William G. Stuart

STUART, GRAY, RANDOLPH

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/16/2009 at 08:03:12

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 754-755

WILLIAM G. STUART, junior mem-
ber of the firm of Charles Stuart &
Son, dealers in lumber, grain and
stock, Audubon, Iowa, was born in Stark
County, Illinois, October, 1856. He is the
son of Charles and Lois G. (Gray) Stuart,
natives of the State of Vermont, who, after
their marriage, removed to Stark County,
Illinois, where they were early settlers. Cap-
tain Stuart was an active man and stock-
raiser, and accumulated property rapidly,
Having some surplus capital, he came to Au-
dubon County, Iowa, and bought large tracts
of land which he improved and stocked to
their fullest extent. He had established his
large ranch in Melville Township before the
town of Audubon was platted. His present
stock ranch consists of six sections of land,
the greater part of which is under fine culti-
vation. It all lies in one body and is well
fenced, so that stock can be handled to good
advantage. A part of the land is set apart
for the cultivation of corn, which Mr. Stuart
raises extensively. He also buys large quan-
tities of the neighboring farmers. Large
numbers of cattle and hogs are fed on the
Stuart ranch, and for the past few years
special attention has been given to the breed-
ing of Percheron and Clydesdale horses.
Two hundred tons of hay are annually cut on
the place. The ranch is conducted under
the immediate direction of W. G. Stuart.
Although he resides in Audubon, he visits
the place almost daily; he also has telephone
connection between his office in town and the
ranch. At present there are 1,100 head of
cattle on the farm, some of which are thor-
oughbred, and others of which are high
grades mixed. Their annual sales are from
600 to 1,000 head. The farms are well pro-
vided with sheds for the protection of the
stock, and they are all well supplied with
water. In 1878, after the starting of the
town of Audubon, Charles Stuart established
a lumber yard and built a large grain eleva-
tor, where he deals in lumber and grain quite
extensively. On the completion of the Rock
Island & Pacific Railway to Audubon, Mr.
Stuart erected his office, which is of a very
attractive design and finish. The entire
building is of St. Louis pressed brick, and
the interior is furnished with every modern
convenience. William G. Stuart also has
charge of the grain and lumber business,
Charles Stuart being still a resident of Illi-
nois. The firm employs from thirty-five to
forty men during the year. Mr. Stuart was
married in 1882 to Miss Annis Randolph, of
Tama County, Iowa, where she was born and
reared. She is a daughter of John Ran-
dolph, a resident of Audubon County. Mr.
and Mrs. Stuart are the parents of two chil-
dren -- Lois and Charles. Mr. Stuart has
served one term as a member of the town
council, and in National and State elections
he votes the Republican ticket.