A Guide to the Nathan Alexander Stedman Family Papers, 1841-[ca. 1970s] (bulk 1881-1921)

Biographical Note

Nathan Alexander "Alex" Stedman was born October 22, 1854, in Henderson, Texas, to Clara Harvey White and William Stedman, a well-known Texas attorney and legislator. After studying law at Washington and Lee University in Virginia (1870–1873) and interning at his father’s law office in Marshall, Stedman began his own career as an attorney in the Harrison County Court. He was later promoted to Harrison County District Attorney. In 1882 he moved to Ft. Worth, where he joined the law firm of Wynne, McCart, & Stedman and became District Judge of Tarrant County in 1891.

On May 1, 1895, Gov. James S. Hogg appointed Stedman to the Railroad Commission of Texas. Based in Austin, this state agency regulated the rates and operations of railroads, terminals, wharves, and express companies. Stedman served as Railroad Commissioner until January 4, 1897, when he moved to Palestine to work as general attorney for the International and Great Northern Railroad, which owned 756 miles of railroad track before merging with Calvert, Waco and Brazos Valley Railroad Company in 1900 and acquiring 66 miles. Also during Stedman’s time there, the company completed a line from Spring to Fort Worth, constructed one from Navasota to Madisonville, and acquired the Houston, Oaklawn and Magnolia Park Railway Company. In 1908, Stedman returned to Austin as Resident General Attorney for all principal Texas railroads. From 1910 until the end of his life, he maintained a private practice in Austin with law partner F. A. Williams.

From 1912–1915, Stedman served on the Board of Regents at the University of Texas at Austin. He was a devout Methodist and an active member in such religious organizations as the Epworth League, the Texas Sunday School Association, and the Young Men’s Christian Association. During his life he also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Polytechnic College of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and as superintendent of the First Methodist Church’s Sunday school.

After suffering a long illness, Nathan Alexander Stedman died in Austin on September 14, 1927.

Stedman married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Rowlett (1864-1904) in June 1882. While living in Ft. Worth, they had two children, Mary Willis (b. 1884) and Nathan Alexander, Jr. (1891-1971). In 1904, he married Emma (née Shapard) Hicks (1867-1944).

Mary Stedman attended the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority’s Beta Xi (UT) chapter. She married Ireland Graves (1885-1969), a Texas judge and grandson of Texas governor John Ireland (1827-1896). The couple had a daughter, Mary Ireland "Miggie" Graves (1919-1977).

Miggie Graves also attended UT and joined the Beta Xi chapter of KKG. She married John Chrysostom "J. Chrys" Dougherty, III, and the couple had John Chrysostom and Mary Virginia "Molly". J. Chrys Dougherty was born May 3, 1915, in Beeville, Texas, to attorney and oilman James R. Dougherty, Sr., and his wife Genevieve, née Tarlton. James was the son of Robert Dougherty, founder of St. Paul’s Academy in San Patricio, Texas, and Genevieve was the daughter of judge and law professor Benjamin D. Tarlton, namesake of the UT Tarlton Law Library. Chrys Dougherty earned his bachelor’s from UT in 1937. Three years later, he graduated from the Harvard Law School and passed the Texas bar. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and became active in the U. S. Judge Advocate General Corps. With Ireland Graves in 1946, Dougherty co-founded a law firm, now known as Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody. He acted as Special Assistant Attorney General of Texas (1949-1950), was a member of various Governor’s Committees (1970-1973), and served as Honorary French Consul for Austin (1971-1986).

The Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, Texas, is named in honor of Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty.

Sources:

Nathan Alexander Stedman Family Papers, 1841-[ca. 1970s] (bulk 1881-1921), Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody. "J. Chrys Dougherty (Retired)." Attorneys Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody Austin Texas, http://gdhm.com /people_and_practices/bios/?ID=19 (accessed May 7, 2010).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Stedman, Nathan Alexander", http://tshaonline.org /handbook/online/articles/SS/fst24.html (accessed May 7, 2010).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "International-Great Northern Railroad", http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/II/eqi4.html (accessed July 9, 2010).

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Scope and Contents

The Nathan Alexander Stedman Family Papers, 1841-[ca. 1970s] (bulk 1881-1921), contain the business and personal records of the Stedman-Graves-Dougherty Family. Materials include correspondence, legal documents and drafts, financial documents, publications and newspaper clippings, notebooks and notes, calling cards, organizational materials, and photographs.

Seven feet, the majority of the collection and first subfonds, concern the career of Nathan Alexander Stedman. The first series of professional records relates to his private practices and regular clients in Fort Worth, Palestine, and Austin; his terms as county judge and district attorney for Harrison and Tarrant Counties; his work as a railroad attorney for the International and Great Northern Railroad; and his tenure on the Railroad Commission of Texas. The second series of personal papers provides insight into his relationships with family and friends, his personal land transcripts and legal operations, as well as his connection to the Methodist Church, local religious groups, and his "Brothers", men who shared his religious beliefs. Further series include items with both a personal and professional nature: creative works, such as political, religious, or patriotic notes, manuscripts, and speeches; financial documentation, including bills, receipts, and checks; printed material like clippings, pamphlets, railway passes, and business cards; and official Texas land grants.

Divided by family member, the remaining collection material relate to Stedman’s relatives and descendants. These subfonds also demonstrate the connection of the Stedman family to the Graves, Doughertys, and other influential attorneys, judges, and Texas families. The second subfonds of the Stedman Family Papers contains papers of William Stedman, Lizzie Stedman, Emma Shapard Stedman, and family photographs of their descendents. The third, the Graves-Ireland Family Papers, contain the papers of Mary Stedman Graves, Ireland Graves, J. W. "Will" Graves, and Gov. John Ireland. The Mary Stedman Graves Papers highlight her years as a student at the University of Texas and as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Also included are items relating to her extended family, including correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other printed material about the Stedmans and the Graves. The final subfonds of the Dougherty Family Papers consists of documents pertaining to J. Chrys Dougherty, Mary Graves Dougherty, and Molly Dougherty.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use.

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Related Material

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Nathan Alexander Stedman Family Papers, 1841-[ca. 1970s] (bulk 1881-1921), Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by archives volunteers, 2005. Subsequent revisions were made by Laurel Rozema, July 2010.

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Detailed Description of the Papers

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