Stephen was born to Nancy and Thomas Hyde on February 12, 1987 in southeast Hardin County, Kentucky. A series of unfortunate legal disputes forced this small family of three to move their farm north into Illinois, where Stephen became an integral part of the daily work. His formal education consisted of only about 18 months of schooling, and he was largely self-educated through his voracious appetite for books. He was also a talented local wrestler and skilled with an axe. Seeking change and excitement, Stephen enrolled in Columbia University in the City of New York, where he is majoring in history. Though unsure of his post-graduate plans, he considers politics or law to be the most appealing options.