Capt. Samuel J. Stewart, a Kansas pioneer and Civil war veteran, now living retired at Humboldt, Kans., is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 28, 1833, a son of Joseph and Mary (Coe) Stewart. The father who was a physician, was a native of South Carolina, and was brought to Ohio by his parents when a child. The mother was a native of Ohio. She died in 1835, when Samuel J., of this review was two years old, and five years later his father died, leaving him an orphan at the age of seven years. After the death of his father, the boy went to live with an uncle, William Stewart at Champaign, Ill. Here he attended school and grew to manhood, and in 1855, went to Lafayette, Ind., and worked for a brother, about a year, and in 1856, he and his brother, Watson, came to Kansas, driving the entire distance in a "prairie schooner." They settled in Allen county, south of where Humboldt now stands, on Osage Indian lands. Here, Captain Stewart engaged in farming and stock raising which has been the principal occupation of his life. When he came to this State, the border warfare was at high water mark. He was a pronounced free-State man and had many exciting adventures in those trying times. When he and his brother drove from Indiana, they had their household goods shipped to Kansas City, and after reaching Allen county, he sent a man with a team to Kansas City after his goods, and when returning, the border ruffians, under the notorious Allen McGhee captured the outfit at Westport, and ordered the driver to leave town, who returned to Allen county on foot. When Captain Stewart learned of the incident he proceeded to Kansas City, alone, and recovered one of his horses, the wagon and most of his goods from the bandits. This, however, did not satisfy him and six years afterwards, while serving in the army, Captain Stewart located McGhee, and called upon him personally, and demanded satisfaction for the wrong that had been done him. McGhee had no money, but he gave Captain Stewart a gold watch which was valued at $200.00. This was one of the many incidents of the border warfare which Captain Stewart experienced. His early home in Kansas was among the Osage Indians with whom he was very friendly, and he and his brother were adopted by the tribe as brothers to Chief "Little Bear." They frequently assisted the Indians in their troubles, and at one time, drove a band of horse thieves out of the county, who had been stealing the Indians' ponies. Captain Stewart took a prominent part in the early territorial politics, and in 1857, was elected a member of the territorial legislature, and served in what was known as the first Free State legislature. He was a delegate to the Free State Convention held at Grasshopper Falls, in 1857. This was the first decisive move of the Free State men of the territory. In those early days, he was closely associated with such men as Plumb, Robinson, Pomeroy and Lane. Up to 1861, Captain Stewart had been kept busy with border ruffians and other incidents of pioneer life on the plains and now another important duty confronted him, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Regiment, Kansas infantry, and was mustered in as first lieutenant of his company, and in February, 1863, was promoted to Captain and mustered out with that rank in August, 1864. He served in the Fourth Regiment until the spring of 1862, when the Third and Fourth Kansas Regiments were consolidated into the Tenth Regiment, Kansas infantry, and served with that regiment until he was discharged. A record of the service of these regiments is fully set forth in another volume of this work. At the close of the war, Captain Stewart returned to his Allen county home, and engaged in the more peaceful pursuits of farming and stock raising until he retired in 1901, and removed to Humboldt, where he is now enjoying the fruits of former well directed efforts. He has given his sons, each valuable farms, and still owns three hundred and seventy acres of valuable farm land, which is located in the oil belt of Allen county. The daily production of oil on his farm is about five hundred barrels. Captain Stewart was first married in December, 1864, to Miss Victoria L. Tinder, of Monticello, Ill., who died in September, 1866, and in September, 1869, he married Miss Emma Heath, of Monticello, Ill., and to this union seven children were born as follows: Charles A., who represents the Standard Oil Company at Humboldt, Kans.; William Watson, engaged in the ice business, Chanute, Kans.; Lula, married C. H. Dickerson, resides on the home farm; Hattie B., married R. M. Porter, cashier of the First National Bank, Humboldt; Harvey H., Humboldt; Sadie, married W. J. Davis, farmer, Neosho, Kans., and Effie, married Archie Pickle, St. Joseph, Mo. Captain Stewart has been a life long Republican, and a consistent supporter of the policies and principles of that party. He was elected State representative in 1882, and re-elected in 1885, and in 1900, was elected State senator from the Fourteenth District, serving one term, and while a member of the House of Representatives and Senate was active and influential in the legislation of those sessions. He served as chairman of the Roads and Bridges Committee while a member of the Senate and was instrumental in changing the system of road taxation. Captain Stewart is a member of the Christian Science church, and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is past commander of the Humboldt Post, and was a delegate to the national convention held at Detroit, in 1914.