The Stephenson family; a genealogical sketch of the Stephenson family from Henry Stephenson of Scotland, to the present time

Dedication

To Martha Ann Tyler, nee Stephenson, of Mount Hope, Alabama, a grandmother and great-grandmother, and Margaret Melissa Bell, nee Lewis, of Rodman, South Carolina, a young mother, both direct descendants of Henry Stephenson, of Roxburgh County, Scotland, and Robert Stephenson, ' of County Antrim, Ireland, and William Stephenson, a Revolutionary soldier, of Chester County, South Carolina, 1776 — the former through Hugh W. Stephenson, of Maury County, Tennessee, and Rev. John Campbell Stephenson, of Mi Hope, Alabama, and the latter through Daniel Green Stephenson {called "Stinson") , of Chester County, South Carolina, and Eliza C. Lewis, nee Stephenson, of Rodman, South Carolina, this little Book is respectfully dedicated.

Preface

Want of a knowledge of the history of my ancestors and their families induces me to write this genealogical sketch. I am of the opinion that many of us do not know the names of all our parents' brothers and sisters, to say nothing of our grandparents' brothers and sisters. This ought not to be .the case. If some one of the Stephenson family, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, had written something similar to this little work, it would now be of very great interest to generations of descendants. If I had now a written statement in regard to the life, manners, customs, names and place of residence of my ancestors and it would afford me a source of informa-

tion which Is forevei lost.

It is not necessary that such a statement should be printed, but written in order to preserve the chirography of the writer. The paper might be pasted in \his history, or placed in the family Bible with the family records. Thus it could be preserved for ages. Every day that passes, the paper will be one day older, and the older the paper becomes the more value is attached to it. The paper never dies. L Ider it becomes

the more lively it grows in interest. I suspect this booklet will be read a hundred years hence.

It will be impossible in a book of this size to mention even the names of all the relatives with whom I am personally acquainted. But I would advise that each relative paste some blank leaves in his book, on which h ie names, and

such family history as \, ish.

His writing, with what the book contains, will make the genealogical sketch of his pwn family tolerably complete.

I hope that some one of the relatives will rewrite, revise and enlarge this little Book, give a fuller history of the various families; also give a history of the country which the ancestors occupied and of the times in which they lived. A very extensive and interesting Book could be written on this line.

6 PREFACE.

THE PLAN OF THE WORK.

The ancestors, or parent stock, will be considered, then their •en and grandchildren in rotation, down to the present time, in like manner with the rest. But the European relatives will not be so considered.

J. C. STEPHENSON, ■; McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennc;

January, 1906.

Section I

I, J. C. Stephenson, the fifth son and the sixth child of William Watson Stephenson and his wife, Melinda Johnston, late residents of Lawrence County, Alabama, am about to write a short genealogical sketch of my ancestors; also of some of their descendants. This is made at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the year 1905, after the writer had passed his eighty-third birthday. Bat it is not to be inferred that he was at the time of writing eighty-three years old.

To trace the genealogy of ancestors long since dead, without records, is an undertaking attended by many difficulties and some uncertainties. Young peop! not care for nor appreciate the importance of genealogical history, but when the young have become old, they in vain seek such history. But the sources of information I might have obtained

such history have been removed. Old p^onle. after death, tell no history, unless it be found on their tombstones. Would that I had made inquiry when I might have done so with much profit in knowledge.

As far back as we can trace our forefathers is to Henry Stephenson, a shepherd, who was born about the year 1698. The first part of the eighteenth century, he lived at Ricalton, in the parish of Oxnam, Roxburgh County, Scotland, six miles from the city of Jedburgh. There are some conflicting accounts as to the members of his family. But all accounts agree that he reared six children, and that Robert was the

THE STEPHENSON FAMILY.

oldest, and Henry, born 1745, was the youngest son.

