W. H. Stewart
W. H. Stewart, Justice and Notary Public, of Danville, Iowa. Few men are living in Des Moines County who were residents in 1840, and we present with pleasure the sketches of those pioneers who from the early days in Iowa have conducted the business and built up a county second to none in the State. In Hamilton County, Ohio, our subject was born Dec. 3, 1833, and is a son of James A. and Eliza (Bradley) Stewart. The paternal ancestry were of Scotch origin, but James was born in Hamilton County, Ohio. His wife was a native of Delaware. In 1840, the family removed to Lowell, Henry Co., Iowa, and ten years later made a permanent location at Danville, Des Moines County. Previous to this the death of Mrs. James Stewart occurred, on the 1st of January, 1842. Mr. Stewart later married Lucinda Coles, and in 1886 they removed to Minden, Neb. He is now in his seventy-seventh year, and one of the best known men in this neighborhood. Our subject is the only child living whose birth graced the first union. A sister, Eliza, born in Ohio, came with the family, but died in childhood. Ten children were born after the second marriage, and all being well known we speak individually of each. Oscar E., who married Anna Ogden, of Ottumwa, is Division Superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and resides in Burlington; Mary wedded A. White, of Axtell, Neb.; Harvey, a volunteer in Company D, 1st Iowa, died in the service; Solomon, a banker of Axtell, Neb., was twice married, his first wife being Mary Goldsmith, the second, Dora Carpenter; John M., of Lincoln, Neb., who wedded Alice Warner, of Libertyville, was formerly a banker of both Axtell and Minden, but is now Assistant Attorney General; Rebecca is the wife of Joseph Gilman, a capitalist and real-estate dealer of Minden, Neb.; Laura is the wife of Mr. Cheney, of California, who was formerly employed in the United States Mint, at Carson City; Nellie is the wife of Jesse Bird, a miller of Minden; Sybil wedded Milton Wickersham, a tinner, residing at Cheyenne Wells, Col.; and Emma, who completed her education at Fairfield, has been engaged in teaching several years at Minden.
W. H. Stewart, our subject, was married, Oct. 16, 1869, to Miss Sybil Higley, who was born in Portage County, Ohio, a daughter of E. C. and Anna (Messenger) Higley, who were among the first settlers of the county, locating here in 1839. Mr. Higley is still living in this township, and has reached the ripe age of seventy-seven years. Two children came with the parents to Iowa in 1839, one the wife of our subject, the other, Harriet, who became the wife of Judson Scoville, a resident farmer of Lucas County, Iowa. Mr. Higley and his brother-in-law both purchased large tracts of land at an early date, the former still residing upon the same, and the latter we speak of elsewhere.
We now mention the children of the Higley family as completing still further the sketch of our subject. Henry wedded Mary Minson, and resides upon a farm adjoining his father's homestead; Emily is her father's housekeeper; Mary died at the age of fourteen. The death of Mrs. Higley occurred March 14, 1886. She lacked only three days of attaining her seventy-fifth birthday, and had lived to see this country transformed into a miniature paradise. The Higley cabin was among the first built on this great prairie, and both Mrs. Higley and her mother were among the first members of the Congregational Church in this township, of which the only surviving member is Mrs. Seymour, of New London.
W. H. Stewart enlisted in Company D, 1st Iowa Cavalry, in 1863, and served three years in the Western army. After his return he established a nursery, the first in Danville Township, which he conducted for sixteen years. After this business was relinquished Mr. Stewart was placed in charge of the "Material Department of the Santa Fe Railroad," as one of the foremen, and his attention to details has brought him into favor with other lines of railroad, one of which large corporations has offered him a similar position, which he will probably accept. Mr. Stewart has been elected Justice of the Peace for five consecutive terms, and was appointed Notary Public in 1876.
The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were all born in Danville Township; Edward is a dealer in hardware and real estate in Oberlin, Kan.; his wife was Miss Blanch Rodehaver. Alice N. is the wife of William B. Hunt, a son of one of the earliest settlers, and resides upon the Wesley Hunt homestead; Clara B. is the only one at home.
For several years Mr. Stewart served as Township Clerk, and has been one of the energetic and highly useful citizens of this county from his early manhood. He is a local politician of note, and has for years been a member of the County Republican Central Committee. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has a membership in Danville Lodge No. 48, of which he is Secretary. Mr. Stewart is also a member of Burlington Chapter No. 1, R. A. M.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa, Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888