John W. Stewart

STEWART, CROOKS, GRAHAM

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 22:24:49

In 1871, John W. Stewart was elected superintendent of the schools of Butler county, and made one of the most thorough and capable officers in the State, elevating the office to a level with that of any county in the State; he held it for ten years.
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John W. Stewart is a son of Elizabeth (Crooks) and William Stewart, and was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1837. In 1856 he had completed an academic course at Cochvanton Academy, in Crawford county, and one at Alleghany College, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1856 he came west, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, and engaged in teaching. From there he went to Greene county, where he taught until he entered the army.
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In August, 1862, he enlisted in company K, 22d Wisconsin Infantry, as a private, but was soon promoted to the 1st lieutenancy. In the winter of 1862 he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. He then returned to Wisconsin, and in the fall of 1864 came to Butler county, Iowa, located on a farm four miles south of Shell Rock, and occupied himself with farming and teaching until 1868. At this time he disposed of his farm and engaged in mercantile trade at Shell Rock. In this business he remained until the fall of 1872, when he was elected county superintendent of schools in Butler county, which office he held for ten years.
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Mr. Stewart is a stalwart republican; he cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, but when Fort Sumpter was fired upon, changed from the democratic to the republican party. He is a member of the Methodist church. He was married December 29, 1859, to Miss Martha J. Graham, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have three children living – Lillian, now the wife of Wallace Weed; Cornelius William, and Lulu Elizabeth. He is a member of the Escalop lodge of Masons, of Shell Rock.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 370 - 371