Polk County GaArchives Obituaries.....Mr. A. Stokes 1902
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(Cedartown Standard, April 3, 1902)
In the death of Mr. A. Stokes the county lost one of the best citizens it has 
ever had. He was a man whom nobody knew by that admiration of his absolute 
integrity, honesty and uprightness of character asserted itself. A brave 
confederate soldier, a kind and affectionate husband and father, a neighbor in 
all that the word implies he was; and many who read this will recall some kind 
word or deed of this truly good man. While not a highly educated man, Mr. 
Stokes was by nature a gentleman of the highest type. His dignified and 
courteous bearing, his soft, gentle voice, his nice regard for others, and his 
genuine love for his fellows, compelled the respect of high and low. His 
deference for women was beautiful to see. Last fall I was walking down Second 
Avenue in Rome with him, and every lady or girl we met, Mr. Stokes bowed and 
spoke to. All were strangers, many gay or wealthy, but every one of them 
recognized the true gentlemanly instinct that brought forth this tribute to her 
sex, and spoke in return and smiled into the kindly face, and went on her way 
better, no doubt, for the greeting. His was not the courtesy learned from 
contact with cultured people, yet that day I did not see any one with the 
wealth and polish of the city lift his hat to a lady with the genuine grace and 
respect that did this plain farmer. Mr. Stokes was a picturesque character, I 
heard one lady remark,"what a lovely old man!" I remember as a boy the strong, 
fine face, the kindly eyes, the long curling hair and the tall form of Mr. 
Stokes. There was something that irresistible drew one to him. Women and 
children trusted him instinctively. I esteem it a privilege to have known this 
man. I had the pleasure of spending the day with him only a week or two before 
his death, and was struck by the meekness and kindness of his views on every 
subject. For twenty years or more he had studied the minerals and geology of 
this section, and was better informed possibly than any man in the county. He 
studied and prospected the rocks and ore for the love of it, and recognized the 
Great Maker in every stone. He said it brought him in closer touch with God. 
Nearly, if not all the richest bauxite mines in this section were located by 
him long ago. Several unscrupulous parties owe their wealth to his labor and 
searching. At his death he knew of many valuable deposits. But not one word of 
censure would he utter against those who had cheated him out of his knowledge 
of mineral deposits. For years no one has been sick in this neighbor hood 
without his visiting them. His gentle ways and strong good sense made him an 
ideal nurse. That he was prepared to go no one can doubt, for his religious 
convictions were as strong and pure as was his life; and so sweet a spirit 
surely must enjoy to the utmost the rewards above. It is a genuine loss to all 
for such a man to die; they are few, far to few. If more men were like Gus 
Stokes, the world would be a better place in which to live. (Cedartown 
Standard, April 3, 1902)


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