I am doing historical research on Dr. M.F. Stephenson who lived in
Dahlonega, Georgia around 1840.  He is given credit fot the phrase,
"There's Millions in It,"  which was used in Mark Twain's book "The
Gilded Age."  This credit appears in the book "History of Lumpkin County
for the First Hundred Years 1832-1932," By Andrew Cain.
Stephenson delivered a famous speech from the courthouse steps in order
to persuade miners from leaving Dahlonega. Refering to the gold within
the mountains he shouted, There's Millions In It!"  These men felt that
gold reserves in Georgia had dwindled.  California's gold rush was just
beginning.  The speech was unsuccessful and the men left anyway.  It is
reported that they used "the phrase" as a rally cry when prospects began
to dwindle in California.

I will summarize the beginning of the text for brevity.

United States Geologist F. King and Col. W.P. Price met in Dahlonega at
Price's home.  King who claimed to be an acquaintance of Mark Twain's
and Col. W.P. Price, a lifelong friend of Dr. M.F. Stephenson, talked of
F. King's mining camp in California.  Geologist King related the
following story to Col. Price.

Price said King told him about Mr. Sellers.  Mr. Sellers came to the
camp of some Georgia men who used "the saying."  Sellers liked the
phrase so much that he adopted it as his own.  Supposedly, Twain spent a
lot of time in King's mining camp.  It was there that he met Mr.
Sellers.

The following is typed "word for word"  from the "History of Lumpkin
county for the First Hundred Years 1832-1932." pg 110-111.

"Mark Twain met Mr. Sellers, and was so amused by his favorite
expression that he determined to immortalize both it and William
Sellers.  When the first edition of "THe Gilded Age" came out, great was
the indignation of Mr. Sellers to find himself famous by reason of his
pet saying, and he swore vengence against the genial humorist.  In fact,
he is reported to have said that nothing but the abundant locks of a man
by the name of Clemens, with the scalp attached, would satisfy him.
Fortunately his ire had time to cool before he agian encountered the
humorist, though he was still desirous of having a pugilistic exhibition
on first sight.  Peace was finally restored between them but not until
Mark Twain had promised that in the next edition of his book he would
christen Mr. Sellers "Mulberry," thus forever obliterating the bona-fide
William Sellers from the story.  As the name of "Mulberry" was purely
fictious, and therefore not applicable to any of the Sellers family, the
irate William was pacified by this arrangement.  Mark Twain was as good
as his word and, at the present time, to Mulberry Sellers is ascribed
the now world famous expression, "There's millions in it!"

Can anyone help me verify this story?
I would appreciate any suggestions or related information.

Michele Allen