One account is that Henry Stephenson reared six 1

Robert, the date of whose birth is not known, nor is

there any record to be found by which the date of his

h can be ascertained, was the oldest. The names

of the next four sons of Henry Stephenson are not

known, nor the dates of their birth. But the sixth

son of Henry Stephenson was born at Bloody Laws and

ized February 27, 1745, in Qxnam church. The

family were Presbyterians. The son, Henry, remained

in Scotland. He was a tailor. From circumstances

it is indicated that Robert, Henry's oldest son, was

tr 1723, Another account is that

Henry Stephenson reared four sons and two daugh I

This accounl Robert the oldest, and Henry the

sons of Henry Stephenson of Ricalton,

and. This account makes Robert the oldest son

gives the date of Henry's baptism the same as the

there were two sisters and iid it gives their names and the d their births except in the case of Robert, ►unt makes Jane, the second 1736. It is

'rally believed the first account is the correct one. There is also an account of a John Stephenson, who reared a family about the same time and in the si

The names of John's children are common to the Stephenson name then and now. He most likely was a brother to Henry.

There has been much search made in Ayrshire and Roxburgh Counties, Scotland, the former home of the Stephenson s, for the history of the ancestors of George Stephenson, since he became celebrated as the builder and promoter of the first locomotive engine and railroad in the world. But meager results have followed the investigations. Robert Stephenson, Henry's son. will be designated as Robert Stephenson, 1st, and his son, Robert, as Robert Stephenson, 2d.

One noted characteristic of the Stephenson family is a lack of clannishness. They are possessed of an independent pioneering spirit. They have no c] for fame. The young men leave home when they bee of age and "paddle their own canoes," neglecting their old hoi 1 associates in too great a degree. Robert Stephenson, 1st, seems to have been that sort of a man, and his child issessed of the same disposition. The same traits attach to their descendants in America to this day. When Robert, 1st, \ to manhood he disappeared. He is next found Ballymoney, in County Antrim, in the north part of Ireland. This was & . He was then a young married man, and living on a small farm.

Circumstances indicate that the second son o Stephenson, the shepherd, was James Stephenson, and

little farm, near to his older land. He a family

Fames* &< - it the

772. There was a descendant of this James Stephenson, by name Robert Stephenson, living near Winnsboro, South Carolina. He was a v tall

and strong man. He was six feet and nine Inches high, and known as the strongest man in the country. Ii. a quiet, peaceable man. He was

known in his neighborhood Long Robert Stevenson. as an exemplary man, and a very highly ?s maed citizen. One of his sons, Robert Milton S n, is

an Associate Reformed Pres- .He lives with his gentle, affectionate wife and interesting children at Clover, in the northern part of York County, South Carolina. He has in his charge three churches. He is a man of splendid Christian character, a good pastor, and a very excellent man in his callh Ldihg i » s chur- ! 1 as in his co m m u n ity a n d S I The name Stephenson originally was spelled with "ph," but sometimes "v" is used and sometimes it is spelled "Stee'nson" and sometimes "Stinson." All thest, variations are used for and by different families of the same name and origin. The Stephensons on Rocky Creek, in Chester : known as Stinsons. Stmson is the Scottish vernacular for Stepl

*am Stephenson, my great-grandfather, and his

her, Capt. James Si a, were enrolled in the

Colonial army from South Cai i s William and James Stinson. But the proper and original spelling was Stephenson.

Robert Stephenson, 1st, reared a family of five children, three sons and two daughters 4 , at Ballymoney, Ireland. \\ olxlesl my great-gran d+'ather,

born about 1744 ; James was born 1746 ; Elizabeth born 1748; N as born 1750, and Robert

born 1752. The early history of this family is not well known by historians, prior to the year 1773. But

r George Stephenson, the son of Robert, 2nd, invented the locomotive and promoted its usefulness, 1814 to 1830, the history was sought for, but without much result.

When the children of Robert Stephenson, 1st, grew up they joined the branch of the Presbyterian Church called " Covenanters. " The Covenanters were those "who during the seventeenth century bound themselves to establish and maintain the Presbyterian doctrine and polity, to the exclusion of Prelacy and They were sworn enemies of Catholicism. Their conflicts with the Catholics sometimes resulted in death.

During the year 1772 a great calamity happened to the Stephenson family in Ireland. The Stephensons now living in South Carolina have : that

Robert Stephenson, 1st, the Scotchman, had a youngerbrother, named James, living near him. James' daughter. Margaret, married a Mr. Beck. It is supposed Mr. Beck got into trouble with some Catholics. Robert, 1st, and James, in order to raise money t help Mr. Beck, mortgaged their land and thereby lost it. The families were thus financially broken up.

