Thursday, March 7, 1929, at 9 o'clock a.m. Internment Watsonville, Calif.

Children:

1. Wesley Barton Golden, b. 1 Jan 1892, Flora, Clay Co., IL; m. 1 Jun 1925, Chicago, Cook Co., IL to Marie Norma Kerr; he d. 12 Oct 1946, Watsonville, CA. They had three children.

2. Waldo Emerson Golden, b. 9 Jun 1893, Flora, Clay Co., IL; m. 3 Mar 1920 to Viola P. Martin; he d. 27 Nov 1953, Berkeley, Alameda Co., CA. They had four children.

3. Dios Edward Golden, b. 2 Sep 1897, Flora, Clay Co., IL; m. 1st 1928, San Francisco, CA to Gladys Dorothy Marks [b. 12 Oct 1901, Oak Park, CA; daughter of Julius Marks; buried Cypress Lawn, Colma Co., CA]; he m. 2nd to Mary King; he d. Feb 1975; buried with second wife at Alexandria Memorial Gardens. They had one child.

4. Fay Ingraham Golden, b. 21 Nov 1900, Flora, Clay Co., IL; m. 11 Dec 1933, Richmond, CA to Grace May Brooks [d. 30 Jun 1988, Walnut Creek, CA, daughter of Francis Marion Royal?]; he d. 10 Sep 1977, Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Co., CA.