Wood County, West Virginia Biography of James Mcneil STEPHENSON ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Suzie Crump ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 254 JAMES MCNEIL STEPHENSON, who died at Parkersburg nearly half a century ago, was one of the stalwart characters of his age, and his constructive activities and the impress of his influence are part of the heritage of the present generation. He was a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Dills) Stephenson, who were married in 1794, and in the early infancy of their son James moved to Parkersburg, in 1800. The family has therefore been represented in this city for considerably more than a century, and the descendants are numerous and many of them have been prominent. One of the sons of the pioneer couple, Edward, Jr., was a man of most versatile gifts and accomplishments, was a lawyer, teacher, preacher, writer, carpenter, but owing to wondering habits never lived long in any place. He traveled extensively by foot and on horseback throughout the West, South and East, and finally died in Mexico. He never married. James McNeil Stephenson, first named above, was educated for the law and achieved many marks of distinction in that profession. But his chief work was in the field of practical business and affairs. He became one of the largest land owners and tax payers in Wood and adjoining counties. It was due to his exertion more than to that of any other man that the northwestern branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built. He declined a nomination for Congress in order to enter the House of Delegates, where he could employ his influence to further the promotion of this railroad. He was also regarded as the father of the Northwestern Turnpike, one of the great public undertakings of the day. A large degree of credit is due him for the construction of the James River and Kanawha Canal. For years he was president of the Parkersburg National Bank, and was also interested in the Northwestern Bank. A man of tremendous energy, he gave wholehearted support to whatever he undertook, and worthy institutions, and he was equally independent of partisan ties in politics. James McNeil Stephenson married Agnes Boreman, of the prominent West Virginia family of that name. Their six children were Kenner Boreman, Sarah Elizabeth, James McNeil, Isabella, Andrew Clark and Lucy Lazier. James McNeil Stephenson, Jr., became a physician by profession. He was born in 1838 and died in 1906. He married Veronica Gale. By marriage the Stephenson family is related to many of the family names that have been conspicuous in the life and affairs of West Virginia, including those of Bird, Tavenner, Newman, Botts, Johnson, Wade, Dorsey, Hutchinson, Boreman and others.