Prior to this financial misfortune, William, oldest son of Robert Stephenson, 1st, had married Miss R. Green Beattie ; James was married, and Elizabeth had married Alexander Brady, During the year 1772 the William Martin, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Ballymoney, raised a company of colonists to go to North America. Mr. Martin was a Covenanter. William and James Stephenson; their families, and Alexander Brady aT5

joined the colony. About the time they were to sail Nancy, 'heir sister, married William Anderson, and they, too, j^ned the emigrants. They sailed for North America in 1772. They settled on Rocky Creek, near the falls of the Catawba River, in Chester County, South Carolina. Mr. Anderson seems to have been a man of some means; the Stephensons were not then possessed of -

Section II

The children of Robert Stephenson, 1st, William, James, Elizabeth and Nancy, will be, hereafter, referred to as the Four who came to America, and their brother Robert as Robert, 2nd. Robert Stephenson, 1st, was living in Ireland during the year 1772. Robert Stephenson, 2nd, who was afterwards known as "Old Robert of Wylam," and his father, Robert, 1st, went to Northumberland County, England. This Robert Stephenson, 2nd, became the father of George Stephenson, the celebrated engineer of railroad fame. Robert Stephenson, 2nd, was first found by historians in 1774 dng in a coal mine at Wylam, eight miles west of Newcastle-on-i he-Tyne. History says his father a Scotchman, and that he cam^ across the border in the of <i lulling to a gentleman. But his

tells very little about him. It does not even give his name. Nor does history tell the nativity of Robert Stephenson, 2nd, the father of George, who afterwards became famous. It is assumed by some that Robert, 1st, son of Henry Stephenson, the shepherd, near Jedburgh, Scotland, went direct from Scotland to England, and became the father of George Stephenson, the railroad promoter. This assumption is erroneous. As lias been previously stated, Robert Stephenson, 2nd, was born of Scotch parents in Antrim County, Ireland, about the year 1752. A close observance of his history ried. George was married three times, but reared only one child to maturity; Robert, who was as fine an engineer as his father. He was a well educated man, a member of Parliament, and a man of much wealth. He married, but died in 1859, childless. There is not a single descendant of George Stephenson now living. The only living grandchild of Robert, 2d, is George Robert Stephenson, of Cheltenham, England. He is a son of Robert, the third son of old Robert, 2d, of Wylam. Ann, the youngest child, married John Nixon and reared a family in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Her descendants are numerous.

The reason that historians were thrown off the trail of the ancestors of George Stephenson is due to the fact that they followed the clew, that Robert Stephenson, the father of the railroad promoter, went direct from Scotland to England, which was not the fact. Robert Stephenson, 2d, was born in North Ireland, in 1752. My first information as to the time of his birth was that he was born in 1748. But from information recently obtained, I find it was his sister, Elizabeth, who was born in 1748, and Robert was born in 1752. He was born of Scottish parents. George Robert Stephenson, of Cheltenham, England, now (1905) over 86 years old, is very conservative and cautious. In a letter to me, dated February, 1905, referring to my statement of the early history of the Stephensons, as above given, he says, "Your own version of the story, namely, that Robert had brothers and sisters, who emigrated to South Carolina, is quite feasible. Our own account is that Robert had brothers and, perhaps, sisters; and it is certainly odd that nothing should be known about them; but if all, or most, of them went to the States, such disappearance is easily accounted for." If historians had known that the brothers and sisters of Robert Stephenson, 2d, had gone to North America, they might easily have obtained all the data they desired.

Now (1905), of the Four who came to America, there are only a very few grandchildren living. Those living are Mrs. Hephzibah, the relict of Dr. William J. Stephenson, Rossville, South Carolina. She is the daughter of James Furgeson and his wife, Mary Stephenson. She is a very amiable Christian lady, living on her farm in contentment with her son, William Stephenson. Mrs. Ruth B. Cowan, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, is the relict of William Cowan. She is the daughter of John Brady, and the granddaughter of Alex Brady and his wife, Elizabeth Stephenson, one of the Four. Mrs. Jane Agnes Campbell, Richburg, South Carolina, is the widow of James Campbell, and daughter of John Westbrook and his wife, Catharine Stephenson, and granddaughter of William Stephenson, called "Stinson," one of the Four. She lives happily on a farm with her daughter and son-inlaw, Mary Frances and W. C. Garrison. Burdette Furgeson, son of John Furgeson and his wife, Nancy Stephenson, and grandson of William Stephenson, one of the Four, lives with Stephen Furgeson on a farm near Richburg, South Carolina.

