Graves, Mary Willis Stedman, b. 1884

Nathan Alexander Alex Stedman was born October 22, 1854, in Henderson, Texas, to Clara Harvey White and William Stedman, a well-known Texas attorney and legislator. After studying law at Washington and Lee University in Virginia (1870–1873) and interning at his father’s law office in Marshall, Stedman began his own career as an attorney in the Harrison County Court. He was later promoted to Harrison County District Attorney. In 1882 he moved to Ft. Worth, where he joined the law firm of Wynne, McCart, & Stedman and became District Judge of Tarrant County in 1891.

On May 1, 1895, Gov. James S. Hogg appointed Stedman to the Railroad Commission of Texas. Based in Austin, this state agency regulated the rates and operations of railroads, terminals, wharves, and express companies. Stedman served as Railroad Commissioner until January 4, 1897, when he moved to Palestine to work as general attorney for the International and Great Northern Railroad, which owned 756 miles of railroad track before merging with Calvert, Waco and Brazos Valley Railroad Company in 1900 and acquiring 66 miles. Also during Stedman’s time there, the company completed a line from Spring to Fort Worth, constructed one from Navasota to Madisonville, and acquired the Houston, Oaklawn and Magnolia Park Railway Company. In 1908, Stedman returned to Austin as Resident General Attorney for all principal Texas railroads. From 1910 until the end of his life, he maintained a private practice in Austin with law partner F. A. Williams.

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