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Thomas B. Stevens, ex-county judge, Star of the West, Ark. The leading
characteristics of Mr. Stevens indicate him to be a man of unswerving
integrity and one well informed and universally esteemed - a man who has
been tried but not found wanting, and one capable of discharging his
official and private duties with competency. He was born in Dade County,
Ga., September 8, 1847, and was the eldest of nine children, the result of
the union of T.R. and Margaret (Forrester) Stevens, the father a native of
South Carolina, and the mother of Warren County, Tenn. The parents were
married in Georgia, October 22, 1846, and in 1849 they moved to Arkansas
where they resided two years in Hempstead County. They then moved to Pike
County, and there they reside at the present time. The father is a
Republican in politics and served as justice of the peace in this county
several terms. They are also members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Thomas
B. Stevens grew to manhood in Pike County, Ark., received a fair education,
and at the age of twenty years commence for himself as a tiller of the soil,
which occupation he has successfully carried on ever since. He is at present
the owner of 240 acres of land, with about sixty acres under cultivation,
and is one of the representative men of the county. In September, 1867, his
nuptials to Miss Margaret Hendricks were celebrated, and resulted in the
birth of seven children, six of whom are living: Margaret A.S., Octavia A.,
Jose (sp) E., Cansada C., Dolphus L., and Loda B., all residing with their
parents except Margaret A.S., who married in 1887, to Mr. Willis W. Rodgers,
who is a farmer in this county. Mr. Stevens was elected magistrate, in 1880,
and served for two terms. He was also elected county judge in 1884, and held
that position for one term. He is active in his political views and is a
Republican. He and Mrs. Stevens are members of the Primitive Baptist Church,
to which they attached themselves a number of years ago.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
pages 337-338.
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