William Stephenson was commonly called "Stinson," the Scottish vernacular for Stephenson. He was my great-grandfather; that is, he was the father of my grandfather, Hugh W. Stephenson. He was the oldest son of Robert Stephenson, 1st, a Scotchman, who reared a family in County Antrim, Ireland. He was born in 1744; was twice married. He first married Miss R. Green Beattie, in 1764. Of this union there were born seven children, five sons and two daughters : Hugh W. Stephenson, born January 25, 1765, in Ireland, was the oldest. Then John, Robert, James, William, Elizabeth and Nancy were born. Elizabeth and Nancy were twins, born in 1787, in South Carolina. His wife died the day the twins were born.

In 1789 he, William Stephenson, married Miss Elizabeth Wylie. Of this union there were born four children, two sons and two daughters. Samuel, who was born in 1790, was the oldest of the children of the second marriage. Then were born Mary, in 1792; Daniel Green, in 1794, and Catharine, in 1796.

William Stephenson, commonly called "Stinson," was a man of strong convictions and great decision of character. He joined the army as a whig soldier in the Revolutionary War and made a brave and gallant warrior. His life was a very tempestuous one. Before he left Ireland he had trouble with the Catholics. The Presbyterians and Catholics were deadly enemies; so much so that their conflicts were sometimes attended by death. He came to America, where he hoped to enjoy religious liberty. But he had only fairly entered into its enjoyment when the tocsin of the war of the Revolution was sounded. Previous to this time he had moved from Chester County to York, and settled in the vicinity of King's Mountain.

Section III

Anyone who understands the meaning of Presbyterianism would know where to find such a man. He joined Captain Barber's company. Whenever there was a fight to be made with the British and Tories, he was ready. He and Ben Rowan, a daring and gallant soldier, would, by permission of their officers, take a squad of resolute men and raid into the Whig-deserted country on Rocky Creek, in Chester County, South Carolina, and inquire of the widows and wives of Whig soldiers for the names of any Tories who had been depredating among them. When they had learned the names of such Tories, they would say, "We will send them up to a higher court for trial," meaning they would hang them. Many soldiers on both sides were hung in Chester and York counties. I saw during the past summer, a few miles south of Richburg, the spot where a brave young man, Joseph Stroud, son of William Stroud, was hung for fighting for liberty. The British pinned a card to his clothing warning the country that if anyone took down the corpse the same would suffer a like penalty. At night a young lady of the neighborhood took with her a negro man and took down young Stroud's body and decently buried it. Honor to the memory of that brave, noble young lady. I felt like I was on sacred ground when contemplating the situation. The Strouds, descendants of this young man's family, are living in that neighborhood to this day.

On these raids, William Stephenson would visit his sister, Nancy, near where Rossville now stands. She was the widow of William Anderson, a brave and generous soldier, who fell in defense of liberty. He was fond of telling the thrilling incidents of the war to his grandchildren. He was particularly fond of relating the daring and reckless deeds of the men during the Battle of King's Mountain. William Stephenson was a very resourceful man, full of energy and perseverance. Some years after the close of the war he removed from York County to the Rocky Creek country, in Chester County. He was a farmer, owned land and negroes, and did a general merchandising business. He hauled his goods in wagons from Charleston, one hundred and seventy-five miles. Country merchants could make more money merchandising before railroads were built than now. I was, in July, 1905, on his old plantation. The land is known as the "Stinson" land to-day. He died in 1809. His last wife died in 1811. He is buried between his two wives. Rude granite headstones mark their resting place near the great falls of the Catawba River, in the Old Burnt Church Cemetery, where William Anderson, his brother-in-law, a brave and talented soldier, who was killed by the Tories, is buried, as well as other relatives. This cemetery has been the burying-ground for the relatives for the last six generations. This is a most appropriate place for the remains of so high spirited, reckless and brave a trooper to rest — a beautiful country cemetery, enclosed with granite walls, which is due to the generosity and magnanimity of another brother-in-law, Daniel Green.

The rushing, foaming, mighty waters of the Catawba, as they pass over the falls, resemble the roar of the thunder and the noise of battle raging between contending hosts. When the air is in proper condition the mist and spray generated by great waves lashing themselves into foaming fury, like the smoke of battle ascend in curling columns heavenward.

