Purnie was the eighth of ten known children born to Hugh John STEPHENSON (1829-1907) who was born in South Carolina and his wife, Martha Ann Elizabeth HOLLAN (1841-1882) who was born in Mississippi. Martha Ann was the third of ten known children born to Wade Hampton HOLLAN (1811-1869) and his wife, Emily KELLY (1811-1875), both of whom were born in South Carolina.
In the photo at the right are Culpurnia STEPHENSON (standing right) with two of her sisters, Mattie (standing left) and Dealia (seated). Note the sweet smiles from the three sisters. The photo was taken c1940. It is from Lianne Beel's collection. Please do not replicate this photo or use it in any other way without identifying her as the source and owner of the photo.
Purnie's full name was misspelled on her gravestone with the last part spelled "ina" instead of the correct "nia." That misspelling on her gravestone is believed to have occurred due to the exact same misspelling on her death certificate and on the funeral home record all of which probably resulted from one spelling error either by the person who provided the information (from which it was copied elsewhere) or by the person who first received and recorded it.
One of her granddaughters, Sandy Hall, who knew her well, remembers Purnie saying she was named for the flower. The following is some information about that flower from Wikipedia. Note that Culpurnia is a name variation of Calpurnia, both of which were relatively popular in the late 19th century.
Calpurnia (genus)
Calpurnia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises shrubs or small trees in or along the margin of forests in the eastern parts of South Africa. They shed leaves in winter unless in moist areas, where they are evergreen. They make good garden plants because they are easily raised from seed, flower at two years and withstand frost.
Historical Source of the Name Calpurnia
The name Calpurnia also has historical significance. Calpurnia PISONIS was Julius CEASAR's third and last wife. Calpurnia LNU was Pliny the Younger's third and last wife. Her grandfather was Calpurnus FABATUS. His name is the oldest recorded origin of the name Calpurnus or its variations, Calpurnia and Culpurnia.
Note that even though there are common variations in the first syllable, Cal or Cul and in the second syllable pur or per, in the name of the plant (for which she was named as confirmed by oral history from the person herself), and in Roman history, the last syllable of the name is consistently nia or nus, NOT ina.
There are inconsistent sources for Purnie's first name, Arcadia or Arcadian. Note that on the 1900 census, her name was recorded as Arkie S. DICKINSON. From the website SheKnows.com regarding baby names:
Arcadia is a girl's name.
Greek Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Greek baby name. In Greek the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Pastoral simplicity and happiness.
Latin Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventuresome.
Spanish Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Spanish baby name. In Spanish the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventurous.
And, from the website ThinkBabyNames.com.
Arcadia is a girl's name. It is of Greek origin. It is the feminine form of Arcadius, the name of two saints (fourth and fifth century). Also, it was originally the place name of a mountainous region in Greece which came to symbolize the home of simple and rustic pastoral happiness, and later, for Paradise itself.
From a 22 Jun 1897 land conveyance document (DeWitt County, Texas Deed Book, p433), Charles F. Middlebrook (1849-1928), Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of DeWitt County, precinct no. 5, Terryville, recorded On this day personally appeared before me M. V. Dickinson and Purnie Dickinson his wife, both known to me ….
In that same document, CFM twice more recorded the name Purnie Dickinson. Note: Kudos and thanks to contributor Lianne Beel (descended from Purnie's sister, Theodocia or Docia,) for providing this direct source of Pernie's name as well as for providing the photo of Pernie and two of her sisters, Mattie and Dealia, shown above.
On the back of that photo, inscribed in the handwriting of the late Mildred Garrett Enos Lynch who was Lianne's aunt and who was a leading researcher of their family's history, is the name, clearly written Calpernia (Pern) Stephenson Dickerson (s/b Dickinson).
Purnie's first name was reported/recorded in various published records as follows.
1880 U.S. Census Culperney
1900 U.S. Census Arkie
1910 U.S. Census Purnia
1920 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1930 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1940 U.S. Census (name not yet found)
1948 City Directory Purnia
Culpurnia STEPHENSON and Marvin Voss DICKINSON were married 30 Oct 1895 in DeWitt County, Texas. She was 19 years old and he was 20. They had five known children together whose names and approximate birth years are shown below.
