The Gupton Family

Stephen Gupton

Of Marion County Missouri

Much has been written about Stephen Gupton who settled in Missouri. He was one of the first settlers in that area, around 1819.

Stephen was born in North Carolina to Cooper Gupton and Temperance Warren about 1800. Stephen left North Carolina when he was twelve and went to Tennessee, then to Kentucky and finally to Missouri. However he only stayed one year in Missouri  before returning to Kentucky to take care of his property. Within a few months he had disposed of his property and returned to Missouri. 

Stephen came to Missouri with his brother, Arrington, who was also born in North Carolina about 1813.

Stephen married the widow Elizabeth Simmons on 15 Apr 1824. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Montgomery. They were married in Marion Missouri. She was the mother of three children; Patty, Alexander and Johnny (Johnny died in infancy). It is said that Elizabeth was one of the emigrants with whom Stephen came to Missouri. 

Stephen and Elizabeth had the following children.

• baby girl that died or was still born
• Cooper
• Mary Jane
• Judith Ann
• Arrington or Arlington - probably Arlington
• Stephen
• William R - died during his fifth year
• William Andrew Jackson 
• Rebecca
• Jackson (unsure)
• Kindred
• James Alfred
• Lorenzo
• Cager or M C
• James Carter

Recorded on 1 Jul 1841 is a land grant for 160 acres for Stephen.

Land Grant

This is just one of his land grants in Missouri.

Found in the history of Marion County, Missouri published in 1884, are the following stories about Stephen.

Old Stephen Gupton was a character. It is said of him that he never wore a laundered shirt in his life, and that in the coldest weather his bosom would be exposed to the snow and the blasts.

Old Uncle Stephen Gupton was an eccentric character, but an honest, generous man. Usually wore a linsey shirt with the collar unbuttoned, and the greater portion of his neck, and breast bared to the zephyrs of summer and the blasts of winter alike. It is said he never wore a laundered shirt in his life, and a cotton shirt with a collar but once.. "When I was married," he said, "they made me wear a white shirt, but the durned thing choked me so that the next morning I took it off, and never wore it again"

But rough as was the exterior of "Uncle Steve", his heart was as generous as his manners were rugged. Dr. Tipton relates this incident: In the summer of 1853 there was a great deal of bilious fever in the country. Quinine was $8 per ounce. Dr. Tipton, then practicing in the country, had exhausted his stock of this drug, and his pocket-book was empty and the majority of his patients were poor. He had not money to buy quinine and quinine must be had. In this extremity he went to old Steve, and said, "Uncle Steve, I am out of quinine, and I can't cure these people without it; I haven't the money to buy it - can you lend it to me?" Mr. Gupton answered; "No, Doc, I haven't got a d___ dollar," and then after many other rough expressions, big oaths and much stupendous "cussing" of the "luck" the hard times and the fever, he added: "But Jack Nichols was here yesterday and wanted to buy my oxen, and I will take them down to him right away and sell them, and you shall have the money. That's what's the matter" Accordingly, the next day, Mr. Gupton drove his oxen down to Col. John Nichols below Palmyra, sold them, and gave the money, $45, to Dr. Tipon, and the amount was all invested in quinine, and administered to the poor fever-stricken people, and doubtless many a life was saved. Mr. Gupton frequently used the expression, "That's what's the matter," clinching nearly every assertion he made with the phrase.

 Stephen passed away on 15 Dec 1875.

 Stephen died without making his will...

The Palmyra - Fri Jan 9 1880

Marion Co Herald Fri Mar 23 1883

James, Kindred, and Lorenzo had left the state moving to California and Texas.

Thanks for stopping by! 
During the next posts I hope to explore the Gupton family of Missouri.

Pattie