"To this grandeur and solemn scene is not wanting a dirge of nature's own music, the ceaseless roar of the great falls of the Catawba."

The wildness of the deep and rugged cliffs, the grandeur of the falls, and the picturesque scenery around combine to render the spot a place of reverential awe and of splendid beauty. Yea, this is surely a peculiarly fit "place for the rest of those whose spirits were tried amid the fierce conflicts of political opinion and human passion, wilder than the strife of the boiling waters." „ . . . .

Requiescat in pace.

I will now speak of each child of William Stephenson, one of the Four, and the descendants of these children, respectively. Hugh W. Stephenson, who was born in Ireland, January 25, 1765, was the oldest. He came to America with his parents when he was seven years old. He was a farmer, five feet, nine inches high; his weight was 155 pounds; his eyes were blue; his hair was light or whitish ; his beard was sandy ; his complexion was florid; his skin was thin; he had even tempered, mild disposition; he was very domestic and industrious; he was kind and gentle in his manners, and he was a very affectionate and thoughtful husband. He was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at Rock Spring Church, Lawrence County, Alabama.

Ihere is no difference now between the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. But when the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized, many Presbyterians believed that a certain part of the human family was foreordained to eternal damnation, regardless of their life and character. Those who dissented from that hard doctrine, and preached the doctrine that ' 'whosoever will" may be saved, came, in course of time, to be called Cumberland Presbyterians. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized by those holding the broader doctrine, in Dickson County, Tennessee, February 4, 1810. The Presbyterians, U. S. A., have changed their Confession of Faith so as to meet the objections of the Cumberland Presbyterians, who are now going to unite with the mother church.

Hugh W. Stephenson married his cousin, Margaret, daughter of Capt. James Stephenson, one of the Four. She, Margaret, was born in Ireland, November 28, 1770, and married in York County, South Carolina, October 16, 1787.

The following are the children of Hugh W. and Margaret Stephenson:

Ann, born July 13, 1788, in South Carolina.

William Watson, born October 28, 1790, in South Carolina.

Elizabeth, born August 13, 1792, in South Carolina.

Mary M., born February 9, 1795, in Tennessee.

John Campbell, born August 28, 1797, in Tennessee.

Pleasant Wright, born June 9, 1800, in Tennessee.

Hodge Lawson, born June 30, 1802, in Tennessee.

Sally R., born August 12, 1807, in Tennessee.

Finis Ewing, born November 2, 1811, in Tennessee.

In 1794 Hugh W. Stephenson moved from York County, South Carolina, to Smith County, Tennessee; thence in 1806 to Maury County, Tennessee; and in 1819 all the family, married and single, moved to Lawrence County, Alabama. They bought land and settled near where the town of Mount Hope now is, about thirty miles south of the foot of the Muscle Shoals, on Tennessee River. The Stephensons reared large and respectable families in the Mount Hope country. About the year 1840 there were more voters of the Stephenson family about Mount Hope than of any two family names in the country. But now, 1905, there are very few, there being only six. These Stephensons, like their ancestors, are a pioneering people, energetic, industrious, sober, church-going. As the country began to show age, they went in search of new and richer lands. Some went to Mississippi; some to West Tennessee; some to Louisiana; some to Arkansas; some to Texas, and some to California. When the war between North and South came on, they all went in the Confederate army. There never was a deserter nor a coward of the name.

Ann, oldest daughter of Hugh W. Stephenson, was twice married. She first married William Campbell, in 1810. Of this union there were born three daughters, Eliza, Margaret (Pug) and Mary Ann. Mr. Campbell died and Ann, the widow, married Noble Osborn, in 1826, in Alabama. Of this union a son, Nelson, was born, in 1827. Mr. Osborn moved to Mississippi in 1840. Eliza, the oldest daughter of Ann, married Joseph Caruth. They reared a family at Memphis, Tennessee. Their descendants are living in Memphis now. The second daughter, Margaret, commonly called "Pug," married Stephen Threilkill. They reared a family in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The third daughter, Mary Ann, called "Polly Ann," married Mr. Weatherall. They reared a family of much respectability, on a farm eight miles below Memphis, Tennessee. Some of their descendants are living on the farm at this time. Albert Stephenson, son of P. W. Stephenson, married one of the daughters and reared a nice family south of Memphis.

