Gilbert, Frank T. "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a36. WILLIAM STEPHENS now retired from active pursuits, was one of the first and leading business men of Walla Walla. His father, Stephen D. Stephens, was a native of New York, and William was born on Staten Island, October 24, 1812. He attended the common schools, and then began to lean the carpenter trade, but met with an accident that caused him to relinquish that intention and take a position in a store. At the age of twenty-five he went to Des Moines county, Iowa, for his health, and three years later returned to New York for two years. He then spent two years more in Iowa, and in 1846 went to New Orleans. The following spring he ascended the Mississippi river and started across the plains from St. Joe, Mo. He reached Oregon in the fall, and settled in Linn county. In the fall of 1849 he went to California, and returned in the spring of 1850, bringing a cargo to Portland from the Sandwich Islands. He opened a store in Portland, but soon sold out because of ill health, and took up a land claim on Lewis river, W. T. In 1853 he went to the Umpqua valley, and farmed until 1859. In June of that year he came to the infant town of Walla Walla for his health, and took charge of a store for Dr. D. S. Baker. He built the log warehouse on Second street, between Main and Alder, now occupied by Chinamen. He paid several visits to the mines, furnishing outfits and supplies to a number of prospecting parties, and discovered some well known diggings in Montana in 1865. He afterwards was engaged in business with George McCully, Paine Bros. & Moore, and others. He sold his business a few years ago and invested his capital in the Walla Walla and Columbia River R. R. Company, and was one of the gentlemen who built that important factor in Walla Walla's prosperity. He was Treasurer of the road until he sold out to Dr. Baker. When the U. S. Land Office was established in Walla Walla in 1871, Mr. Stephens was appointed Register, which position he resigned four years later, to devote his time to the railroad. Mr. Stephens is now living in quiet enjoyment of the fruits of a long life of labor and usefulness, surrounded by friends who respect him for his integrity and honor him for his untiring efforts to promote the welfare of the country in which he is passing the declining years of his life. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.