1897 Edgar Sims DICKINSON
1899 Joseph Wheeler DICKINSON
1903 Martha Pearl DICKINSON
1906 Grace Edna DICKINSON
1908 Josephine Jewel DICKINSON
In the photo at the right are Culpurnia STEPHENSON (standing right) with two of her sisters, Mattie (standing left) and Dealia (seated). Note the sweet smiles from the three sisters. The photo was taken c1940. It is from Lianne Beel's collection. Please do not replicate this photo or use it in any other way without identifying her as the source and owner of the photo.
Purnie's full name was misspelled on her gravestone with the last part spelled "ina" instead of the correct "nia." That misspelling on her gravestone is believed to have occurred due to the exact same misspelling on her death certificate and on the funeral home record all of which probably resulted from one spelling error either by the person who provided the information (from which it was copied elsewhere) or by the person who first received and recorded it.
One of her granddaughters, Sandy Hall, who knew her well, remembers Purnie saying she was named for the flower. The following is some information about that flower from Wikipedia. Note that Culpurnia is a name variation of Calpurnia, both of which were relatively popular in the late 19th century.
Calpurnia (genus)
Calpurnia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises shrubs or small trees in or along the margin of forests in the eastern parts of South Africa. They shed leaves in winter unless in moist areas, where they are evergreen. They make good garden plants because they are easily raised from seed, flower at two years and withstand frost.
Historical Source of the Name Calpurnia
The name Calpurnia also has historical significance. Calpurnia PISONIS was Julius CEASAR's third and last wife. Calpurnia LNU was Pliny the Younger's third and last wife. Her grandfather was Calpurnus FABATUS. His name is the oldest recorded origin of the name Calpurnus or its variations, Calpurnia and Culpurnia.
Note that even though there are common variations in the first syllable, Cal or Cul and in the second syllable pur or per, in the name of the plant (for which she was named as confirmed by oral history from the person herself), and in Roman history, the last syllable of the name is consistently nia or nus, NOT ina.
There are inconsistent sources for Purnie's first name, Arcadia or Arcadian. Note that on the 1900 census, her name was recorded as Arkie S. DICKINSON. From the website SheKnows.com regarding baby names:
Arcadia is a girl's name.
Greek Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Greek baby name. In Greek the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Pastoral simplicity and happiness.
Latin Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventuresome.
Spanish Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Spanish baby name. In Spanish the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventurous.
And, from the website ThinkBabyNames.com.
Arcadia is a girl's name. It is of Greek origin. It is the feminine form of Arcadius, the name of two saints (fourth and fifth century). Also, it was originally the place name of a mountainous region in Greece which came to symbolize the home of simple and rustic pastoral happiness, and later, for Paradise itself.
From a 22 Jun 1897 land conveyance document (DeWitt County, Texas Deed Book, p433), Charles F. Middlebrook (1849-1928), Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of DeWitt County, precinct no. 5, Terryville, recorded On this day personally appeared before me M. V. Dickinson and Purnie Dickinson his wife, both known to me ….
In that same document, CFM twice more recorded the name Purnie Dickinson. Note: Kudos and thanks to contributor Lianne Beel (descended from Purnie's sister, Theodocia or Docia,) for providing this direct source of Pernie's name as well as for providing the photo of Pernie and two of her sisters, Mattie and Dealia, shown above.
On the back of that photo, inscribed in the handwriting of the late Mildred Garrett Enos Lynch who was Lianne's aunt and who was a leading researcher of their family's history, is the name, clearly written Calpernia (Pern) Stephenson Dickerson (s/b Dickinson).
Purnie's first name was reported/recorded in various published records as follows.
1880 U.S. Census Culperney
1900 U.S. Census Arkie
1910 U.S. Census Purnia
1920 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1930 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1940 U.S. Census (name not yet found)
1948 City Directory Purnia
Culpurnia STEPHENSON and Marvin Voss DICKINSON were married 30 Oct 1895 in DeWitt County, Texas. She was 19 years old and he was 20. They had five known children together whose names and approximate birth years are shown below.
1897 Edgar Sims DICKINSON
1899 Joseph Wheeler DICKINSON
1903 Martha Pearl DICKINSON
1906 Grace Edna DICKINSON
1908 Josephine Jewel DICKINSON
Purnie was the eighth of ten known children born to Hugh John STEPHENSON (1829-1907) who was born in South Carolina and his wife, Martha Ann Elizabeth HOLLAN (1841-1882) who was born in Mississippi. Martha Ann was the third of ten known children born to Wade Hampton HOLLAN (1811-1869) and his wife, Emily KELLY (1811-1875), both of whom were born in South Carolina.
