History of New Bloomfield, (Perry County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Robert Neilson Stephens Biographical Sketch

Robert Neilson Stephens, novelist and playwright, was born in New Bloomfield, Pa., July 22, 1867; son of James Andrew and Rebecca (Neilson) Stephens; grandson of Robert Garrett and Martha (Jones) Stephens, and of John and Catharine (Painter) Neilson, and a descendant of Alexander Stephens, said to have come to Pennsylvania from England, in 1746. He attended his father's academy, and was graduated at the high school, both at Huntingdon, Pa.; was employed successively in a printing office, book-store, and railroad office until December, 1886, when he became secretary to the managing editor of the Philadelphia Press. He was dramatic editor of the Press, 1887-93, and also did general newspaper work. He was married, Nov. 6, 1889, to Maud, daughter of Charles and Annie (Cleland) Helfenstein of Brooklyn, N.Y.; was a theatrical agent in New York city and on the road, 1893, and subsequently, in 1899, went to England, where, after traveling about Europe, he was residing in 1903. His plays include: On the Bowery, The White Rat, An Enemy to the King and The Ragged Regiment, produced in 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1898, respectively. He is author of the novels: An Enemy to the King (1897); The Continental Dragoon (1898): The Road to Paris (1898); A Gentleman Player (1899); Philip Winwood (1900); Captain Ravenshaw (1901), and The Mystery of Murray Davenport (1903).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor