Calvin Alpheus STANFIELD

February 6, 1818 - August 2, 1904

Cleveland County Herald - July 28, 1904
DR. C. A. STANFIELD
Died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.V. Sumerow, in Rison, Arkansas, Tuesday evening at 4:10 o'clock, August 2nd, 1904, Dr. C.A. Stanfield. He was born in Halifax county, Virginia, Feb. 6th, 1818 and was therefore 86 years, 5 months and 26 days old at the time of his death. He was the only surviving member of a family of thirteen children all of whom lived to be grown and useful citizens. In his childhood his father moved to Tennessee stopping one year in Middle Tennessee but the year following they moved to West Tennessee where he grew to man's estate. After completing his literary education at Union Academy he taught school a few years at the same time reading medicine. Later he read medicine under a distinguished physician at Trenton, Tennessee. My father first attended lectures at Louisville, Kentucky and later at Memphis, Tennessee. After graduation in medicine he began the practice at Colliersville, Tennessee. He also practiced a year at Holly Springs, Mississippi. In 1843 he came to Arkansas and located in the Mark's neighorhood where he practiced his profession a few years. In 1846 he located 1 mile north of where Toledo is now located where he lived until last fall when he came to Rison, and the following year was married to my mother, Miss Margaret Catherine Hooe of Pine bluff. They lived together 57 years till death came and separated them. To them were born eight children, five of whom preceeded my father to the world beyond. The wife and three of us are left behind. From my earliest recollections my father has done all in his power to relieve suffering humanity. Often I have known him to ride miles the darkest and rainiest of nights to see some suffering man or woman he knew that he would
never receive a dollar for his services. I have known him to run the risk of being damaged himself to save his friends from trouble. I have never known him to fail to exert himself on the side of what he conceived to be right. He was ever ready to make any kind of sacrifice for his family or his friends. He told us, a few days before his death, that from his earliest days it had been a fixed purpose to be honest and truthful. He was anxious to remain with his family and friends but he gave us to understand that as to the future there were no fears. He had no trouble along that line. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, a consistent member of the Methodist church and in my opinion, one of the truest of Chrisians. It is indeed, a hard thing to give him up though we realize that he has lived to a ripe old age. With the passing of this spirit there was removed from this sphere a soul of "purest ray sarene". Without idealization of our beloved one, we may speak of the combined strength and gentleness of his character, his unswerving loyalty, absolute truthfulness, and unquestioned honor. Broad and comprehensive in mind; with an unusual sense of responsibility and a heart attuned with those around him, he was one to whom the heart could turn in happiness and sorrow. When he no longer clasped the hands of those around his bed and his lips ceased to utter thoughtful words of consideration for those attending him, then indeed came sorrow keen as a sword. At the shine of his memory we bow in sorrow. He rests with God. We laid him to rest in the Rison cemetery. The funeral services were conducted at the house by Brothers J.H. W. Overton and B.F. Scott.

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