James David Ritchie Steven was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, on February 20, 1872. His father, William, died when James was two years old. When he was 17, the family moved to Eau Claire, and in May 1890 Steven began work in the office of Davis and Starr Lumber Company. In 1907, Steven organized the Steven and Jarvis Lumber Company, with Arthur Jarvis, to deal in wholesale lumber. The firm became Steven and Utley (R.S. Utley) in 1925, and was liquidated two years later. Steven was also involved with the Eau Claire Book and Stationery Company, and became vice-president in 1917 and president in 1921, succeeding William J. Starr. Steven remained with the company for many years, acquiring principal ownership of it in 1947. Also, he was a charter member of the Eau Claire Kiwanis and served as director of the YMCA for 23 years. In October 1907, he married Merle Sears Pickford of Madison, and the couple had two sons, William P. and David R. The elder Steven died in 1951.