Stephen Lewis GIPSON

1. Biography From "History of Macon County" Missouri, pg 1109-1110 STEVEN GIPSON (Farmer and Stock-raiser) Mr Gipson was born in North Carolina January 22, 1813. He moved when aboy to Wayne County, Kentucky., and after he was grown to Missouri.When he came to the State it was filled with Indians, Iowas and Sacs,among whom he spent the first years of his residence here, occupyinghimself in hunting, farming and taking care of stock. He first settledin Randolph county near the present site of Huntsville, though at thattime the town was not built. Many times he bore arms against theIndians, and served in the Black Hawk War under General Clark. Mr Gipson is one of the wealthiest men in Chariton Township, and muchof his money was made as a tiller of the soil. He still owns land tothe amount of 1,700 acres, though since 1863 he has been engagedprincipally in the tobacco and dry goods business. A man of unflinching integrity, he was yet ambitious to the highestdegree, and his youthful dreams have become a rapturous reality. Inthese days gold is omnipotent, and with this magician's wand Mr.Gipson finds every door, so hopelessly closed against so many eagerones, fly noiselessly back on its hinges. Life pours at his feet herchoicest offerings, and time floats to strains of sweetest musicthrough the scented air. When it is remembered how much of courage,industry, perseverance and solid capacity Mr Gipson's successrepresents, it cannot be said that his reward is greater than hisdeserts. "The way of the transgressor is hard," then his pathway must blossomthickly with the pure flowers of virtue and truth. Mr Gipson was married in 1837 to Miss Lucinda Somers, daughter ofAbraham Summers, of Randolph County, originally from Kentucky. By thismarriage there were seven children viz.: Jane, wife of Philip Teters,of Macon County; Daniel, who married Miss Catherine Teters; Columbus,married Miss Gates; Annie, wife of John Vada, of Macon County; Jasper,who married Miss Jane Yorkum; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Manning, andJoseph, still at home. Losing his first wife, Mr Gipson married Mrs Virginia Manning,daughter of Province McCormick, formerly of Virginia. The secondmarriage was crowned by three children: Lucinda, Fannie and Richard.Mr Gipson's family was educated at McGee College. He is a member of the A F and A M Blue Lodge at College Mound, and isan exemplary follower of the faith of the Christian Church, to whichhis first wife also belonged. The present Mrs Gipson is aPresbyterian.

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