OBITUARY OF
STEPHEN W. SCALLORN(as printed in the Bastrop County, Texas, Newspaper)
In MemoriamStephen Scallorn was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, 23rd of February, 1787, and departed this life at the residence of his son, F. M. Scallorn, in this county, 8:30 a.m., December 24th 1887, 100 years, 10 months, and one day old.
In his early childhood his father emigrated from Maryland to North Carolina and some years after from there to Kentucky, and from there to the Western District of Tennessee. At this time he was of age, and had married Miss Polly McClure in Kentucky, 14th February 1811.
Soon after this he began the practice of medicine, in which he was successful, and followed for more than 25 years. He expressed a Christian hope in his 24th or 25th year, and soon after became a prominent member of Big Muddy Primitive Baptist Church in Haywood County, Tennessee, which church soon ordained him as deacon, which office he filled well as long as able to officiate. While residing in Tennessee, he lost his first wife who had been the mother of seven sons and four daughters. She died the 10th of March, 1833. He was married to Martha Bullock on the 23rd of April 1834.
John W., his oldest son, came to Texas in 1834-35. With the family, his father, the subject of this sketch, started to Texas in the fall of 1837, overland, reaching LaGrange (at that date but a few homes) February 8th,1838. Eight miles above that point he selected a home and resided there 7 years. Unable to procure a title to the land he lived on, he moved to the southern part of Fayette County and settled near Mulberry Creek, where he lived until 1884, when his son (with whom he had resided 23 years), became a resident of Bastrop County. He lived in Fayette County 46 years, and in Texas almost 50 years. His last wife died in Fayette County October 12th, 1880. She was the mother of two sons and one daughter, L.P. Scallorn of this county being one of the sons. John W., the son who came to Texas in 1834-35, served with distinction in the Texas War of Independence, and in company with a younger brother named Elam, fell in Captain Dawson's defeat on the Salado, September 18th, 1842. Together with their fallen comrades they rest in one sepulcher on the bluff opposite LaGrange.
Stephen Scallorn was the father of 14 children, 5 now living; grandfather of 38, 28 now living, great-grandfather of 29 children, 22 now living; great-great-grandfather of one child who is now living, being a grand total of 82 children with 56 now living.
The First Primitive Baptist church constituted west of the Colorado River in Texas, was in 1839. This church was Hopewell - not Plum Grove.
In1840 this church was composed of 22 members, Stephen Scallorn being one of the deacons. The record of Hopewell church read: "The missionary spirit began to manifest itself in the church, - which led to a division;" nine of the Primitives held the book (record) and house, while the 13 Missionaries went to a neighbor's house and held their meetings. "Stephen Scallorn was deacon and clerk of Hopewell Church when this occurred, and was a leader of the nine faithful ones. The 13 Missionaries called their new organization Plum Grove."
Deacon Stephen Scallorn was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, being unusually well read in the Scriptures. He died as he had lived - a Christian man.
December 25th his remains were carried into Colorado Primitive Baptist Church house, of which he was a loved member, and a funeral discourse delivered from the text, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord". etc., Rev. 14:13. After which, loving hands gently laid him away to "rest from his labors", awaiting the resurrection of the just to life and immortality.
J. W. Shook