Stephen Onion, an important ironmaster in the Chesapeake colonies, came to Maryland from Staffordshire, England, in 1721 as an employee of the Principio Company in Cecil County. He was in charge of the works in 1722-1723, but was demoted for extravagance and mismanagement and replaced by John England. Despite this setback, he remained with the Principio Company for some time, and in the 1730s was acting as ironmaster at Charles Carroll's Baltimore Iron Works. By 1749 he had returned to the northern part of Maryland and established furnaces and forges along Deer Creek. He also established a furnace on the Little Gunpowder River. He died in Baltimore County on August 26, 1754.
From the description of Biographical sketch of Stephen Onion, 1964. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86134350
