Dr. Hawkins Stone (1816-1903)—born in Stafford, he was descended from Thomas Stone of Maryland, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas provided medical care to the residents of northern Stafford for about 60 years. He lived on a farm that is now the site of the Giant Food Store and Home Depot on Garrisonville Road (Rt. 610). He was said to have owned one of the first automobiles in the county. Family tradition holds that Hawkins was an outspoken opponent of the Union occupation during the Civil War. Shortly after their arrival in Stafford, Union soldiers arrested Hawkins and sent him to a prison camp. Because he was not only the sole medical provider in his north Stafford community, but also ran the local grist (flour) mill, Union authorities were forced to send him home in order to prevent further hardships for the women, children, and elderly who remained in the area. His grist mill was located beneath what is now Smith Reservoir. From 1846 to at least 1848 Hawkins served as a justice in Stafford. In 1884 he also served on the county school board. Dr. Stone’s wife and children all predeceased him. He developed a melanoma on his face and died of this awful cancer. His obituary described him as “one of Stafford’s most remarkable citizens.” The “Doc Stone Shopping Center” is named after him.