Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 804 - 807

ALF STEWART. The present prosperous condition of this section of Kansas is largely due to the class of men who came here during its earliest history. One of these, now a worthy representative of the farmers and stock-growers of Kechi Township, where he owns a farm on the northwest quarter of section 24, was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, and was the only child of Adam and Lydia (Schonover) Stewart, his father being a successful farmer in the Keystone State. Our subject left home at the age of six years to begin life for himself, and his first experience in the outside world was as a cabin boy on board of an Erie Canal boat, where he afterward became cook. Later he found work on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers as a boathand, remaining thus employed for a number of years. Afterward he traveled for some time with a show. Then he applied himself to learn the blacksmith trade, and was actively employed in that for a few years. Subsequently he traveled for seventeen years in different lines of business.

             Our subject was married, in Ohio, to Miss Mary N. Massey, a native of that State, and settled with her in Milford, Ohio, where he had charge of a smithy for several years. In May, 1864, his faithful and devoted wife departed this life, leaving one child with its father to mourn their loss.

             Mr. Stewart took an honorable part in the late Civil War; he enlisted in the 136th Ohio Infantry, and went into service at Camp Chase, going thence to Washington, and from there to Ft. Ellsworth. He was discharged at Washington at the expiration of his term of enlistment, Sept. 5, 1864, and returned home, but he soon after re-enlisted, in the 25th Ohio Veteran Infantry, Oct. 1, 1864, and served faithfully the following year, receiving his final discharge Oct. 7, 1865, at Charleston, S. C. He was engaged in the battle of Honey Hill and received a flesh wound while bravely fighting; he also took part in a number of shirmishes.

             Our subject was a second time marrried, in Ohio, March 27, 1866, to Mrs. Clarissa L. (Downer) Childs, daughter of H. M. and Mary (Jones) Downer, natives of Vermont, and the widow of Isaac Childs. Her former husband was killed at the battle of Buzzard's Roost before Atlanta. He first enlisted in Company F, 13th Ohio, for three months, was mustered out of service at Baines Cross Roads Dec. 31, 1863, and re-enlisted in the same company for three years, or until the close of the war, and was subsequently killed, as before mentioned. Mrs. Stewart's grandfathers, Downer and Jones, took part in the War of 1812.

             Mr. Stewart removed with his family to Kansas Nov. 6, 1871, and located on what is now section 24, Kechi Township, taking up 160 acres of land under the provisions of the homestead act. The following spring he built a house on his land and has ever since resided here. He immediately commenced the improvement of his land, which is now in an admirable state of culture, and it has become a very valuable piece of property, owing to his careful tillage, the neat buildings he has erected, and to its central location in a part of the country that has developed with marvelous rapidity, with a corresponding increase in the rise of values. His farm is well stocked with good horses and with graded Hereford cattle. In 1874 Mr. Stewart established a blacksmith-shop in Wichita, and in 1876 he kept a lunch counter; he did well in both enterprises and made money.

             To our subject and his wife eleven children have been born, namely: Dayton, Fred, Dolph, Ray, Mary, Joe, Emma, Clara, Hi, Dyer and Bertie. Their parents have given them the inestimable advantages of a good education, and the younger children are still attending school; they all live at home.

             Our subject does not care to take an active part in politics, but he always stands by the principles for which he fought, and casts his vote with the Republicans every time. He and his wife are held in the highest respect, not only as pioneers of this county, but for their genuine integrity of character.

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