The Search for Eton Pugh Stepp

By William W. Stepp

Early on, Anchorman Bill had been searching for a "lost" Eton Pugh Stepp (see chart following) a brother of Bill's great grandfather and name sake, William Gee Stepp (1823 - 1911). Bill had traced Eton to the 1840 Northampton Co., NC census. However, Eton failed to show in the 1850 census of that state. He was also unable to pick him up in the Virginia or West Virginia census at any time.

Things stayed that way for a number of years. In the meantime we picked up from Bill in our correspondence, that he had proof that Joshua I was a very normal human: A grand jury in 1690 made a presentment against him on June 2,1690, for swearing two times in public. They must have been hard up for something to do!

Then in January 1994, Betty Jean Arnold Loftiss of Coldwater, Miss. ordered my book and requested Anchorman Bill's address. Working together, they uncovered the "lost" Eton Pugh Stepp -- an example of what good team work can accomplish, as exhibited by these two. Also a good example set by Bill to never give up a search once started. Usually perseverance wins out.

Frederick and Martha Step, father of Eton, had another son, William G. Step just mentioned, (who sometimes put 2 "p's" on his name). William G. married a widow, Susan Edwards Stone. William G. and Susan had two children Virginia and Frederick Edwards Stepp (Bill's Grandfather) and they were the last Stepps born in Northampton County, NC. Frederick Edwards Stepp and wife Mamie Enright parented William Enright Stepp, Sr., Bill Stepp's father.

About the Chart Below: Data was provided by "Anchorman" William E. Stepp of Virginia Beach, VA and Betty Jean Arnold Loftiss, Coldwater, Miss. Betty Jean's ancestral line ties on to the Clark Clan (See Joshua Stap III) and to the Moore Clan (see Rebecca Stepp, daughter of James Stepp). She has researched the Moore and Clark Clan as well as her own immediate Clan predecessors, the Arnold and the Loftiss Clans.