William Cullen Stevens (August 29, 1848 – October 2, 1897) was an American merchant and politician from New York.
Stevens was born on August 29, 1848, in Moira New York,[1] the son of Simon Dwight Stevens and Susan Burdick. His brother was newspaper publisher and assemblyman Halbert D. Stevens.[2]
Stevens moved with his parents to Bangor, Maine, when he was a few months old, later returning to Moira. At a young age, he started working as a store clerk in Moira. He then worked as a traveling salesman. He then became a commercial traveller for the wholesale crockery house Abram, French & Co. In 1874, he moved to Malone, became the senior member of the firm Stevens, Bowen & Co, and opened a hardware store. He later formed a new partnership with W. F. Symonds and opened a dry goods store. He disposed of his interest in 1889, when he was elected to the Assembly.[3]
Stevens was a trustee of the village of Malone. In 1888, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Franklin County. He served in the Assembly in 1889,[4] 1890,[5] and 1891.[6] While in the Assembly, he obtained appropriations for the Northern New York Institute for Deaf Mutes, which he helped found and took a deep interest in.[3] He then worked as the financial clerk in the Assembly in 1894,[7] 1895,[8] 1896,[9] and 1897.[10] In between Assembly sessions as financial clerk, he worked as a salesman for the Lawrence-Webter Company of Malone.[1]
Stevens was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[11] In 1873, he married the eldest daughter of Wallace H. Webster. Their children were Mabel, Jennie, Susie, and Wallace H.[3]
Stevens died at home from heart failure on October 2, 1897, the day after he was appointed chairman of the Republican county committee.[3] He was buried in Morningside Cemetery in Malone.