My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Brown County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1883.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ROBERT P. STEPHENSON, Ripley, was born in Union Township, June 21, 1801. His father, Col. Mills Stephenson, was born in Delaware, and came to Mason County. Ky., in 1792, and in 1794 crossed to the Ohio side and located near Ripley. He bought a farm of 100 acres and settled on it. He served in the Indian war, and through the war of 1812 as Colonel. He built Fort Stephenson in Ohio, and by the order of the Governor it was given his name. As a man. Col. Stephenson was prominent in his day and as a citizen he labored in the good of the people and in the interest of the county. His death occurred Juno 16, 1822. Mrs. Stephenson, his wife, formerly Miss Jane Kilpatrick, was a daughter of Frank Kilpatrick, who was a native of Ireland. He came to America, and in 1791 came down the Ohio River in a flat-boat with his two daughters — Isabell and Jane, aged ten and twelve years respectively. When just above Maysville, then known as Limestone, Ky., the Indians endeavored to decoy them ashore, but failing in the attempt they fired two balls into him, one entering his head and the other his heart, killing him instantly. His daughters came on to Limestone, where they saw their father buried. They were taken by a Richard Applegate of Mason County, and reared to womanhood. Isabell married James Stephenson and Jane married Col. Mills Stephenson. The latter died June 30, 1815. Robert P., the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood on his father’s farm, and received his educational training in the common schools. He aided his father in clearing up a farm and in effecting many improvements. September 23, 1819, he was married to Mary Wallace, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Wallace, who were natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. They came to Mason County, Ky., in 1791, and lived on the “Old Washington trace” till 1815, when they came to Brown County. Mrs. Stephenson was born in Mason County, Ky., June 9, 1801. Eleven children were the fruits of this marriage, seven of whom are living — Thomas, Lemuel, Young, Mary A. (wife of Abner Howard), Robert A., Catherine J. (wife of Edward Martin), and William R.; Mills, Elizabeth, Ephraim and Jane are deceased. In 1835, Mr. Stephenson located on his present farm, which he cleared up and improved himself with the aid of his children. He assisted in many of the prominent public improvements of the township and county. He now owns a farm of 128 acres of well-improved land. He was one of the earliest tobacco-raisers in Brown County, and followed it successfully for forty-six years. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a supporter of the doctrines and principles of Democracy.

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This family biography is one of 992 biographies included in The History of Brown County, Ohio published in 1883 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Brown County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Brown County, Ohio family biographies here: Brown County, Ohio Biographies

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