Oliver H. Stewart, who has been twice honored with an election to the office of mayor of Parsons, is a banker and agriculturist, and a native son of Kansas, having been born Nov. 6, 1861, in Humboldt, Allen county. His parents, Watson and Elizabeth (Tipton) Stewart, were natives of Ohio, in which state they were reared and married. For a time they resided in Indiana, but in 1856 they became pioneers in Kansas. The father located at Humboldt, Allen county, on coming to Kansas, and soon after Lincoln, becoming president, appointed Mr. Stewart to the office of register of the United States land office at Humboldt, in which capacity he served many years, having been reappointed to the office by President Grant. Watson Stewart became very prominent in the early affairs of Kansas. He served as a member of the Kansas Council, and subsequently served in the lower house of the Kansas legislature. In politics he was a stanch Republican and for many years a leader in his party. He resided in Colorado in his latter years and died at Colorado Springs in 1910, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was possessed of sterling qualities of mind and heart, preceded him in death some ten years, at the age of sixty-five. They had nine children—seven sons and two daughters—the latter of whom died in early life. The sons are living and all have become prominent men and have achieved commendable success. Oliver H. Stewart was reared at Humboldt and was given a liberal common school education. In his early business life he held a position with the national government in the Indian agency of Oklahoma. Later he became a general merchant at Parsons, Kan. In 1899 he organized the State Bank of Parsons, of which he became president and served as the head officer of that institution seven years. He then resigned as president of the bank. At present Mr. Stewart is president of the State Bank of Savonburg, Allen county, Kansas, and also has extensive farming interests, mainly in Allen county.

In politics he has always been an ardent Republican. He has served as city treasurer of Parsons, also as a member of the city board of education, and in 1910 was elected mayor of Parsons—the first mayor of the city under a commission form of government. Such was the satisfaction with his administration as mayor, that in April, 1911, Mr. Stewart was reëlected without opposition. He is a Presbyterian and for over twenty years has been a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Parsons. Fraternally, he is an active member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In 1888 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Katie F. Fisher, who also was born at Humboldt and is a member of a highly respected family. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have four children; Lyman O., Ellsworth F., Harold and Paul.