Stephen Canady was born about 1768 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. He grew up there learning to be a planter with a good sense for business. He married Mary Bennett, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Bennett in 1795 and lived in the newly formed Barnwell District where the couple's first two children, John and Nancy were born.

By 1800, Georgia was rebuilding from the ravishes of the Revolutionary War, and new land grants towards the interior were being offered for growth and expansion. Many families from South and North Carolina moved to Georgia during that time since land at home was beginning to get scarce. In 1801 Stephen Canady moved his family to Bryan County, Georgia. He received a deed for a tract of land on Black Creek from James and Mary Bennett on September 6, 1801. Shortly after arriving in Georgia and beginning to settle on their new land, a son, Thomas, was born in 1802.

Stephen was a pioneer and was active in the civic affairs of the newly formed Bryan County. He served on the jury in 1804 and 1806. He was elected a Commissioner of Bryan County in 1804, and took the oath of Lieutenant in the 19th Georgia Militia in 1809.

He continued to purchase land and win land grants in the Georgia Land Lotteries of 1805. Two such lots were awarded to him 1806 and another in 1814. He became one of the more successful planters in the county. He had two overseers to help run the plantation and about seven slaves. His lands were joined by those of Charles Clanton, William and James Bennett, his brothers-in-law, and a fourth parcel was joined by the property of his oldest son, John.

Stephen and Mary Canady had five children, three boys and two girls.

1. John Canady b. 1796 (Barnwell District, SC) m. Sarah b. 1800 in GA (six children)
2. Nancy Ann b. 1800 (Barnwell District, SC) m. Hampton Harris, Sr. (nine children)
3. Thomas b. 1802 (Bryan County, GA) d. 1884 m. Sarah Jane Delegal 6/23/1832 (nine children)
4. Elizabeth b. ~1812 (Bryan County, GA) m. James West (dtr Sarah)
5. Elender b. ~1814

Stephen Canady died prior to the 1830 census leaving his second son, Thomas, to take over as head of the plantation. In 1837 a claim was brought against his widow, Mary, and his heirs for a lost or mislaid land deed dated October 1832. In the settlement, the land was divided among the heirs of Stephen Canady, including James Bennett, his brother-in-law. Mary and the younger children continued to live at their home with her son, Thomas. The burial place for Stephen and Mary Canady is unknown.