Arthur Stephen: Early Washington County Developer

Washington County has been one of the fastest growing regions of the state in recent decades. Just look at Woodbury; its population grew 131 percent between 1990 and 2000.

Likewise, Stillwater has continued to grow beyond the bluffs and spread westward. Other communities enjoy similar growth.

In earlier times, Washington County was much sparser, of course, but one dedicated fellow was perhaps the earliest resident with an eye towards orderly development of our corner of the state. His name was Arthur Stephen, a farmer, contractor/builder, planner, postmaster, state representative, and more. He made his mark from Lake Elmo to Stillwater and beyond.

Stephen was born in Scotland on March 30, 1830. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Stephen. When Arthur was just nine years old, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Knox County, Illinois.

It was in Illinois that young Arthur learned the trade of bricklaying. He came to Minnesota when he was 19, settling in St. Paul. He was hired to do the plastering work for the Market Street Methodist Episcopal Church, reportedly the first brick structure in Minnesota.

On January 20, 1852, Arthur married Maria J. Paden, daughter of Isaac Paden and Celia Paden. Together the couple had five children: Harriet J., Arthur, Elizabeth, Emma, and James B.

In 1855, Robert Stephen, Arthur's brother, obtained 160 acres of land in Section 35 of Oakdale Township. Arthur bought 120 acres from his brother and moved his family onto the land to begin farming.

On November 1, 1858, the first town meeting was held and Oakdale Township was officially organized. At that meeting, Arthur Stephen was elected Justice of the Peace, and his brother Robert was elected Constable. The following year, Arthur was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He had a keen interest in the orderly development of this eastern portion of his new State of Minnesota. At one of its first meetings, the Bord of Supervisors divided Oakdale Township into two districts for the purposes of road construction.

Some of the early roads were little more than improved Indian trails that led to the St. Croix River. Many of these roadways, developed for horse and stagecoach use, evolved into Highway 36, Stillwater Boulevard, and other thoroughfares that are still used today. Likewise, railroad lines helped determine the location of planned clusters of housing.

Stephen, a versatile and civic-minded fellow, was also greatly involved with the development of the local school. He served as the first clerk of the school board for Oakdale District 37. And the first schoolhouse for that budding district was actually located on Stephen’s farm.

From 1857 to 1867, Stephen was the Postmaster at Oakdale. Years later, beginning in 1901, he again was Postmaster, but this time in Lake Elmo.

In 1869, tragedy struck when the Stephen home was destroyed by fire. Arthur moved his family to Stillwater where he again took up his past profession as a builder and contractor. He helped build many enduring, historic structures in Stillwater, including the old Washington County Courthouse, the McKusick Block, the Mower Block, the Union Block, and the first high school.

Stephen remained in Stillwater until 1882 when he moved back to his farm. But he wasn’t finished contributing just yet. In 1885, Stephen was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He also served three years as a Washington County Commissioner.

Stephen sold his farm in 1903 and moved to Lake Elmo, where he lived the remainder of his years. He died at the age of 81 on October 17, 1911.

Few Washington County residents have spent more time and energy dedicated to ensuring the correct and orderly development of the area. Arthur Stephen certainly helped guide the newly organized township and pioneer villages in the proper direction. A small handwritten note, found in the records of the St. Croix Valley Old Settlers’ Association papers, serves as an apt tribute to Arthur Stephen. It reads: "Mr. Stephen was a man enormously esteemed, honest and true in every trust, a good citizen and neighbor, and affectionate husband and kind father."

I often wonder what Arthur Stephen might say if he could see today’s bustling Washington County.

Brent Peterson is executive director of the Washington County Historical Society. For more information, visit www.wchsmn.org.