Seeking biographical information on Mathew/Matthew Fleming Stephenson, b ca 1802 VA, and his son-in-law, Dr. John Wills, b ca 1819 PA or MD. They were Masons and lodge brothers at Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, in 1854, and both eventually moved to Gainesville, Hall County. Stephenson was assayer at the Dahlonega Branch Mint from around 1850-1855. Reportedly, in Mark Twain's book "The Gilded Age", he is credited as the originator of the phrase "Thar's gold in them thar hills". Wills married Susan A. Stephenson in 1858 at Dahlonega. Their family appears in Hall Co 1860-70-80 censuses, and in the early 1880's moved to either Kaufman Co TX or neighboring Dallas County. The censuses have been pretty well picked clean for both the Wills and Stephenson families. Mathew's wife was Sarah S. b ca 1818 TN, children were 1. Virginia E. Stephenson, b ca 1838 GA (m John C. C. Lawrence); 2. Susan A. Stephenson, b 1839 GA; 3. Jane Stephenson, b ca 1843 GA; 4. Robert S. Stephenson, b ca 1845 GA. Dr. John Wills was regimental surgeon for the 43rd Georgia Infantry during the Civil War. He apparently had two children, Walter and Callie, by a first marriage: 1. Walter S. Wills, b ca 1846 TN. Pvt in Co B, 11th GA Cav. Raised family at Gainesville. (Two sons: John K. b ca 1874, William W. b ca 1878.) 2. Callie Wills, b ca 1848 TN. Children of Dr. John and Susan: 1. John C. Wills, b ca 1859 2. David Wills, b Mar 1861 3. Robert B. Wills, b Jun 1863, m Frances E. "Fannie" Rublee 4. Olive Wills, b Mar 1866, m Charles A. Rublee 5. William Clark Wills, b ca 1867 6. May Wills, b ca 1869, probably married Dr. Albert H. Freeman 7. Mathew Stephenson Wills, b Jun 1871 8. Henry C. Wills, [b Aug 1873? Age 6 in 1880.] 9. Peter L. Wills, b Sep 1877 10. Joseph Boone Wills, b ca 1880 11. Jay Wills, b Mar 1882 -------- Any biographical info on either Stephenson or Wills would be very much appreciated. Andy Anderson