Amanda Jane Stewart

Notes from Clay Dedman [sldedman@@tds.net] The story provided by Arlene Worsham Pietrczak before her death and after Malinda Jane Worsham's death, was that Malinda's mother (Amanda Stewart) was raped by an unknown Indian, fathering Malinda. One would only take a look at Malinda to realize there is probably some truth to the story. Regardless who her father was, she is remembered as a wonderful and very dear lady. She loved her family and provided the best she could for them. Probably the greatest thing this researcher recalls of her is the long black hair she had. Her hair when undone from a bun, would hang to her buttocks. As she would sit in a straight back chair, her hair hanging over the back, would hang to the floor. She use to let me brush her hair for extended periods of time. I also recall that when she would refer to her husband, Wood, she would always say Mr. Worsham. As a youngster, I always felt this kind of strange, and only until I began researching them did I realize their age difference. He was 37 years old, marring a 24 year old. It is my belief that he was previously married with children prior to marring Malinda. For this reason, she probably looked upon him with the respect due her elder. It is rumored in the family that he had gone to Texas, married and had children, returning to Arkansas when he was seriously ill to be nursed back to health by Dr. C. A. Stanfield. The 1880 Federal Census shows him living with Dr. Stanfield at age 15. It was probably at this time when he became acquainted with Malinda because of the circumstance of her birth and the fact that Dr. Stanfield had assisted her in her upbringing. The 1900 Federal Census of Smith Twp., shows Malinda J. Steward living at household 122a with Calvin and Margerete Stanfield, as well as Elliott Sumerow. Wood Worsham was the enumerator of the same Census done in June 1900.