California State Officials Biographies 1911

WILLIAM DENNISON STEPHENS

Submitted by Nancy Pratt Melton

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REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
Seventh District
County of Los Angeles. Population (1910) 504,131

WILLIAM DENNISON STEPHENS (Republican) of Los Angeles, son of Martin F. and 
Alvira (Leibee) Stephens, was born at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, December 26, 
1859; was educated in the public schools; graduated from the Eaton High School; 
taught country school three years, beginning at the age of 16; studied law 
during vacations, but never applied for admission to practice, being obliged to 
earn immediate money. In 1880 joined engineering corps, and for eight years was 
engaged in construction and operation of railroads in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and 
Louisiana. On account of his mother's health moved to Los Angeles, California, 
in 1887, and in 1888 became manager for large retail grocery. From 1891 to 1902 
was traveling salesman for wholesale grocery house in Los Angeles; from 1902 to 
1909 was partner in wholesale and retail grocery business of Carr & Stephens. He 
was director of Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 1902 to 1911; president in 
1907; and chairman or member of advisory committee for the building of the Los 
Angeles aqueduct, costing $25,000,000, in 1910. Since 1903 has been major and 
commissary First Brigade, California National Guard, and saw active service at 
San Francisco after its destruction; was in San Francisco at the beginning of 
and during the earthquake and fire which destroyed it in 1906; was elected to 
the Sixty-second Congress, receiving 36,435 votes to 13,340 for Lorin A. Handley 
(Democrat), 10,305 for T. W. Williams (Socialist), and 1,990 for C. V. La 
Fontaine (Prohibitionist).
 
Source: California Blue Book, or State Roster, 1911
Compiled by Frank C. Jordan, Secretary of State
Friend W. Richardson, Superintendent of State Printing, Sacramento, CA, 1913