Stewart, Robert N. – 1828-1917

BUCKMIER, COOPER, HARVEY, MCGUIRE, STEWART, WEST

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:32

Pioneer Citizen Gone
Robert N. Stewart died at his home south of town Sunday evening. Had he lived to January 18th, 1918, he would have been ninety years old.
He had lived most a half century in this community. The funeral occurred at the Presbyterian church, Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in charge of the Masonic order, sermon by Rev. Williams, pastor.
A short service was held at the home on account of the invalid wife who could not be at the church.
Interment in Oak Hill cemetery.
Source: The Colfax Clipper; December 27, 1917

Robert N. Stewart was born in West Virginia, the 18th of January 1828. He departed this life at his home near Seevers on Sunday, Dec. 23, 1917, aged 89 years, 11 months and 5 days. Had he lived until the 18th of this next month he would have rounded out an even ninety years of life.
He was the son of James and Katherine Stewart. They were both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they moved to West Virginia and there married and reared their family upon a large farm. Their family consisted of twelve children, of whom only one now survives, Mrs. Hattie Cooper, a sister of the deceased. In speaking of Mr. Stewart’s parentage it may be of interest to note that his paternal grandfather served his country as a colonel in the Revolutionary War.
Robert N. Stewart grew up on the home farm and received his education in the public schools and at Fairview Academy in Virginia, after which he took a course of business training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He imigrated to Iowa about 1864 and located in Washington township, Jasper county, where he kept a stage station.
Mr. Stewart took a very active part in the pioneer affairs of this community. While Hon. J. B. Grinnell was representing this district in congress, Mr. Stewart petitioned for the establishment of a post office where Colfax now stands. The petition was granted and two names submitted to Mr. Stewart for choice, Colfax and Sheridan. He chose Colfax, the name which this city now bears. He was an active and interested worker politically and was fraternally active in the Masonic order. He was one of the charter members who organized the First Presbyterian church of Colfax in 1888. He was also one of the first two elders to be ordained in the Colfax church and had the further distinction of having organized the first Sunday school in Colfax, which met for a tie in a box car and then in the depot.
Mr. Stewart was married in 1858 to Elizabeth McGuire of Carlton, O. Five children were born to this union, namely, Iva, James, Frank, Mamie, Anna. These children are all deceased except the son James. The first wife died in 1889; and he subsequently, in 1891, married Amelia Harvey of Newton, who is widowed by his death.
There is left to mourn the death of Mr. Stewart a wife Mrs. Amelia Stewart; a sister, Mrs. Hattie Cooper, a son James of Colfax, two grandchildren, Robert West and Leona Buckmier of San Francisco and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services were from the Presbyterian church Thursday at 2:30, conducted by Rev. E. G. Williams. The burial service of the Masonic order was observed and interment was made at Oak Hill cemetery.
Source: The Colfax Clipper; January 3, 1918