Dear Eugene:
At the beginning of the last century my Grandfather (Rev. Elam
Stevenson, father of Elam A. "Gussie") Stevenson, and that of your father,
moved from the Carolinas to middle Tennessee and setteled in Giles County about
100 miles south of Nashville. He and his young wife moved on pack horses for
lack of wagon roads.
They built a log church, later on a good frame church was erected. In this
church Grandfather preached for 64 years and was buried under it's pulpit.
He had 8 sons, 5 of these were preachers. Uncle Jimmie preached 63 years,
Uncle Abner 54 years, Uncle John 48 years, my father E. A. Stevenson 38 years,
Uncle Gilbert 25 years; a remarkable family history.
These were all good men, the laymen as well as the fine preachers--Making a
record so that Good Old Man, our Grandfather and his five preacher boys gave
292 years to the Methodist Ministry, and I have given fifty years. Cousin John
Andrews about the same, and other grandsons have added many years to this
ministry. Cousin Henry, son of Uncle John, Pastor of a leading church in
Birmingham, Alabama.
If you are ever in Nashville, go down to Pulaski in Giles County and visit
Old Bee Springs Church. It is a sacred spot.
Your Uncle, Jimmie
This letter not dated, but, post-marked Feb. 18, 1932. Rev. James Baxter
"Jimmie" Stevenson was a son of Rev. Elam Augustus "Gussie" and his first wife.
Elam A. Stevenson-m. 1st- Emily Earl Cook, a dau. of Nathan Cook( b. Jan 6, 1788). Cooks from S.C. to Ga., Ala., Miss. & thence to old Sevier Co., Ark.
Emily had 2 children, Thos. Elam & James Baxter "Jimmie".
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