Richard A. Stewart, chief surgeon at the Stewart Hospital, Hutchinson, Kan., was born in Bedford county, Virginia, Jan. 20, 1868, and was only a lad of thirteen when he accompanied his parents to Rice county, where he continued the education started in Virginia. During the summer he helped his father on the farm and led the ordinary life of a country boy. Like his brother, he determined to become a physician, and in 1888 matriculated in the Hospital Medical College, at Louisville, where he graduated, in 1891. Immediately afterward he entered into partnership with his brother, Dr. James E. Stewart, in Hutchinson.

Dr. Stewart, on June 12, 1895, married Mary C., daughter of John P. and Margaret McCurdy. The Stewart brothers built up a wide reputation as successful surgeons. At the death of Dr. James E. Stewart, the principal amount of this extensive work fell upon Dr. Richard Stewart, and today he is the principal operating surgeon of the hospital which bears the name. Since graduation Dr. Richard Stewart has taken advanced courses of special study in the East at several times, devoting most of his attention to surgery. After establishing the hospital the brothers abandoned general practice, making a specialty of surgery, gynecology, and the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, in which lines they built up a gratifying and lucrative practice. Dr. Stewart's political views are not bound by party ties, his support being given to men and measures that he believes will promote the general welfare and do the most good. Like all the Stewarts he is a member of the Methodist church.