Born in Bloomington, Indiana on November 4, 1868, he attended Valparaiso College in Indiana. He settled in Fremont, Nebraska where he taught school and studied law. He became the superintendent of schools in Dodge County, Nebraska from 1890 to 1894. He also authored many books on education. He farmed, published, and worked in manufacturing and banking during this time.

Then Mr. Stephens became interested in politics. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1932. When James P. Latta died in office, a special election was held and Mr. Stephens was elected to fill his seat in the Sixty-second Congress. He was reelected to the Sixty-third, Sixty-fourth, and Sixty-fifth Congresses serving from November 7, 1911, to March 3, 1919. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918. He resumed his former business pursuits in Nebraska. He went on to become a member of the State board of education of Nebraska from 1923 to 1926. He died in Fremont, Nebraska on January 13, 1939 and his remains were cremated.