My Genealogy Hound

Hugh S. Stephenson is filling the office of justice of the peace at Des Arc, and by occupation is an undertaker. He was born in Maury County, Tenn., March 24, 1819, and is a son of Rev. John C. Stephenson, who was born in Tennessee, where he was reared, educated and married, the last event being to Miss Agnes Simpson, who was born in that State. Rev. Stephenson moved to Alabama at an early day, settling in the northern part of the State, where he was engaged in farming and preaching the doctrines of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years; he fell in the pulpit while preaching his last sermon, and died soon after, his death being caused by the bursting of a blood-vessel, in August, 1840. His wife survived him until 1887, when she too passed from life at the age of eighty-nine years. Hugh S. Stephenson grew to manhood in Lawrence County, Ala., and until he attained his majority, made his home with his father, learning in the meantime the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked as contractor until his marriage in 1840. After moving to Sumter County in 1841, he farmed for about eight years, then put up a tannery in Pickens County, and spent eight more years in conducting this business. Northern Mississippi became his home in 1858, and until the opening of the war he was engaged in farming in De Soto County. He joined the Confederate service, Blye’s battalion, but a year later he was discharged on account of disability, after which he was on detached duty the most of the time until the close of the war. He continued to make his home in Mississippi until January, 1870, when he came to Des Arc, Ark., and engaged in contracting and building, also the livery business. After following the latter business for about four years he gave it up, and in 1883 began dealing in undertaker’s goods, at which he has been quite successful. In all his enterprises he has been reasonably successful, and has acquired a good home and a comfortable competency. He first filled the office of magistrate in Alabama, serving there about eight years, and discharged the duties of the same office in Mississippi for ten years, and has been justice of the peace at Des Arc for at least twelve years, and has also filled the office of alderman at this place. He joined the Masonic fraternity in Alabama, was Master of his lodge there for about eight years, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. He was also Master of Des Arc Lodge. He is an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a consistent Christian. He was married in Alabama, in 1840, to Ann A. Whitley, a native of Alabama and a daughter of N. G. Whitley. She was born in North Carolina, but was reared in Alabama. Their children are: Lou H. (wife of A. C. Weatherall), Alice (wife of W. G. Hazen), Lula (wife of Henderson Reid), Willie H. (wife of D. J. Martinger, of Little Rock), Amos J. (at home) and Dr. Charles C. (a prominent young physician of Swan Lake. Robert H. was wounded at Shiloh, and afterward died from the effects of this wound. Mariah, who died several years ago, was the wife of J. B. Jamison. George W., who died in 1884, at the age of twenty-eight years, and two children who died in infancy.