Samuel M. Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Samuel Merritt Stephenson (December 23, 1831 – July 31, 1907) was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Stephenson was born in Hartland, New Brunswick
, Canada
and moved with his parents to Maine
, and later, in 1846, to Delta County, Michigan
. He engaged in lumbering and moved to Menominee, Michigan
in 1858. He was interested in real estate, lumbering, general merchandising, and agricultural pursuits. He served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Menominee County
for several years.
Stephenson served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1877 and 1878. He also served in the Michigan Senate
in 1879, 1880, 1885, and 1886. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
s in 1884 and 1888.
In 1888, Stephenson was elected as a Republican
from Michigan's 11th congressional district
to the 51st United States Congress
and was re-elected in 1890 to the 52nd Congress
. After redistricting due to the 1890 census
, Stephenson was elected from the newly created 12th district
in 1892 and 1894. In all, he served from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1897 in the U.S. House.
After leaving Congress, Stephenson resumed the lumber business. He died in Menominee and is interred there at Riverside Cemetery.
His older brother Isaac Stephenson
was a U.S. Representative (9th district
) 1883-89 and U.S. Senator Class 3 1907-15 from the state of Wisconsin
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Stephenson was born in Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and moved with his parents to Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and later, in 1846, to Delta County, Michigan
Delta County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,520 people, 15,836 households, and 10,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile . There were 19,223 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He engaged in lumbering and moved to Menominee, Michigan
Menominee, Michigan
Menominee is a city in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,131. It is the county seat of Menominee County. Menominee is the fourth-largest city in the Upper Peninsula, behind Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and Escanaba...
in 1858. He was interested in real estate, lumbering, general merchandising, and agricultural pursuits. He served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Menominee County
Menominee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,326 people, 10,529 households, and 7,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 13,639 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
for several years.
Stephenson served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1877 and 1878. He also served in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
in 1879, 1880, 1885, and 1886. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s in 1884 and 1888.
In 1888, Stephenson was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located just northwest of Detroit, consisting of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties...
to the 51st United States Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and was re-elected in 1890 to the 52nd Congress
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
. After redistricting due to the 1890 census
United States Census, 1890
The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 2, 1890. The data was tabulated by machine for the first time. The data reported that the distribution of the population had resulted in the disappearance of the American frontier...
, Stephenson was elected from the newly created 12th district
Michigan's 12th congressional district
Michigan's 12th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located in Detroit's inner suburbs to the north, along the Interstate 696 corridor in Macomb and Oakland counties, as well as a portion of Macomb north of the corridor....
in 1892 and 1894. In all, he served from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1897 in the U.S. House.
After leaving Congress, Stephenson resumed the lumber business. He died in Menominee and is interred there at Riverside Cemetery.
His older brother Isaac Stephenson
Isaac Stephenson
Isaac Stephenson was an American politician of the Republican Party who represented Wisconsin as both a United States Representative and a United States Senator....
was a U.S. Representative (9th district
Wisconsin's 9th congressional district
Wisconsin's 9th congressional district is a former congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin. It was created following the 1870 Census along with the 8th district, and was disbanded after the 2000 Census. In its final incarnation, the district included most...
) 1883-89 and U.S. Senator Class 3 1907-15 from the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.