
HENRY M. STEPHENS, M.D.
Dr. Henry M. Stephens, physician and surgeon, is one of the oldest
medical men in Regina, in point of the length of time he has been prac-
ticing in this city. His arrival in the spring of 1904 antedates that of
almost all the other members of his profession, although he is by no
means an elderly man. He was born fifty-three years ago-on the 4th
of January, 1870; in Etobicoke township, York county, Ontario, and is
the son of Henry and Jane (Lever) Stephens. His father was brought
to Canada by his parents when he was seven weeks old and thus may be
fairly said to have spent his entire life in the Dominion. As a youth he
learned the printer's trade, but never followed it and spent his life in
agricultural pursuits. The paternal grandfather, Henry Stephens,
brought the first printing press to Canada. On his mother's side of the
house Dr. Stephens claims descent from one of the early settlers in Upper
Canada, for when his Grandfather Lever first went to Toronto that city
consisted of three log shacks. Five of the six children born to Henry
and Jane (Lever) Stephens are living, of whom Dr. Stephens of this
review is the eldest. The children were reared in the faith of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church and no doubt the boys were influenced in forming
their political views by the father's stanch loyalty to the Liberal party.
As a boy Henry M. Stephens went to the public schools near his fa-
ther's farm. He was ambitious to become a doctor but the family finan-
cial resources were not sufficient to pay for the long, expensive education
necessary for entrance to this profession. Nothing daunted by this dis-
couraging situation, the youth set about accomplishing his purpose and
it is solely due to his own efforts that Dr. Stephens is today one of the
leading men in his profession in Regina. In the spring of 1901 he gradu-
ated from Trinity Medical College of Toronto, with the coveted M. D.
degree. After practicing for three years in Lennox county, Ontario, he
came out to Regina in the spring of 1904 and established a medical prac-
tice. While he has always had a general practice he specializes in ob-
stetrics and has done graduate work in this subject in Toronto. Twenty
years of successful work in this city have won for him a well-merited
reputation as an able and conscientious physician and he stands high in
the estimation of the other members of his profession, as well as in the
regard of the laity. Dr. Stephens has kept well abreast of the progress
in the general field of medicine and in his own special line of work through
his membership in various professional organizations. He has been presi-
dent of the Regina Medical Society and has completed his fifth year as
a member of the hospital board. Another organization in which his pro-
fessional knowledge is of great value is the Regina School for Nurses, of
which he is now president.
In 1902 Dr. Stephens was married to Miss Florence Louise Coneter
of Islington, Ontario. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church,
in which Dr. Stephens takes an active interest. He has held all the chairs
in the Sons of England, belongs to the Order of Canadian Foresters and
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Liberal
in politics and is identified with the Canadian Club. This busy doctor
has taken the advice of another physician, a famous writer of his day,
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, who said that the best thing any man could
do was to have a hobby that was as different from his regular work as
possible. Instead of building furniture, as did Dr. Holmes, Dr. Stephens
raises flowers and is so successful in his work as a floriculturist that he
wins prizes for his lovely blossoms at most of the annual flower shows.
In the two decades that he has labored in this city he has witnessed many
changes and seen Regina make many rapid strides ahead. As one of
the influential professional men he has contributed his share toward this
progress and has in turn enjoyed the benefits that have come with the
growth of the city. He has also shared in the reverses that have been
Regina's lot, being one of the heaviest losers in the disaster brought by
the big cyclone on June 30, 1912, when he lost over twenty thousand dol-
lars' worth of property in the twinkling of an eye. But the Doctor pos-
sesses the true spirit of the west, faith in the future and willingness to
work hard to realize his dreams, so, like the city, he set about rebuilding
his fortunes and has been rewarded substantially for his courage and
persistence.
Bibliography follows:
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