Charles Stephenson
In tracing back the ancestors of the above, we can only go back to David Stephenson, who was born in Kentucky, but removed to Virginia, where, in the year 1805, Charles Stephenson was born. In 1813 they emigrated to Greene County, Ohio. Shortly after their location there Mr. S. went to Champaign County, and entered a piece of land, and built a cabin upon it; then started to return to bring his family, when he was taken sick, and died before he got home, and was buried on his new home in the woods of Champaign. His widow, with her family of eight children, removed to this new home in the woods. They lived here about one year, when they traded for a place in Clarke County, where they lived until all the children grew up to majority. In 1829 Charles Stephenson was married to Miss Rachel Johnston. They remained in Clarke County until 1835, when they removed to the western part of Logan County, and settled on land he had entered there. It was here in the woods, with not even a garden spot cleared. and with only three dollars in money, that he commenced his pioneer life. He was compelled to leave home to work by day's work to provide for his family, leaving home on Monday morning and not returning before Saturday night; his wife and her four small children remaining at home, and not seeing the face of a person during her husband's absence. They lived in this way about one year, when they became discouraged, and sold their place, and bought a smaller one with some improvements. It was then they began to live, and from that time to the present they say have always had plenty. They had a family of twelve children, ten of whom grew up, and eight of tllem still living, viz., Sarah, Joseph, Jane, Rebeeca, John, Ann, Mary, and David. Mr. S. has been noted as a hunter, having spent many days and night with his gun. He has killed deer by the hundred, and other smaller game without number; also a few bears. He followed hunting every year more or less, until the last few years he has become so badly crippled that he has to forego the privilege. He says every summer and fall he would work just as hard as he could to get his work out of the way, then would take his gun and camp equipage and start for the northwest woods to take his annual hunt, never returning without having killed some deer.
Mr. Stephenson tells of an almost improbable instance that came under his observation, the truthfulness of which is verified by his wife. One day he killed a deer, and brought it home before dressing it. When he was taking out the entrails he felt a hard substance in the heart; he examined it, and called his wife to show it to her. Upon cutting open the spot in the heart, they found a bullet that had been imbedded there at some time previous, and the wound had healed over, leaving the bullet remaininshg in the heart.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883