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Daniel Green Stinson, Esq., Chester County, South Carolina.Daniel Green Stephenson (called "Stinson"), the tenth child of William Stephenson, one of the Four, and the third child of the same, and his second wife, Elizabeth Wylie, was born May 1, 1794, in South Carolina. From his boyhood he exhibited an unusual thirst for knowledge. He was a good farm hand from the time he could hoe cotton till he was grown. But he managed to obtain a good education through his perseverance and energy. He was intellectually very strong from his youth up. His moral character was above reproach. He was kind and considerate in his intercourse with men, very conscientious and just in all his transactions with the world. He married Miss Esther Gaston, from an illustrious family of the country. There were born of this union nine children, seven daughters and two sons. One of the sons died in infancy; the other, John, was in his senior year at college when he died. It is said he was a young man of much promise. Three of his daughters died in maidenhood. Much attention was given by the parents to the education of the children. They reared a family highly respected for integrity and worth.
Daniel Green Stephenson (called "Stinson") was a fine local historian. He rendered invaluable services to Mrs. Elizabeth F. Ellet, in writing the third volume of "The Women of the American Revolution." He also wrote, by request of Lyman C. Draper, the history of the Battle of King's Mountain, so far as it was participated in by South Carolinians. He also wrote the "History of Presbyterianism in South Carolina," for Dr. Howe. He has left on record in the Yorkville (South Carolina) Enquirer, of October 2, 1879, a biographical sketch from which we learn much of his history. I, especially, and as for that, all the descendants of the Four, are under lasting obligations to his memory for the family history he has left on record, without which thousands of us would be in total darkness as to our genealogical history. While we observe some errors into which he has fallen, we respect his memory the more highly for his effort in that direction, knowing that he did his best for us. He did so much better than any one else did that we can readily excuse any apparent error in his writings. He was for many years a faithful and efficient public officer in Chester County, South Carolina. He was a farmer of large means, always kind and lenient to his slaves. He kept a bill of sale for some negroes his father bought in the year 1797. This paper was lost about the time the negroes were freed—1865.
Jane Stephenson, daughter of Daniel Green Stephenson and his wife, Esther Gaston, married Rev. Matthew Elder. They reared three children, two sons and one daughter. Norman Elder, son of Matthew Elder and his wife, Jane Stephenson, has a family in Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Elder is an intelligent, well educated man. He is head clerk in a large business in Columbia. John M. W. Elder, a brother to Norman, is an Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister. He has charge of two churches in Virginia. He has a family. Miss Mary Jane Elder, daughter of Rev. M. Elder and his wife, Jane, is not married. She is living in Chester, South Carolina.
Melissa Stephenson, daughter of Daniel Green Ste—phenson and his wife, Esther Gaston, married the Rev. Laughlin McDonald. Mr. McDonald was an eminent Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister, a zealous and useful man, a man who sacrificed his own ease and comfort for the general good. He and his wife, Melissa, reared to maturity three sons. Charles Edgar McDonald is an able and highly useful Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister. He is the pastor of the church at Winnsboro, South Carolina. His wife is dead. He has charge of the children and his flock. He is in many respects a very superior man. James Edwin, a younger brother to the preacher, is a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. Judge McDonald practices in the courts at Winnsboro, his home, and in the surrounding counties. He has great ability in determining the merits of the cases that come before him when on the bench. He has a large and commodious home, surrounded by extensive grounds. He has a most amiable wife and five very promising children. His daughter, Miss Helen, now about grown, is a charming and well educated young lady. His oldest son, Edwin, is in college and will soon graduate. There is no nicer family in Winnsboro than Judge Edwin McDonald's.
William Lee McDonald, son of Rev. L. McDonald, is an insurance agent. He has a family and lives in Charlotte, N. C.
Eliza C. Stephenson, daughter of D. G. Stephenson and his wife, Esther Gaston, married Samuel J. Lewis. There were born of this union seven children, five sons and two daughters. The five sons and one daughter have passed away, leaving no descendants. Mrs. Lewis, the mother, is also dead.
Margaret Melissa Lewis, daughter of Samuel J. Lewis and his wife, Eliza C. Stephenson, after she was educated, married John M. Bell. They have one interesting child, a son, Lewis. The child is a very intelligent scion and the pride of the family. Mr. Bell is an electrician, and an industrious, clever, good man. He lives at Rodman, and works at Chester, eleven miles west from Rodman. Mr. Bell, in the early morning, runs to Chester on an electric bicycle, and returns after work time in the evening. Mr. Bell was exceedingly fortunate in his marriage to Miss Maggie Lewis. She is an intelligent, industrious woman, a devoted mother, a kind, obedient wife, and a painstaking housekeeper. She is a blond, having the complexion and style of the Scottish Stephensons. There is no better or kinder woman in Rodman than Mrs. Margaret Melissa Bell. But her Irish blood will rise in the twinkling of an eye, if she sees that dear little boy imposed upon.
Samuel J. Lewis is a successful merchant at Rodman. He owns land and farms. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. There is no better man in that church than Sam Lewis. Mr. Lewis lived in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, when the war came on. He was a gallant and brave soldier in the Confederate army. Probably there was no one in that desperate struggle who was in more hard-fought battles, and who was a witness to more death and carnage than Samuel J. Lewis. He lost all he had; his family refugeed from North Mississippi to South Carolina. He is an industrious, economical man. He has now a nice little estate.
Martha Stephenson, daughter of Daniel Green Stephenson and his wife, Esther Gaston, married Mr. Lewis, a nephew of Samuel J. Lewis. She is dead; she has no descendants living.
Daniel Green Stephenson was twice married. His wife, Esther Gaston, died in 1854, after having been married thirty-five years. Her husband made the common mistake of old men. He married a widow who had a family of daughters. 'Squire "Stinson's" family and the newly adopted one were not congenial; they never are. His latter days were not his happiest days.