Clay County AlArchives News.....Along Country Lane visits with Dr. A.R. Stephens at Delta September 26, 1937
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 26, 2023, 12:56 am

Anniston Star September 26, 1937
Perhaps the most interesting article this column has had for the last few months 
Is in its making today. We want to tell you about an old gentleman that is 
regarded by his neighbors and fellowmen as one of the most valuable citizens of 
the little farming community of Delta that lies in the northeast section of Clay 
County. By one of the leading citizens of Delta. Country Lanes was told the 
worth of this good man, who has given of his time and money for the betterment 
of his community. 
Today his only possession in the old homestead that his father entered in the 
primitive days of the red man. On these 40 acres the father of Dr. A. R. 
Stephens built the house that stands now the same as it did when it was built, 
except for the addition of one room. Here in this house 77 years ago, Dr. 
Stephens, the man with whom we had our interview was born. 
Dr. Stephens has lived his entire life in this community, and we were told by 
one of Delta's citizens that the people of that section owe him a fortune for 
his services. Few communities, we dare say, could boast of a man with a heart so 
big that he would give a friend the coat off his back. Dr. Stephens has never 
married and lives with a cousin, Miss Azoo Stephens, kindly old lady of 82 
years, who is also highly respected and loved by the citizenry of Delta, as is 
her cousin. 
Although Dr. Stephens lives in the house where he was born, he lives in a 
different county. We did not quite understand that until he told us that Clay 
County formerly was a part of Randolph and Talladega Counties, and that section 
where he lives was Randolph County until 1867, when it was made Clay County. 
This old home is built without the use of nails, being mortised and pegged 
together. The same thing applies to the doors. The house was built before the 
War Between the States and in the kitchen is a scuttle hole that was used for 
hiding guns, ammunition and other things that they did not want the enemy find. 
The furnishings in the home of Dr. Stephens and his cousin are all antiques that 
were brought by his section from near Atlanta. Included in this furniture are 
several beds, chests and picture frames that hold the pictures of the parents of 
Dr. Stephens and other relatives. Too there is the old spinning wheel and reel 
his mother used many, many years ago. 
Dr. Stephens graduated at Emory University in Atlanta 5O years ago and has had 
post-graduate work at Tulane University in New Orleans. During his years of 
practice over the territory of five counties. Dr. Stephens has traveled in every 
conceivable way known to man in order to reach his patients, which includes 
walking, oxcart, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile. Dr. Stephens told 
Country Lanes that one time on account of snow and sleet he had to resort to 
sleigh tiding in order to get around to his patients. 
Although he is 77 years old Dr. Stephens still carries on an active practice and 
since last Christmas has attended 42 maternity cases. The only difficulty Dr. 
Stephens said he has with his health his eyesight. We were shown several pieces 
of foreign money, including two German bills that were brought back from France 
by nephews of Dr. Stephens. In the possession of Dr. Stephens is an old ledger 
brother Clinton, used before the war Between the States in keeping records. We 
were told that Clinton was among five Delta boys who were killed in battle at 
Chickamauga at Chattanooga September 19, 1863. He was also one the first 
volunteers from Randolph County and served three years as a Confederate soldier. 
Dr. Stephen's father died at the age of 87 and his mother lived to be 91. We 
were shown a counter pane made by his mother when she was 81 years old, as well 
as two quilts and a knit bedspread that was her last work. There could be much 
more said of the good things of this friend of mankind, but time and space does 
not permit us to say more.

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