In the photo at the right are Culpurnia STEPHENSON (standing right) with two of her sisters, Mattie (standing left) and Dealia (seated). Note the sweet smiles from the three sisters. The photo was taken c1940. It is from Lianne Beel's collection. Please do not replicate this photo or use it in any other way without identifying her as the source and owner of the photo.
Purnie's full name was misspelled on her gravestone with the last part spelled "ina" instead of the correct "nia." That misspelling on her gravestone is believed to have occurred due to the exact same misspelling on her death certificate and on the funeral home record all of which probably resulted from one spelling error either by the person who provided the information (from which it was copied elsewhere) or by the person who first received and recorded it.
One of her granddaughters, Sandy Hall, who knew her well, remembers Purnie saying she was named for the flower. The following is some information about that flower from Wikipedia. Note that Culpurnia is a name variation of Calpurnia, both of which were relatively popular in the late 19th century.
Calpurnia (genus)
Calpurnia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises shrubs or small trees in or along the margin of forests in the eastern parts of South Africa. They shed leaves in winter unless in moist areas, where they are evergreen. They make good garden plants because they are easily raised from seed, flower at two years and withstand frost.
Historical Source of the Name Calpurnia
The name Calpurnia also has historical significance. Calpurnia PISONIS was Julius CEASAR's third and last wife. Calpurnia LNU was Pliny the Younger's third and last wife. Her grandfather was Calpurnus FABATUS. His name is the oldest recorded origin of the name Calpurnus or its variations, Calpurnia and Culpurnia.
Note that even though there are common variations in the first syllable, Cal or Cul and in the second syllable pur or per, in the name of the plant (for which she was named as confirmed by oral history from the person herself), and in Roman history, the last syllable of the name is consistently nia or nus, NOT ina.
There are inconsistent sources for Purnie's first name, Arcadia or Arcadian. Note that on the 1900 census, her name was recorded as Arkie S. DICKINSON. From the website SheKnows.com regarding baby names:
Arcadia is a girl's name.
Greek Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Greek baby name. In Greek the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Pastoral simplicity and happiness.
Latin Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventuresome.
Spanish Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Spanish baby name. In Spanish the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventurous.
And, from the website ThinkBabyNames.com.
Arcadia is a girl's name. It is of Greek origin. It is the feminine form of Arcadius, the name of two saints (fourth and fifth century). Also, it was originally the place name of a mountainous region in Greece which came to symbolize the home of simple and rustic pastoral happiness, and later, for Paradise itself.
From a 22 Jun 1897 land conveyance document (DeWitt County, Texas Deed Book, p433), Charles F. Middlebrook (1849-1928), Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of DeWitt County, precinct no. 5, Terryville, recorded On this day personally appeared before me M. V. Dickinson and Purnie Dickinson his wife, both known to me ….
In that same document, CFM twice more recorded the name Purnie Dickinson. Note: Kudos and thanks to contributor Lianne Beel (descended from Purnie's sister, Theodocia or Docia,) for providing this direct source of Pernie's name as well as for providing the photo of Pernie and two of her sisters, Mattie and Dealia, shown above.
On the back of that photo, inscribed in the handwriting of the late Mildred Garrett Enos Lynch who was Lianne's aunt and who was a leading researcher of their family's history, is the name, clearly written Calpernia (Pern) Stephenson Dickerson (s/b Dickinson).
Purnie's first name was reported/recorded in various published records as follows.
1880 U.S. Census Culperney
1900 U.S. Census Arkie
1910 U.S. Census Purnia
1920 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1930 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1940 U.S. Census (name not yet found)
1948 City Directory Purnia
Culpurnia STEPHENSON and Marvin Voss DICKINSON were married 30 Oct 1895 in DeWitt County, Texas. She was 19 years old and he was 20. They had five known children together whose names and approximate birth years are shown below.
1897 Edgar Sims DICKINSON
1899 Joseph Wheeler DICKINSON
1903 Martha Pearl DICKINSON
1906 Grace Edna DICKINSON
1908 Josephine Jewel DICKINSON
In the photo at the right are Culpurnia STEPHENSON (standing right) with two of her sisters, Mattie (standing left) and Dealia (seated). Note the sweet smiles from the three sisters. The photo was taken c1940. It is from Lianne Beel's collection. Please do not replicate this photo or use it in any other way without identifying her as the source and owner of the photo.
