When Stephen M. Wacaster was born on 16 October 1838, in McDowell, North Carolina, United States, his father, George Wacaster Jr, was 35 and his mother, Mary Ann Hollyfield, was 33. He married Cassandra "Cassie" Ann Good on 18 March 1858. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Yancey, North Carolina, United States in 1850 and Cataloochee, Haywood, North Carolina, United States in 1880. He registered for military service in 1862. He died on 24 June 1912, in Dutch Mills, Washington, Arkansas, United States, at the age of 73, and was buried in Lincoln, Washington, Arkansas, United States.