The second child of Hugh W. Stephenson was William Watson Stephenson, my father. He was named in honor of William Watson, whose name is carved on the marble monument on King's Mountain, as one who fell on that great and notable day. My great-grandfather was in that battle. His home and family were within three miles of the battle ground. His fifteenyear-old son, Hugh W., did not belong to the army, but when he heard the raging of the battle he ran away from his mother and took an active part in the fight. One of his neighbors, William Watson, was killed. It so impressed Hugh W. that he named his first son in honor of Mr. Watson.

Section IV

William Watson Stephenson married Melinda Johnston in Tennessee, November 1, 1810. She was born January 13, 1791. Of this union were born six children (my father was married three times) . The names and dates of birth are as follows:

Anderson Lee, born November 11, 1811, in Tennessee.

Felix Claiborne, born April 18, 1814, in Tennessee.

Mary Ann, born March 15, 1816, in Tennessee.

William Donnell, born October 19, 1818, in Tennessee.

Hugh Stewart, born June 10, 1821, in Alabama.

John Calvin, born August 12, 1823, in Alabama.

My mother died in 1824. My father then married his cousin, Margaret Presley Stephenson. Of this, William W. Stephenson's second marriage, were born six children, as follows:

Malinda Johnston, born December 26, 1825, in Alabama.

Christopher Columbus, born September 28, 1828, in Alabama.

Margaret Elizabeth, born June 9, 1831, in Alabama.

Leonidas Ewing, born February 10, 1834, in Alabama.

Robert Bruce, born June 25, 1838, in Alabama,

Henry Clay, born May 10, 1842, in Alabama.

My stepmother, Margaret Presley, died. Then my father married a third time, Miss Sarah Weems. Of this marriage there was one child born, Sarah Rebecca, born April 26, 1846. I will briefly refer to each of these children.

Anderson Lee married Ann Eliza Campbell, in Tennessee. Her mother, Rebecca, was the youngest daughter of Capt. James Stephenson, one of the Four. He was commonly called "Stinson" in South Carolina. One child, Rebecca Jane, was born. Ann Eliza died, after which Anderson Lee married a widow, Mrs. Ann Wilson, nee Cowan. Ann, in her first marriage, had one son, John Bell Wilson. The family moved from Alabama to West Tennessee, thence to Arkansas. Rebecca Jane married Mr. Wiley. She and all her children are dead. She left no descendants. Anderson Lee Stephenson reared to maturity only one child of his second marriage, Mary Caroline. She married Mr. McNeel. She had two daughters, Josie and Mary. Mary married James Jason Bryant. She now lives near Fisherville, in Shelby County, Tennessee. Josie married and went to Mississippi. John Bell Wilson reared a large family of daughters in Arkansas, northwest from Memphis.

Felix Claiborne, son of W. W. Stephenson and his wife, Melinda Johnston, married his cousin, Miss Mary, commonly called 'Tolly," McGaughey, in north Alabama. She was the second daughter of Col. Washington McGaughey, who was our grandmother Johnston's brother. After two children had been born, the family moved to Mississippi, thence, in 1844, to Marengo County, South Alabama. He reared a nice family in South Alabama. The children were well educated. During the war F. C. Stephenson moved to Lee County,

Mississippi, thence, in 1869, to Paris, Texas. He died October 17, 1872. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a scientific farmer and a man much devoted to the welfare and education of his children. He lived to see the most of them educated.

The group picture before you consists of the four living children of F. C. Stephenson and his wife, Polly McGaughey, and myself. When facing the group I am on the left; Mary Melinda, the eldest daughter, is seated on my left; her brother, W. H. Stephenson, on her left; Ann S. is standing back of and between her brother, W. H., and her sister, Mary M. ; Ida A. stands back of and between her sister, Mary M., and myself.

Mary Melinda^ Stephenson, the oldest daughter of F. C. Stephenson and his wife, was born October 5, 1835. She was a sprightly girl; she was very fair, had a clear, white complexion, sky-blue eyes and as pretty red hair as I ever saw. She walked like a queen. She was educated at Dayton, Alabama. She, after her father moved to Mississippi, during the war, married her cousin, Dekalb McGaughey. They have one child, a son, Jefferson McGaughey, and one grandson. They live in Collinsville, Texas. Mr. McGaughey is a merchant. They have a beautiful home, well arranged and well kept. Mary is a good woman and a nice housekeeper.