File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jane Shute knjshute@shasta.com For: Verne R. Horton hortonad@alpine.net October 19, 1998

STEWART

There are two listings in History of Hocking Valley Ohio, pub. 1883 for your Stewarts. The first listing has a couple holes in the pages (the book is very old) and I will put ..... in the areas I can't make out what the text is because of the holes. Hope this helps. Jane in California ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DANIEL BERTINE STEWART (founder of town of Stewart) is one of the best known and has been perhaps the most active and extensively engaged business man in Athens County. Besides the business of milling, which he has carried on throughout life, he has combined with it extensive farming, railroad projecting, merchandising, and been connected with a number of large moneyed corporations operating at Athens and elsewhere. His parents, Daniel and Ruth (Arnold) Stewart, were natives of New England, having emigrated to Ohio from Litchfield, Conn., in the year 1802. His father was born at Litchfield, Nov. 18, 1762. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the Revolutionary army, serving as teamster, and at eighteen he shouldered a musket and served to the close of the war. He was paid for his service in Government Continental scrip which he sold at five cents on the dollar. Before coming to Ohio he moved to Sussex County, N. J., and lived five years, then to New York City, and from there to Athens County (then Washington) in 1802. He was one of the first Commissioners of Athens County and did much to shape her ppolitices. He was a supporter of Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and William Henry Harrrison; was a member of the Whig party and helped organize the Republican party. At the time of his death, in 1859, he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty years. His father's name was Daniel, born of Scottish parents. Our subject's mother was Ruth F....ford [could be Folford] Arnold. They settled in Athens County while it was yet a wilderness, where our subject was born, Sept. 26, 1812. His father had purchased a large tract of land, and the early manhood of the sons was occupied in the arduous work of preparing it for cultivation. This duty curtailed the use of the very few educational advantages that could be had, and as a consequence our subject had to be content with limited education, however much his in...ation might have ........... the contrary. His innate ability, however, has sufficed the deficiency well in after life, making him well and favorably known throughout this part of the State as an enterprising and able bussiness man. At an early age he formed habits of economy, industry and perseverance which are prime requisites to success and shich have charaterized his entire life. When sixteen years of age he entered his father's flouring mill, took charge of it at eighteen, and on attaining his majority purchased the entire mill. In a short time he disposed of this mill at a large profit and formed a partnership with his bother, Alexander, at Rutland, Ohio, with whom he remained two years when he removed to Coolville, in Athens County, and engaged in the merchantile business. In 1837 he relinquished this and removed to his father's farm where, after improving the water-power of the Hocking River, he built a saw-mill. In 1842 he built a garge grist-mill near by, and two years later built a fine woolen mill, the first in Southern Ohio. The business proved very successful. In the year 1867, his business having largely centered at Athens, he removed his family to that place, where he still lives. He is universally conceded to be the most active man in building projects in the county. Since 1837 he has built a large number of stares, dwellings, mills and factories, including a large brick woolen factory, one of the finest in this section of the State. In later years railroad projectiong has occupied his mind, and he has figured prominently in railroad measures well calculated to develop the wealth of the State. In 1850 he commenced to agitate the Parkersburg & Columbus Valley Line, which through unforeseen difficulties was abandoned. He secured the right of way for the building of the Baltimore Short Line and Officiated as practical superintendent of construction. He was a stockholder and director of the road until its amalgamation with the Baltimore & Ohio, when his interests merged with that company. Mr. Stewart is credited with being the prime mover of the enterprise which resulted in the construction of the Baltimre Short Line, and doubtless he contributed more time, influence and personal energy to secure its successful inauguration than any other one man, having devoted four years to its interests. He was for some years a director of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Road, since succeeded by the Ohio Central, being largely instrumental in securing its final success. More recently he has been looking toward the construction of other new roads in this part of the State, especially ......... connect the great coal fields of this and adjoining counties .......... with the Eastern markets. His enterprise, however, h..............n confined to milling, building and railroading. Within t................ of Athens .......... the line of the C., W.& B. R. R. his name promises to be long commemorated in a brisk and enterprising village of which he is the founder.

For this village "Stewart" was laid out on his land, the buildings put up at his own expense, and by his liberal inducements it was soon populated with a prosperous and enterprising people. He has never entered actively into politics and has always been disposed to eschew the office. He was a Lincoln elector in 1860, and was one of his warmest admirers. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for nearly a quarter of a century, and served on the Board of County Commissioners for one term. When he entered upon this latter office the practice of "bidding off" the county paupers was in vogue--a method which to him seemed repugnant and greatly defective. He took pains to investigate the manner in which the unfortunates were treated, and found to his satisfaction that in most cases it was undertaken to make the most possible money regardless of human suffering. He therefore strenuously urged that an infirmary be secured and the poor given comfortable living. Notwithstanding a strong opposition from the public, he with the aid of a few others finally succeeded in carrying his point. A farm and building were soon procured and the measure carried into effect, after which the wisdom of the project was heartily assented to by many from whom opposition had come. He has acted with the Republican party continuously since its organiztion, and has generally entertained decided views on the leading public questions. Before the organization of the Republican party he was a Whig of the old line, but left the old party to help organize the new. During the late war Mr. Stewart supplied means for establishing a sutler's shop, and as it required his attention for a time he went South. While there his sympathies were enlisted in behalf of the wounded soldiers, and he devoted his time to their relief. Although a non- combatant, he was much exposed to the enemy's fire and often barely escaped capture by the enemy. In one instance he was so hard pressed, being hemmed in on all sides, that he took refuge in a cluster of evergreens. Having about $3,000 in money on his person he concealed it under an old rail fence, trusting to memory to guide him to its discovery again when danger should have passed. He then started on foot and reached Nashville in safety. After the lapse of several days he returned to the place and found his money intact. Mr. Stewart has been twice married; first to Miss Sarah Carter April 7 18.............died Oct. 16, 1874. He had nine children by this marriage ...... of whom are still living. His second marriage was with Mrs. M. E. Pearce, widow of the late Dr. T. J. Pearce of the United States army. She was well known throughout the war for her charitable work, and afterward officiated as matron at the Dayton Asylum for the Insane. Mr. Stewart has long been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Stewart's Chapel, near his old home, takes its name from him. At the present time (July, 1883) he continues in active business, his time being fully occupied in looking after his multifarious interests. He is an extensive land owner and one of the heaviest tax-payers in the county. pp. 1389-1391 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

D. B. STEWART, JR., miller, was born in Stewart, Rome Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1859. He lived here nine years, then moved with his parents to Athens, remaining there about twelve years, when he went to Colorado, in 1880, where he remained until July, 1882. He then returned to Athens and thence came to Stewart, where he is now engaged in running the flouring mill known as Byron's mill, and is doing a good business. His father, D. B. Stewart, now living in Athens, was the founder of the town of Stewart. His mother, Sarah (Carter) Stewart, died in Athens eight or nine years ago. Our subject is the only son now living. He has five sisters - Matilda, Now Mrs. D. M. Birchfield; Ruth S., who married C. Byron, deceased; Julia, now Mrs. J. M. Case, and Frank, now Mrs. S. B. Pickering. Our subject bids fair to be, as was his father, one of Stewart's best businesmen. p. 599 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~