1894

Hugh Lawrence Stokes was born on 02 Aug 1894 in South Carolina, USA a child of Whitefoord Smith Stokes and Annie Braxton Zemp Stokes.

1900

Hugh L Stokes was counted in the census on 01 Jun 1900 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, as a 6-year-old, male, single, white, son. Also in the home were; his father, Whiteford S Stokes; his mother, Annie B Stokes; and his brother, James E Stokes.

1910

Hugh L Stokes was counted in the census on 15 Apr 1910 in Williamsburg, South Carolina, USA, as a 15-year-old, male, single, white, son. Also in the home were; his father, Whteford S Stokes; his mother, Annie B Stokes; and his siblings, Jomes E Stokes, Annie W Stokes, and Ruth Stokes.

1912

He died on 06 Dec 1912 in Florence, Florence, South Carolina, USA. His cause of death was result of a self-inflicted, accidental wound in the abdomen. He was buried in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA at Quaker Cemetery.

MAY PROVE DEATH WOUND.

Hugh Stokes Accidentally Shoots Himself at Florence.

Florence, Dec. 5.—Mr. Hugh Stokes, the assistant bookkeeper for the Florence Electric and Utility Company, accidentally shot himself tonight about 8 o’clock, while handling a pistol in the light company’s office in West Evans street. The ball entered the stomach just above the navel and may prove fatal.

Within a few minutes after the firing of the pistol the wounded man fell into a stupor. He was quickly rushed to the Florence Infirmary for surgical attention.

Mr. Stokes is a son of Dr. W. S. Stokes, of Lake City, editor of the Lake City News, and had recently come to Florence to accept the position as assistant bookkeeper and had made many friends during his short stay here. There was no one in the office other than he and the bookkeeper, and when the sound of the pistol rang out it created quite an excitement in the neighborhood.

FLORENCE YOUTH DIES FROM ACCIDENTAL SHOT

Hugh L. Stokes Suffers Fatal Wound When Revolver He Was Handling is Discharged.

Special to The State.

Florence, Dec. 6. – Hugh L. Stokes, one of the most popular men in the City, died this morning at 6 o’clock as the result of a self-inflicted, accidental wound in the abdomen last night. He was playing with a pistol which was discharged in his hand, the position of the wound appearing very much as if he had attempted to breech the pistol.

For several days the young man had been playing with pistols, charmed rather with the working of the mechanism than anything else about them. Last night Mr. Stokes took up the pistol which Mr. Cahill had just loaded and laid down, putting out of his hand another that he had entered the office from the warehouse with in his hand, snapping it.

Mr. Stokes was the youngest son of Dr. W. S. Stokes, formerly of Columbia, and now reading clerk of the senate. He was born in Winnsboro.

The coroner’s inqust could learn no further facts and the verdict accordingly. The boy had not given the very least sign of melancholia or of anything that might lead one to think that the act was in the least intentional.

Dr. Stokes and his mother and elder brother came through the country in an automoblle and the boy was still alive and conscious when they arrived.