Denver-Pueblo County CO Archives Biographies.....Stephens, Edwin A. 1889 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 13, 2009, 7:42 am Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918) EDWIN A. STEPHENS. Edwin A. Stephens is the sole owner of the firm of E. A. Stephens & Company, the largest direct handlers of raw furs in the west. In this connection he has built up a business of very extensive proportions and no man is able to speak with greater authority upon questions relative to the hide, fur and wool trade. Mr. Stephens is a native of Kansas. He was born in Junction City, May 8, 1889, a son of Albert B. and Mary Stephens, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Michigan. In early life they became residents of Kansas and in 1880 settled in Junction City, where the father engaged in the hide, fur and wool business. He is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, where he still continues in the same line of trade. His wife also survives. They reared a family of three children, but one son has passed away. The surviving daughter is Mrs. Harry H. Hill, who makes her home at Enid, Oklahoma. The youngest child of the family is Edwin A. Stephens, whose name introduces this review. He attended school in San Diego, California, where his parents resided for eight years during his early youth. The family then removed from California to Colorado, establishing their home in Pueblo, where they continued for a year and a half and then took up their abode in Kansas City, where Edwin A. Stephens completed his high school education. After leaving school he went to Winnipeg, Canada, and became actively and financially interested in business projects of that city, being identified with several important corporations, including the Yukon Basin Gold Dredging Company, of which he was treasurer. He was also identified with the International Securities Company, a land corporation, and with the Stewart River Gold Dredging Company, in all of which companies he was a large stockholder and a director. He remained in Canada for two years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interests there and returned to his home in Kansas City. He next entered into partnership with his father in the hide, fur and wool business and continued with him for a year. In May, 1912, he removed to Denver and entered business as a dealer in hides, furs and wool in connection with his brother, A. E. Stephens, who had previously become established in business in this city. The partnership existed from May until December, 1912, the brother dying on the 28th of that month. The business was then conducted as an estate until May, 1913, when Edwin A. Stephens took over the entire business by the purchase of the interests of his deceased brother and has since carried on the business on his own account. His trade has been one of increasing volume every year and he now has the most extensive business of the kind west of Kansas City. He has made for himself a most creditable position in commercial circles in Colorado and surrounding states hy his strictly reliable business methods and by reason of his familiarity with hide, fur and wool conditions. He buys coyote, lynx cat, muskrat and all other kinds of furs that can be obtained in the west. The company pays the highest market price for furs and receives more furs direct from western trappers, ranchers, collectors and fur dealers than any other fur house in the west. They also buy cattle hides, sheep pelts, etc., and are the largest consignment handlers of wool and mohair in the west. They issue market reports, so that those with whom they have business relations may recognize the fact that they are being paid the highest market prices. They also handle wool sacks and twine and all kinds of traps and supplies. Mr. Stephens has made a most creditable position for himself in business circles, for the integrity of his methods is beyond question. On the 26th of April, 1916, in Denver, Mr. Stephens was married to Miss Vivienne Perrin, of Denver, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Perrin, pioneer people of Denver. They have one child, Edwin A. Stephens, who was horn in Kansas City, February 8, 1918. In politics Mr. Stephens maintains an independent course. He belongs to the Lakewood Country Club and while in the high school he became a member of the Pi Delta Koppa fraternity at Kansas City, Missouri. He is well known as a progressive man whose enterprise has carried him into important relations. He is constantly watchful of the trade and of the market and so intelligently and wisely directs his interests that his affairs have brought him a very substantial measure of prosperity. All of the merchandise which he handles is most carefully graded, as are the cattle hides and sheep pelts, and his business makes a splendid market for trappers and hunters of the west. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF COLORADO ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1918 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/denver/photos/bios/stephens261nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/denver/bios/stephens261nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cofiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb