1830 Winchester, Clark Co, KY. The census recorded living in John'sh ousehold: 2 males under 5 years of age, 1 at 20-30, 1 was 30-40, and1 f emale at 20-30.
From The Winchester Democrat Friday, June 15, 1894 Vol. XXVII, No 55,p g 2
Chronicles of Winchester and Clark County.
The Damon and Pythias of '33
"John Stubblefield in '33 had his cabinet shop on the corner of Mainan d Fairfax streets, where Mrs. Ford's store now stands, and madecoffins f or rich and poor alike. If he received pay for them he tookit, but if b lack or white needed coffins and were too poor to pay forthem he made t hem for them without money and without prices; tookthem to their house s, arrayed their bodies for the last journey, tookthem to their gloomy s tarting points and left them. His shop was theplace to hear the news, a nd to learn the names of the latest victimsof the fell disease. All da y long and often all night he and hisassistant - a negro man - worked a t the solemn trade, and saw facesof men and women pass their door whom t hey never saw again alive. Twomen, who had offered their services to M r. Stubblefield as nurses ofthe sick, were always anxious to hear the n ews. One morning, oninquiry, they learned that the coffin maker had si x coffins to makeas soon as possible. These nurses were dissimilar in a ppearance andhight, one being six feet six inches in height, whose nam e shall beDamon; the other was about five feet, whose name shall be Py thias;Damon and Pythias drew themselves apart and consulted what was b estto be done. The disease was "raging," people who took remedies died as rapidly as those who took none - their nursing could do no good - sot hey vowed to be true to each other, and that if one should takecholera t he other should stand by him while he was ill, close hiseyes and bury h im when he was dead. They left town at once andjourneyed as far as the o il wells - about twelve miles fromWinchester - when darkness overtook t hem. They found a lodging andconcluded to to tarry for the night. When t hey went to their room toretire they found a short trundle and in whic h they were bothexpected to sleep. The bed suited Pythias very well, b ut Damon, whenhe attempted to lie down in it, was compelled to gather u p his legsas the Patriarchs were want to do when they died or to throw t hembroadcast over the foot-board. After vowing to stand by each other Damon and Pythias slept. Pythias was stirring by times the nextmorning, a nd had arrayed himself in his smalls and was looking aroundfor his oth er garments, when Damon attempted to rise and could not doso. His legs h aving been cramped all night took the cramps inearnest, and he said: P ythias I have the cholera, Pythias found hishat, coat and vest, took o ne look at Damon and fled the house. Damonrubbed his limbs, straighten ed himself and found that his cramp camefrom a natural cause and not f rom disease. But his friend Pythias hefound not, nor could he overtake f or the space of three whole days."
1840 Same place. That year the census said John was 40-50 years olda nd had living with him 2 males under 5, 2 at 5-10, 2 were 10-15, 2fema les under 5 and probably his wife at 30-40. Herndon familieslived 2 d oors down in both directions.
1850 Still there. At census time John was a cabinet maker with $150w orth of property. He was 59 while Elizabeth was 44. They had alarge f amily consisting of: Robert B, 24, William, 22, John, 19,Elijah, 16, S usan, 14, Catherine, 12, Benjamin B, 8, Elizabeth andSarah, 6.
A descendant, Phyllis Sears said the following item was found but Johnw as already deceased so the date must be incorrect: Clark Co.Democrat p ublished at Winchester, Kentucky 15 Oct 1874: John P.Stubblefield had p ublished an advertisement of the opening of hisCarpenter and Cabinet S hop in the basement at Old Boone Corner
John's will, dated 12/1873, mentions two unmarried daughters, Bettyand S ally, and wife Elizabeth. His remaining land was to be dividedinto se venths and evenly distributed to his other children at thetime of his w ife's death.
