born in pittsboro, north carolina, stedman moved to fayetteville, north carolina with his parents in 1853 where he attended pittsboro and donaldson academies and graduated from the university of north carolina at chapel hill in 1861, where he was a member of the dialectic and philanthropic societies. during the civil war he enlisted as a private in the fayetteville independent light infantry company; part of the confederate 1st north carolina "bethel regiment. he later was promoted to major of the 44th north carolina infantry. afterwards, stedman returned to chatham county, north carolina and taught school in pittsboro for one year. he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1865, commencing practice in wilmington, north carolina.