Lawrence Vest Stephens

Lon Vest Stephens
Lon Vest Stephens, with signature
29th Governor of Missouri
In office January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901
Lieutenant	August Henry Bolte
Preceded by	William J. Stone
Succeeded by	Alexander Monroe Dockery
Personal details
Born	(1858-12-21)December 21, 1858 Boonville, Missouri
Died	January 10, 1923(1923-01-10) (aged 64) St. Louis, Missouri
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Washington and Lee University
Profession	Banker

Lawrence "Lon" Vest Stephens (December 21, 1858 – January 10, 1923) was a U.S. politician from Missouri. He served as State Treasurer of Missouri from 1890 to 1897, and as the 29th Governor of Missouri from 1897 to 1901.

Stephens was born in Boonville, Missouri to Joseph L. and Martha (Gibson) Stephens. His father was descended from Scotch ancestry, which founded families in Virginia and North Carolina in Colonial days, and his paternal grandparents came to Missouri from the "Old Dominion" at an early period, locating in Cooper County. Joseph Stephens, who was born there, became distinguished as a lawyer, financier and railroad builder

Stephens studied first in the public schools of Boonville, and then for three years at the Cooper Institute, and three years at the Kemper Family school of the same town. During the intervals of his student life acquired a knowledge of printing and telegraphy, besides working as a bank messenger, bookkeeper and teller. He studied for one year at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and there became interested in finance and economics. After completing his education traveled extensively in Europe.

Returning home, Stephens entered the Central National Bank, of Boonville, management by his father, and became director, assistant cashier and vice president. During his connection with this institution he and his brother, W. Speed Stephens, funded the debts of various counties in central Missouri. Stephens was also involved in politics, acting as an aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor John Marmaduke. In 1887, at the age of twenty-nine, he was appointed by the comptroller of the currency as receiver of the Fifth National Bank, of St. Louis. Its affairs were convoluted, and experienced financiers doubted the ability of so young a man to master so difficult a task. He succeeded in closing up the affairs of the bank in a brief time, the depositors receiving 96 per cent upon their accounts, when only 33 1–3 per cent was expected, and the achievement at once gave him high standing in financial circles.