HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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as a Colonel of Illinois militia during the War of 1812; represented Illinois Territory as Delegate in Congress, 1814-16, and, on his retirement from Congress, became Register of the Land Office at Edwardsville, finally dying at Edwardsville-Col. James "W. (Stephenson), a son of the preceding, was a soldier during the Black Hawk War, afterwards became a prominent politician in the northwestern part of the State, served as Register of the Land Office at Galena and, in 1838, received the Democratic nomination for Governor, but withdrew before the election.
STEPHENSON, (Dr.) Benjamin Franklin, physician and soldier, was born in Wayne County, Ill., Oct. 30, 1822, and accompanied his parents, in 1825, to Sangamon County, where the family settled. His early educational advantages were meager, and he did not study his profession (medicine) until after reaching his majority, graduating from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1850. He began practice at Petersburg, but, in April, 1862, was mustered into the volunteer army as Surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. After a little over two years service he was mustered out in June, 1864, when he took up his residence in Springfield, and, for a year, was engaged in the drug business there. In 1865 he resumed professional practice. He lacked tenacity of purpose, however, was indifferent to money, and always willing to give his own services and orders for medicine to the poor. Hence, his practice was not lucrative. He was one of the leaders in the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic (which see), in connection with which he is most widely known; but his services in its cause failed to receive, during his lifetime, the recognition which they deserved, nor did the organization promptly flourish, as he had hoped. He finally returned with his family to Petersburg. Died, at Rock Creek, Menard, County, Ill., August 30, 1871.
STEPHENSON COUNTY, a northwestern county, with an area of 560 square miles. The soil is rich, productive and well timbered. Fruit-culture and stock-raising are among the chief industries. Not until 1827 did the aborigines quit the locality, and the county was organized, ten years later, and named for Gen. Benjamin Stephenson. A man named Kirker, who had been in the employment of Colonel Gratiot as a lead-miner, near Galena, is said to have built the first cabin within
