RICHARD HENRY STEM, Esq., was born February, 11, 1822 in North Carolina, Granville County. He immigrated to the State of Missouri in the fall of 1843, where he remained about fifteen months. He then came to Tennessee, and settled a mile and a half east of Unionville. He was the son of Jacob and Mary (Primrose) Stem. The father was born about 1763 and died about 1828. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to North Carolina in his juvenile days, where he lived until the time of his death. The mother was born about 1788 and died about 1865; she was a native of North Carolina.
In July, 1839, our subject wedded Sallie Garrett, of North Carolina, who was born February, 1822. On his arrival in Tennessee Mr. Stem engaged in agricultural pursuits and about ten years later engaged in the cattle trading business in connection with farming. He was elected magistrate of the Tenth District in this county a number of years ago and has served every term since. He was elected as chairman of the county court in 1874 and served in that capacity four years, and was also associate justice two years prior to this election. He is now officiating justice of peace. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, professing faith about 1856. Mrs. Stem is also a member of the same church. Our subject is a Master Mason and is also a Chapter member. He is a Democrat in politics and since his childhood days has traveled over these different States: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.