  william dennison stephens (december 26, 1859 â april 25, 1944) was an american federal and state politician. a three-term member of the u.s. house of representatives from 1911 to 1916, stephens was the 24th governor of california from 1917 to 1923. ==biography== william stephens was born in eaton, ohio on december 26, 1859. he was the third child out of a total of nine children born to martin and alvira stephens. with ambitions to become a lawyer, stephens studied earnestly in law to become a lawyer, yet family fortunes required all of his earnings to go to his family instead. following his graduation from eaton high school in 1876, stephens worked for three years as a school teacher before joining the railroad business to become an engineer. between 1880 and 1887, stephens helped survey the construction of railroads in ohio, indiana, iowa and louisiana. his days in the 
1859_births 1944_deaths California_Progressives_(1912) California_Republicans Governors_of_California Mayors_of_Los_Angeles,_California Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_California People_from_Preble_County,_Ohio Presidents_of_the_Organising_Committees_for_the_Olympic_Games Progressive_Party_(1912)_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Republican_Party_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Republican_Party_state_governors_of_the_United_States San_Francisco_Bay_Area_politicians