Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1104 - 1105

 JAMES STEWART, numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Salem Township, owns and occupies a good homestead on section 34, and is pursuing the even tenor of his way as an honest man and a good citizen. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1842, and is the son of John and Mary (Mulholland) Stewart, the former of whom was a sea captain and died of yellow fever in Philadelphia.

             Mr. Stewart, after the death of his father, and when about sixteen years of age, came with his mother to America and settled in DeWitt County, Ill., where the latter is still living, and now quite well advanced in years. James continued with her in DeWitt County, engaged mostly as a farmer, and shortly after the outbreak of the late Civil War enlisted in Company K, 41st Illinois Infantry, in July, 1861, and went to fight the battles of his adopted country. With his comrades he met the enemy in the sieges of Fts. Henry and Donelson, was also at the battle of Shiloh, and participated in numerous other engagements and skirmishes. At Ft. Donelson he received four gunshot wounds, one in the back, and still carries the ball. This disabled him, for further service, and he was accordingly mustered out in the fall of 1862, and returning to Illinois, engaged in farming.

             Mr. Stewart, while a resident of DeWitt County, Ill., formed the acquaintance of a most estimable young lady, Miss Susanna T. Ely, with whom he was united in marriage on the 29th of October, 1868, at the home of the bride in DeWitt County. Mrs. Stewart was born in the latter county, Nov. 16, 1841, and is the daughter of Solomon and Rachel Ely, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee. Her father had been twice married, her mother being the first wife. There was a large family of children, seven of whom by the first marriage are still living. Achsah married a Mr. Hall, formerly of Illinois; she is now a widow, and lives in Salem Township; Gideon is farming in Jasper County, Iowa; Boanerges is in Knox County, Ill.; Philologus is a resident of Oregon; Minerva resides in Jasper County, Iowa; and Darius in Salem Township, this county. Of the second marriage there are three children living, namely: Simpson, of Missouri; Salina, Mrs. Templeman, of Wilson County, this State, and Pauline.

             In 1871 Mr. Stewart came with his family to this county, and pre-empted the quarter-section of land which he now occupies. Upon it there had been no attempt at cultivation, and our subject, in common with his brother pioneers, fought his way through many difficulties, but in due time met his reward, the soil responding to his labors and yielding the richest crops of Southern Kansas. To his first purchase he added as his means permitted, and is now the owner of 240 acres, all of which is enclosed and under a good state of cultivation. The substantial and commodious farm buildings are in all respects a credit to the enterprise of the proprietor, and will bear comparison with anything of the kind in the township. 

            Mr. Stewart generously recognizes the fact that his estimable wife has been an invaluable assistant in his labors and struggles to build up a homestead, and consequently holds her in due respect and honor. They are the parents of four interesting children, namely: Rachel M., born Aug. 20, 1869; June, June 3, 1874; John S., April 23, 1879, and Ellen E., Nov. 4, 1882. Their third child, Susan, who was born Aug. 26, 1876, died Aug. 20, 1878, when a little less than two years old. 

            Mr. Stewart for the past two years has been in ill-health on account of the wound received in the army, from which he has always suffered more or less, and is now making his second visit to California, in the hope that the milder climate of the Pacific Slope will be beneficial. In this he is joined by hosts of friends, who have learned to value him at his true worth, and would be glad to see him fully restored. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of Salem Township, and uniformly votes the Democratic ticket.

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