4.Solomon Butler2 Stephens II (Solomon Butler Stevens /1) was born Abt. 1799 in Huddelston, Bedford Co. Va., and died 18 Sep 1886 in White Gates, Giles County, VA..He married Elizabeth Murdock 14 Jul 1824 in Bedford County Va..She was born 22 Jan 1806 in Huddleston, Bedford County Va., and died 09 May 1885 in White Gate, Giles County Va..
Notes for Solomon Butler Stephens II:
Bedford County, Virginia;July 14, 1824, Solomon B. Stevens & Betsey Murdock; Elijah Murdock, Surety; Married by John Ayers, July 16, 1824.
THE LONG JOURNEY
In the 1830's Solomon Butler StephensJr. and his wife Elizabath Murdock Stephens , packed their personal items , supplies and their children into a wagon. Then departed from Huddleston , in Bedford County Va . . They had heard of the goodfarm land in Kentucky , that was available for" homesteaders" .The fertile lands in Kentucky offered better opportunities to raise their family .Travel was difficult because the wildness trails were narrow and rough .There were no maps to go by in those days . The horse-drawn wagon was very slow and they lived in the wagon which was most undesirable .
SolomonB.became very ill with Rubella Measles , in the White Gate area of Giles County,Virginia.They were forced to discontinue their Journey and care for him .Solomon developed complication and had a slow recovery .Their new friends and neighbors encouragedthe Stephens family to buy land and settle in the White Gate area .They decided to remain in the area , because winter had arrived and it would not be safe in trying to cross the rugged mountains in harsh weather .They bought some land in Giles County and built a log cabin .Solomon Butler was very aggressive and prosperous , black smith by trade and also a successful farmer .
Submitted By ;
Allen & Marua Stephens ,Finksburg , MD.
1850 Giles County Virginia Census
In the 1850 Census of Giles County Va. Solomon B. Stephensis shown in the same house hold , livingwith William Crawford and family .Solomon B . Stephens 48 , Elizabeth 44 , Elizabeth 24 , Martha 22 , Daniel 19 , William 19 , Thomas , Marian 12 , Sarah 10 , Nancy 8 , Solomon 4, and Louisa E. 3 Mo. .
1860 Giles County Virginia Census
Solomon Butler Stephens is listed in the 1860 Giles County Va. Census as follows;Solomon B. Stephens age 58 Farmer, wife Elizabeth age 53,
Children;Daniel age 27, farm laborer, William age 26, farm laborer, Thomas age 24, farm laborer, Sarah age 17, domestic, Nancy age 16, Solomon age 14,
Solomon B. died Sept. 18 , 1886 , 86 years. Elizabeth died May 9 , 1885, 78 years. Maria D/O Solomon, married Andreson James, April 7 1859 in Pulaski Co. Va. S/O O. & Mary James.Daniel married C. M. Brookman,Oct. 18 , 1860 Pulaski Co. Va. D/O Stephen & Malinda Brookman.William married Nancy J. Martin Dec. 11 , 1867 . D/OMary R. Martin.Thomas married (1) Susan J Taylor, Feb. 24 1864 , D/O Robert & Martha Taylor , Henry Co. Va. Susan died May 5 , 1891 yrs. , Consumption ;(2) D. ThompsonNov. 10, 1892 , D/O James & A. Thompson.Sarah married William S . Woodyard , Jan. 12 , 1888.
Nancy married John G. Brookman Sept. 19 , 1867 , S/O Stephens & Malinda Brookman.
*Note ;Daniel Stephens, married C .M Brookman & Nancy Stephens, married & John G. Brookman, brother & sister, Brookman's children of Stephen & MalindaBrookman .
1880 census of Giles County Va. S. B. Stephens age 76, wife Elizabeth age 60 and Sarah age 32.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OFSOLOMON B .STEPHENS
This 30th of Nov. 1885 , I Solomon B . Stephens being in right mind I make this my last Will and Testament .
1st , I commend my soul to God who gave it.
2ondly , I will Mary A . Tickle , Elizabeth Martin , Martha J . Murry , Mariah J . James and Nancy B. Brookman one dollar and on more .
3dly , I will my daughter Sarah A. Stephens all my household and kitchen furniture . I also will her the house and land that I purchased of Issac Dehart . She is to have an equally Shar with my sons after my just and honest debts is paid out of what is left .
4th ,The residue to be equally divided between my sons to wit , Daniel , William , Thomas , and Solomon B . Stephens Jr .
Witness Andrew J . Bane and G. M. Waddell .
Virginia Giles County the 21st day of Sept . 1886 . A writing supporting to be the last Will and Testament of Solomon B . Stephens deceased was this day presented in Court , Partly proven by the testimony on oth of G. M. Waddell one of the subscribing witnesses here to and coned to the term of the court for future proof , Again on 19th , day Oct .1886 was future proven by the testimony on oth of A. J. Bane , one of the subscribing witnesses there to and ordered to be Second .
Testee Giles County Court House,
B . P . Watts ; Clerk. Pearisburg, Virginia
Book 5,Page 214
Children of Solomon Stephens and Elizabeth Murdock are:
+ 12 i. Mary Elizabeth3 Stephens, born Abt. 1826 in Pulaski County Va.; died 02 Jun 1868 in Pulaski County, VA..
13 ii. Martha J. Stephens, born Abt. 1830 in Bedford, Virginia; died 24 Jun 1876 in Giles County Va..She married William Murray; born Abt. 1826; died Abt. 1900 in White Gate, Giles County Va..
+ 14 iii. Daniel Stephens, born 28 May 1831 in Giles County, VA.; died 11 Jul 1900 in Giles Co. Va..
15 iv. Elizabeth Stephens, born Abt. 1832 in Bedford Va..She married Charles W. Martin 30 Aug 1859 in Giles County Va.; born Abt. 1840 in Giles County Va..
Notes for Elizabeth Stephens:
Giles County Marriages ,shows that on Aug. 30, 1859, Elizabeth Stephens single 27, born Bedford County Va. daughter of Solomon & Elizabeth , married Charles W. Martin 19,single , born Giles County Va. son of Polly (Mary) Martin.
+ 16 v. William Stephens, born 1834.
+ 17 vi. Thomas Stephens, born 29 Feb 1836 in Giles Co. Va.; died 26 Jan 1920 in Giles County Va..
+ 18 vii. Mariah B. Stephens, born Abt. 1838 in Giles County Va.; died 24 Jun 1876 in Giles Co. Va..
19 viii. Sarah A. Stephens, born 05 Aug 1842 in Giles County, VA.; died 23 Oct 1904.She married William S. Woodyard 12 Jan 1887 in Giles County, VA.; born 30 Dec 1829 in N.C.; died 30 Jan 1904 in Giles County Va..
Notes for Sarah A. Stephens:
Giles County Marriages, On Jan. 12, 1888, Sarah A. Stephens, 40, daughter of Solomon B. & Elizabeth Stephens, married William S. Woodyard 56, born N.C. , son of James Woodyard.
+ 20 ix. Nancy Bain Stephens, born Abt. 1846 in Giles Co. Va..
+ 21 x. Solomon Butler Stephens, #3, born 13 Nov 1846 in Giles Co. Va.; died 11 Jan 1900 in Giles County Va..
22 xi. Louisa E. Stephens, born 1850.
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