STEWART, John R. 1952-1932

STEWART, ATWOOD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/7/2015 at 20:31:18

Funeral For Reinbeck Pioneer At Reinbeck Last Wednesday

Funeral services for John R. Stewart, Reinbeck pioneer who died at the home of his daughter, were held at Reinbeck last Wednesday afternoon. The services were at the Congregational church. Mr. Stewart was 80 years old. He was one of Reinbeck's first merchants, coming there in 1876.

Mr. Stewart was born in Perth, Scotland, October 20, 1852, and would have been eighty years old last week. He came to this county as a boy in 1865 with his family and they settled in Iowa. In 1876, when the town of Reinbeck was first started, Mr. Stewart came here to engage in business. Forming a partnership of Stewart & Moeller to operate a lumber yard, their first carload of lumber arrived in Reinbeck on the first train to come in over the Rock Island railroad, then known as the B. C. R. & N.

He was active in business and community affairs there from that time until age and failing health a few years ago caused him to withdraw from most of his activities. He sold his interest in the lumber business after a number of years and devoted much of his time to farm lands he owned in northwestern Iowa, North Dakota and Canada.

He was a charter member in Coin Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and was honored by that lodge upon the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary of membership. He was an early member in the Reinbeck lodge, I.O.O.F. and received the similar honor for fifty years of Odd Fellowship. He was one of the founders of the Reinbeck Congregational church and was active in its affairs until age forced his retirement, serving for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school and in other capacities.

On Sept. 15, 1880, he was married to Miss May Atwood at the home of her parents near Bryant, Iowa, and brought his bride to the home he had prepared in Reinbeck. They were spared to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary in September, 1930, although Mrs. Stewart was then in failing health. Shortly after that celebration they closed their home at Reinbeck and went to make their home with their daughter at Jefferson. There Mrs. Stewart died October 26, 1930, her body being brought to Reinbeck for burial.

Mr. Stewart is survived by four children and six grandchildren. The children are Mrs. Carrie Stewart Jackson, Jefferson; Mrs. Nellie Stewart Cooper, Sioux City; John H. Stewart, Los Angeles; and Paul A. Stewart, New York City. There are also living two brothers and four sisters. These are P. H. Stewart, A. M. Stewart and Miss Maggie Stewart, of Reinbeck; Mrs. W. R. Bryan, Estherville; Mrs. R. J. Price, Randall, Minn., and Mrs. F. L. Gordon, Terrill, Iowa.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 October 1932, pg 13