Page:The Stephenson Family (1906).pdf/94

 Hugh W. Stephenson, oldest son of William Stephenson, and half brother of Squire Stinson," refused to sign his name as Stinson. He married in York County, South Carolina, moved to Tennessee, thence to Alabama. I have given the names and their respective postoffices of forty-three men voters by the name of Stephenson, descendants of the sons of Hugh W., to say nothing of the descendants of the daughters. Hugh left six brothers in South Carolina, as good men and as intelligent as he was. They accepted the name "Stinson." That was not the right name. The good Lord prospered them in their basket and their store. But he gave them daughters; in a few cases sons were born, bright sons, but they died without marrying, or failed to raise male offspring. Who can explain all this? Facts are stubborn things.

William Stephenson's first wife was a Miss Beattie. She has been dead more than a century. The rude granite headstone has her name chiseled on it. But it is scarcely legible. I am indebted to my cousin, J. C. Hicklin, and especially to the indefatigable energy and perseverance of Mrs. Gober Anderson, for deciphering her name on that old, rough headstone. Mrs. Anderson sat down on the ground in the hot July sunshine and rubbed the stone to make the carved letters appear. She was thoroughly satisfied that she understood every letter except one. She could not tell whether the first letter of the name was "R" or "B," but she was inclined to believe that it was "R." The name then reads, "R. Green Stinson." I could not see the letters. But Mrs. Anderson's bright, intelligent eye is younger than mine. I am satisfied that William Stephenson kept no family record of births and deaths.