My Genealogy Hound

JAMES STEPHENSON, broker, Pittsburgh, was born in Burgettstown, Pa., March 6, 1836. His paternal ancestors came over with Lord Berkeley, and settled in the historical “Buckskin” region. His grandfather, James Stephenson, received from the government a grant of one thousand acres in Cherry Valley, Pa., on which he settled immediately after the Revolution. He died there in 1814, and the land is now mostly in the possession of his descendants. He was a half-brother of Col. Crawford, who was killed by Indians at the battle of Sandusky. He was a Free mason, and a member of the Episcopal Church, though united with the Seceders of Washington county. His son John, born in 1803, married Susan, daughter of Edward Shipley, a soldier of 1812, whose ancestors came over with Lord Baltimore. For thirty years he kept a tailor-shop at Burgettstown, later a hotel on the Steubenville pike, and now resides at George station, on the Pennsylvania railroad. His wife died in 1857, the mother of eleven children, James being the eldest; nine reached maturity, and six are now living.

When of age, James Stephenson traveled considerably in the west. In 1861 he enlisted at Pittsburgh, in the Duquesne Greys, and afterward helped to organize Battery C, Thompson’s independent artillery. He rose to the rank of senior first lieutenant, commanding for some time Hampton’s battery, which was attached to his own after the death of its brave commander. He served in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac till 1864, when he resigned. At the second battle of Bull run he was twice shot through the right leg, at Chancellorsville the drum of his left ear was broken by concussion, and at Gettysburg he was slightly wounded. After leaving the service he established what is now the Excelsior Coffin-factory, which he sold after operating it a year. For eight years he was assistant general superintendent of the Central Transportation company, and since 1882 has been a partner in the merchandise brokerage firm of R. S. Stephenson & Co. Mr. Stephenson was married in 1869 to Margaret Read Taylor, and came to reside at Edgewood five years later. Mrs. Stephenson is a daughter of Edward and Sarah (Robinson) Taylor, of English and Irish ancestry, respectively, and her children are Charles E., Bird, Maud, India and Don. Mr. Stephenson is a democrat.