Stevenson, William Francis

Stevenson, William Francis, a Representative from South Carolina; born in what is now Loray, near Statesville, Iredell County, N.C., November 23, 1861; attended the public schools and was tutored by his father; worked on the farm every crop season until he entered college; teacher in the public schools in 1879 and 1880; was graduated from Davidson College; Davidson, N.C., in 1885; again engaged in teaching in Cheraw, S.C., 1885-1887, studying law at the same time; was admitted to the bar in 1887 and commenced practice in Chesterfield, S.C., the same year; moved to Cheraw in 1892 and continued the practice of law; member of the Democratic executive committee of Chesterfield County 1888-1914, serving as chairman 1896-1902; mayor of Cheraw in 1895 and 1896; member of the State house of representatives 1896-1902, serving as speaker 1900-1902; declined to be a candidate for reelection; interested in various business enterprises in Chesterfield County; district counsel for the Seaboard Air Line Railway 1900-1917; member of the Democratic State executive committee 1901-1942; general counsel for the State dispensary commission 1907-1911; and directed through the Supreme Court of the United States the litigation which resulted in the termination of the State dispensary; again a member of the State house of representatives 1910-1914; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect David E. Finley; reelected to the Sixty-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1917, to March 3, 1933; unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932; member of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board 1933-1939, serving as chairman in 1933; retired to private life; died in Washington, D.C., February 12, 1942; interment in St. David’s Episcopal Church Cemetery, Cheraw, S.C.