Biography - John A. Stewart
JOHN A. STEWART. The genial Supervisor of Penn Township, and who owns
two hundred acres of fine land located on section 36, is he whose name is
found above. He was born in Center County, Pa., in Shore Creek Valley,
November 3, 1848. He is a son of John G. Stewart, who was born in the same
State, and the father of John G., the grandfather of our subject, was born
in Scotland, and came to America at an early day, and with his parents
located in Pennsylvania, settling in Huntington. He was there engaged in the
mercantile business and passed the remainder of his life in that place. Our
subject's father learned a trade but did not follow it long, turning his
attention to farming. He removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1867, and
resided in Moweaqua until 1884, then went to Missouri and settled in DeKalb
County, and there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1888.
The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Mary Ann Elder. She was
born in Pennsylvania and was a daughter of Abram Elder. She still survives,
making her home in DeKalb County, Mo. She is the mother of nine children.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native State, and coming to
Illinois when quite young, with his parents, again located on the farm and
there remained until his marriage, after which he came to Penn Township and
bought eighty acres of land on section 27.
Our subject did not occupy the farm that was his first purchase, but rented
other land and worked it until 1887, when he bought the place he now
occupies that is located on section 36. It is well improved and bears
striking evidence of the energy and industry Mr. Stewart has brought ito
bear on his work. It has a good class of buildings with a pleasant and
comfortable residence and the most advanced ideas as regards agriculture are
employed in his care and cultivation of the place.
In January, 1876, our subject quit the bachelor ranks and merged his life
with that of Miss Mary E. Thompson. She was born in Pennsylvania and is a
daughter of Gardner and Eliza (Baird) Thompson. Five children have been
vouchsafed to the care and guidance of our subject and his estimable wife.
They are by name Maude A., Frank G., Harvey, Edith, and Mary Belle. Mr. and
Mrs. Stewart are members of the Presbyterian Church and are consistent and
noble Christians. He of whom we write is a Republican in politics. He was
elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors in the spring of 1891.
Socially he belongs to the Prairie Home Lodge, No. 3574, of the Knights of
Honor.
Extracted 17 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 681.
