Stephenson, Oscar, 1830-1881.

Oscar Stephenson was born on May 12, 1830 in Southhampton County, Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1854. He moved to Minnesota Territory that year and opened a law office in St. Paul, also serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1859. Stephenson moved back to Virginia during the Civil War years, but then returned to St. Paul in 1865 and reestablished his law practice. He married Lillian Robertson in 1866, and later served as a Ramsey County probate judge (1868-1877). He died in St. Paul on August 8, 1881. Some additional biographical information is filed with the letters.

From the guide to the Letters from Matthew Maury., 1856-1857., (Minnesota Historical Society)