Biography - H A Stewardson
H. A. STEWARDSON, of the firm of Hamm & Stewardson, of Strasburg, Shelby County, is an enterprising and able young business man. The firm of which he is junior member deals in hardware, agricultural implements and furniture, stoves and tinware. Although not yet thirty years of age he is the owner of some fine land in this county, aside from the position that he holds in the firm, and in which he is building up a reputation for business tact and talent, and a keen foresight in financial matters that make him rank already with the best business men in the township. Mr. Stewardson comes from a good family who are noted among their acquaintances for their practical and common-sense views of the affairs of daily life.
Mr. Stewardson's father was Thomas Stewardson, who is now a resident of Shelbyville Township. His mother in her maiden days was Sarah C. Brady. They were the parents of thirteen children, and of these our subject was the fourth in order of birth of the second set of children. He was born in Shelbyville Township November 25, 1862. (For a fuller history of his parents see sketch of Thomas Stewardson in another part of this volume.) Our subject grew to manhood in his native county. He received a good common-school education in the schools of the vicinity, and he passed his early life in a divided attention to school duties and assisting with the work of the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, remaining during that time under his father's roof. He then for a period of a year and a half engaged in farm labor for other farmers in the neighborhood. At the end of that time he came to Strasburg and was employed by J. N. Storm as clerk in his store for a period of about six years.
On leaving Mr. Storm's employ our subject was for six months engaged in farming and August 1, 1890, he formed a partnership with Martin Hamm, to engage in the business of which they are now proprietors. He has ever since devoted himself to the interests of the firm, which carries a fine stock of implements, and which is doing a good business. He is besides the owner of forty acres of land in Richland Township, which is well cultivated and valuable land. The calling of agriculture, however, is not the one to which our subject feels himself best adapted, preferring to deal more intimately with men.
Our subject left the rank and file of bachelors February 24, 1886, and was united in marriage to Elnora Davis, who was born in this county. Their wedding was solemnized in Windsor. The young couple have had three children, whose names are Ethel, Mamie and Myrtle. The second child, Mamie, is deceased. Politically he of whom we write affiliates with the Democratic party. He has been Justice of the Peace for about two years and is well qualified to fill any position in the gift of the township. When a man has made such a success of life at Mr. Stewardson's age, the world has reason to expect of him unqualified success in the future. Having already shown his ability, he will be given prominent positions both in public and private affairs.
Extracted 07 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 200-201.
