James McNeil Stephenson
Lawyer, Politician, Banker, Developer
James McNeil Stephenson was a Parkersburg lawyer who became a politician and banker with many developments throughout the region. A representative of Tyler, Wood, Ritchie, and Doddridge counties in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1839 to 1848, Stephenson was a staunch promoter for the interests of western Virginia relating to internal improvements. It was through these efforts that the northwestern branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built. He declined a congressional seat so he could continue to promote building the railroad in the House of Delegates.By 1860, Stephenson owned 10,000 acres in Wood County, including 1,000 around his home, making him became one of the largest land owners and tax payers in the region. In 1872, he sold some of his plantation property in Parkersburg to persons in the oil industry including R.H. Thomas, L.D. Kraft, Mary A. Wells, and G.H. Ells, which ultimately resulted in the property becoming what was known as “refinery row.”
Stephenson served as the president of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia, now United Bank. He married Agnes Boreman, sister of Arthur Boreman, West Virginia’s first governor.
The Father of the Northwestern Turnpike
Stephenson was a strong proponent of the construction of the Northwestern Turnpike, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works. Completed in 1838, the turnpike extended from Winchester, Virginia to Parkersburg, and became one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians.Of Note
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Stephenson was influential in these improvements to western Virginia
• The Staunton-Parkersburg Road
• The Northwestern Virginia Turnpike
• The James River and Kanawha Canal
• The Northwestern Virginia Railroad
• The Little Kanawha Navigation Company
Stephenson was influential in these improvements to western Virginia
• The Staunton-Parkersburg Road
• The Northwestern Virginia Turnpike
• The James River and Kanawha Canal
• The Northwestern Virginia Railroad
• The Little Kanawha Navigation Company
About the Images
A portrait James M. Stephenson
Part of the Nothwestern Turnpike east of Grafton is known as Horseshoe Curve.
A train station in Parkersburg
Stephenson’s residence in Parkersburg, Oakland, was a two-story, brick Greek Revival style home built in 1840. Today, the home is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Part of the Nothwestern Turnpike east of Grafton is known as Horseshoe Curve.
A train station in Parkersburg
Stephenson’s residence in Parkersburg, Oakland, was a two-story, brick Greek Revival style home built in 1840. Today, the home is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.