Orlistus B. Stephenson
 

ORLISTUS B. STEPHENSON, of Irish descent, was born in Clinton township, Boone county, Ind., October 18, 1867, and was educated at the high school of Lebanon, which he attended four consecutive years, graduating May 22, 1891. September 9, of the same year, he married Gurtha Dickerson, who was born in Jamestown, Ind., November 14, 1869 - the daughter of William H. and Tryphena (Elrod) Dickerson, and also a graduate of the Lebanon high school. Tryphena Elrod was the daughter of William and Lavina (Henkle) Elrod; the former of whom was one of the first judges of Boone county. William H. Dickerson was formerly a merchant; and for many years a justice of the peace of Jamestown, and has taught more terms of school in the county named than any man yet engaged in the work, and still holds a state license. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson were named in the order of birth: Gurtha, Corinne, deceased; and Otto B. Jacob Dickerson, father of William H., was a native of Virginia, was an early settler of Putnam county, Ind. and was a noted local minister of the Predestinarian Regular Baptist school of Boone county. He married Elizabeth Hinton. His father, John B. Dickerson, was also a native of Virginia, was in the war of 1812, married Mary Grider, and died in Putnam county, Ind. Robert Stephenson, great-grandfather of our subject, was a native Pennsylvania and an early settler of Nicholas county, Ky. He married Martha McNulty, and became the father of the following children: William; who died an infant; Joseph, who died on a trip to New Orleans; James, Robert, and Jane. The mother of these children died, and for his second wife Mr. Stephenson married Sarah McDaniel, who bore the following children: John A., William, Thomas M., Aris J., George W., Joseph S. and Margaret J. Of these, John married Mary Adams, and George was killed by a falling tree at the age of fourteen. October 17, 1834, the family reached Boone county, Ind., coming from Kentucky in wagons, in company with the families of Aleck Black and James Sample, and settling in Clinton township. Aris Stephenson, son of above and grandfather of our subject, was born in Nicholas county, Ky., June 23, 1818, entered 160 acres of land in Clinton township and married Margaret Wiley. daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Stephenson) Wiley, Squire Wiley, as he was familiarly called, filled the office of justice of the peace many years in Clinton township, Boone county, Ind., and was an abolitionist stump speaker of local note. He and wife were charter members of the Salem U. P. church, of which, for many years, he was an elder. Two children were born to the grandfather of our subject -- G. W. and Robert. The grandfather was a remarkably strong man, but died, at the early age of twenty-six years, from exposure to the hardships of pioneer life. His wife followed him to the grave two years later. Robert Stephenson, son of the above and father of our subject, was born July 18, 1842. He was a school-teacher, was a volunteer in the late Civil war and received an honorable discharge, and was married to Nancy T. Weed, daughter of John P. and Isabell (Maze) Weed. The children born to Orlistus B. Stephenson and wife are two in number and are named Lillian Hazel and Martha Corinne.

Transcribed by: Chris Brown
Source: "A Portrait And Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," pp 541-542, published in 1895 by A. W. Bowen & CO. Chicago