Rufus Stephenson

Rufus Stephenson (January 14, 1835 – February 15, 1901) was an Ontario newspaper editor and political figure. He represented Kent in the House of Commons of Canada as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1882.[1]

Rufus Stephenson
Source: Library and Archives Canada

He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1835,[1] the son of Eli Stephenson and Chloe Chapin.[2] He was educated at the Grantham Academy in St. Catharines, Ontario.[3] Stephenson worked as a printer in St. Catharines and came to Chatham around 1850. With Charles Stuart, he took over the ownership of the Western Planet, later the Chatham Planet, which he managed until 1878. He was elected to the town council in 1861, served as reeve in 1863 and mayor in 1865-1866.[4] He served as government whip from 1878 to 1882.[1] After he retired from federal politics, he served as customs collector at Chatham until his death in 1901. Stephenson was a member of the Freemasons.[4]

In 1854, he married Georgianna Emma Andrew.[3]

Electoral record
1867 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
ConservativeSTEPHENSON, Rufus1,524
UnknownMCKELLAR, Archibald1,427
1872 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
ConservativeSTEPHENSON, Rufus1,874
UnknownSTRIPP, Wm. S.1,730
1874 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
ConservativeSTEPHENSON, Rufus1,895
UnknownSTRIPP, Wm. S.1,823
1878 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
ConservativeSTEPHENSON, Rufus2,502
UnknownMCMAHON, H.1,969
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References
  1. Rufus Stephenson – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. Rose, George M (1886). A cyclopedia of Canadian biography: being chiefly men of the time ... pp. 645–6. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  3. Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  4. Victor Lauriston (1952). Romantic Kent
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