COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON

EDWARDSVILLE, IL

Colonel Benjamin Stephenson was a prominent figure in the early history of Edwardsville, Illinois. Born in Virginia in 1769, Stephenson moved to Illinois in 1809 and quickly became involved in local politics. He served as the first postmaster of Edwardsville and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1816.

Stephenson's most significant contribution to the development of Edwardsville was his role in the creation of the Illinois-Michigan Canal. He lobbied tirelessly for the canal's construction and was instrumental in securing funding from the federal government. The canal, which was completed in 1848, linked the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and transformed Edwardsville into a major transportation hub.

In addition to his political accomplishments, Stephenson was a successful businessman. He owned several businesses in Edwardsville, including a general store and a hotel. He was also a prominent member of the local Masonic lodge and served as the Grand Master of the Illinois Masonic Order from 1822 to 1824.

Colonel Benjamin Stephenson died in 1822 at the age of 53. Today, he is remembered as one of the founding fathers of Edwardsville and a key figure in the early history of Illinois.

COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON is a Uncategorized or General Museum in EDWARDSVILLE IL. US MID #8401700197

The museum is classed as GMU (Uncategorized or General Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).

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Contact COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON

• telephone: 6186921818
• website: http://www.stephensonhouse.org

COLONEL BENJAMIN STEPHENSON
409 S BUCHANAN ST
EDWARDSVILLE
IL
62025

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