Purnie's full name was misspelled on her gravestone with the last part spelled "ina" instead of the correct "nia." That misspelling on her gravestone is believed to have occurred due to the exact same misspelling on her death certificate and on the funeral home record all of which probably resulted from one spelling error either by the person who provided the information (from which it was copied elsewhere) or by the person who first received and recorded it.
One of her granddaughters, Sandy Hall, who knew her well, remembers Purnie saying she was named for the flower. The following is some information about that flower from Wikipedia. Note that Culpurnia is a name variation of Calpurnia, both of which were relatively popular in the late 19th century.
Calpurnia (genus)
Calpurnia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises shrubs or small trees in or along the margin of forests in the eastern parts of South Africa. They shed leaves in winter unless in moist areas, where they are evergreen. They make good garden plants because they are easily raised from seed, flower at two years and withstand frost.
Historical Source of the Name Calpurnia
The name Calpurnia also has historical significance. Calpurnia PISONIS was Julius CEASAR's third and last wife. Calpurnia LNU was Pliny the Younger's third and last wife. Her grandfather was Calpurnus FABATUS. His name is the oldest recorded origin of the name Calpurnus or its variations, Calpurnia and Culpurnia.
Note that even though there are common variations in the first syllable, Cal or Cul and in the second syllable pur or per, in the name of the plant (for which she was named as confirmed by oral history from the person herself), and in Roman history, the last syllable of the name is consistently nia or nus, NOT ina.
There are inconsistent sources for Purnie's first name, Arcadia or Arcadian. Note that on the 1900 census, her name was recorded as Arkie S. DICKINSON. From the website SheKnows.com regarding baby names:
Arcadia is a girl's name.
Greek Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Greek baby name. In Greek the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Pastoral simplicity and happiness.
Latin Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventuresome.
Spanish Meaning:
The name Arcadia is a Spanish baby name. In Spanish the meaning of the name Arcadia is: Adventurous.
And, from the website ThinkBabyNames.com.
Arcadia is a girl's name. It is of Greek origin. It is the feminine form of Arcadius, the name of two saints (fourth and fifth century). Also, it was originally the place name of a mountainous region in Greece which came to symbolize the home of simple and rustic pastoral happiness, and later, for Paradise itself.
From a 22 Jun 1897 land conveyance document (DeWitt County, Texas Deed Book, p433), Charles F. Middlebrook (1849-1928), Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of DeWitt County, precinct no. 5, Terryville, recorded On this day personally appeared before me M. V. Dickinson and Purnie Dickinson his wife, both known to me ….
In that same document, CFM twice more recorded the name Purnie Dickinson. Note: Kudos and thanks to contributor Lianne Beel (descended from Purnie's sister, Theodocia or Docia,) for providing this direct source of Pernie's name as well as for providing the photo of Pernie and two of her sisters, Mattie and Dealia, shown above.
On the back of that photo, inscribed in the handwriting of the late Mildred Garrett Enos Lynch who was Lianne's aunt and who was a leading researcher of their family's history, is the name, clearly written Calpernia (Pern) Stephenson Dickerson (s/b Dickinson).
Purnie's first name was reported/recorded in various published records as follows.
1880 U.S. Census Culperney
1900 U.S. Census Arkie
1910 U.S. Census Purnia
1920 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1930 U.S. Census Culpurnia
1940 U.S. Census (name not yet found)
1948 City Directory Purnia
Culpurnia STEPHENSON and Marvin Voss DICKINSON were married 30 Oct 1895 in DeWitt County, Texas. She was 19 years old and he was 20. They had five known children together whose names and approximate birth years are shown below.
1897 Edgar Sims DICKINSON
1899 Joseph Wheeler DICKINSON
1903 Martha Pearl DICKINSON
1906 Grace Edna DICKINSON
1908 Josephine Jewel DICKINSON
Family Members
Siblings
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Barnwell Pickins Stephenson
1861–1947
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![]()
John Sumpter Pierce Stephenson
1867–1941
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Theodocia Frances Stephenson Garrett
1870–1929
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Martha E "Mattie" Stephenson Dickinson
1872–1955
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William White Stephenson
1874–1900
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Cordelia Jane "Delia" Stephenson Bramham
1878–1966
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Eulalie Elizabeth Stephenson Schoppe
1880–1973
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