Born in Hampshire County, Virginia, February 15, 1823, and removed with his parents to Athens County, Ohio, in October 1824. In July 1841, he removed to Lee County, Iowa, where he followed farming and stock raising. He was for two years County Commissioner of that county and in the fall of 1861 was elected Representative to the State Legislature and served one term. He came to Kansas in 1866 and located on a farm. In 1869, he was elected Justice of the Peace and served about four years. In the fall of 1871, he was elected representative to the State Legislature (in the State of Kansas) for a term of two years and was re-elected in the fall of 1879 for a term of three years. He was Chairman of the Board continuously for four years. Mr. Stephenson was married in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa, September 6, 1849, to Miss Sarah D. Brown, daughter of William G. Brown, Esquire.