his home

Charter Member and officers installed December 3, 1850 of the
Leaksville Masonic Lodge #136 A.F.A.
W. Absalom Stephens, elected Junior Warden
“Secrets of Leaksville Lodge #136 A.F.A.M.”
Book Was Written by Henry Clay Pace, Jr.

W. Absalom Stephens was born near Oak Ridge in 1811 when James Madison, the third President, was in office. When he was quite a young man, the family moved to Wentworth. As he grew up. He came to Leaksville and was a tailor by trade. His shop was on the south west corner of Washington and Henry Streets. His home was on the corner of Washington and Patrick Streets where the Buick dealership is now. He planned to build another house and had it under construction - half completed - when he passed away in 1852. Let’s remember here again a death in 1852. His wife finished the house and raised her children in it. The following children: John W., James, Henry, Thomas and Letctia.
I do not know what happened to James, Henry and Thomas. They must have moved away. John W. had some education and went on to be a state senator from Yanceyville. He acquired the name of “Chicken” Stephens and a plaque is in front of the old courthouse in Yanceyville in his honor.
He was at a political meeting in Yanceyville and someone came and told him that someone wanted to see him in his office which was on the second floor of the old courthouse. He did not return and after the political meeting, someone went to check on him. They found him in his office dead from a gun shot. There was some rumor that this was done by the Klu Klux Klan.
Absalom’s wife was living with John W. At this time and later on their home burned. The town’s people built it back and later on she was found with her throat cut. They claimed she rolled out of bed and broke a glass pottie that caused her death.

Letctia, the only daughter, never left this area. She married a Mr. Trodgon and they had a son named James Stephen Trodgon who was well known in our community. He was a surveyor by trade and everyone that knew him called him Jim Trodgon. Jim had a daughter which is the great-granddaughter of Brother Absalom. She is Mrs. Robert Turner of east Eden or Draper. We do not know for sure, but Mrs. Turner thinks that Absalom is buried in an unmarked grave in Lawson Cemetery.