Notes for Wiliam David Stewart

Family Group Sheet

Notes for Wiliam David Stewart

Note:
History of Clay County, Indiana by William Travis - 1909, Vol. II, pp 168-170
Biography of William D. Stewart -- copied in part

On the 13th of October 1875, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Juretta B. Kirk, who was born in Brazil, Indiana, May 19, 1854, a daughter of William and Sarah (Myers) Kirk. Her father was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1816 and died in 1883, while his wife, a native of Orange county, Indiana, born in 1816, passed away in 1897. They were married in Clay county, this state, in 1836. The father came to Indiana in 1832 when fifthteen years of age, driving across the country with teams from the old home in Kentucky to Orange County, Indiana. He made the trip in company with his parents and in 1836 be became a resident of Clay county, where he built a log cabin in the midst of the wilderness upon the present site of the town of Staunton. He aided in the pioneer development of that locality and subsequently removed to the site of Brazil. There he built a log house in the midst of the green woods, for the district was then an unbroken wilderness, giving no evidence of the influences of progress and civilization. He assisted in clearing away the timber and lived at that place until 1852, when he removed to Bridgeton, where he worked at the cooper's trade for James Mulligan, for about three years. He then returned to his first location in Clay county anbd inb 1862 removed to Sullivan, Illinois, where he worked at the Coopers trade until 1866. In that year he again came to clay county and spent his last days in Staunton. In politics he was a Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Christian Church. The Family numbered nine children, Including Mrs. Stewart.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born five children: Frances Annie, the wife of Monroe Williams; Sarah Catherine, the wife of Benjamin Cheek; Ralph William J.; Ray Austin; and Elizabeth La Vern.

From "History of Clay County" William D. Stewart in his boyhood days assisted his father in theblacksmith shop and was early taught the value of industry and energyas factors in active business life, In the winter months he attended schooland in his youth he worked to some extent in coal mines, being thus en-gaged until April, 1883, when he entered the employ of Webster & VanCleave, proprietors of a general mercantile establishment at Staunton.He was with that house for two years and in 1885 engaged in business onhis own account, opening a meat market in Staunton, which he conductedsuccessfully for about four years, when in 1889 he removed to Braziland opened a grocery store. Here he has carried on business contin-uously since and in 1905 be built one of the first store buildings locatedin Brazil with cement floor throughout. He has a neat and tastefullyarranged store, carrying a large and well selected line of staple and fancygroceries and as the years have passed has enjoyed a constantly increas-ing trade, which has come to him in recognition of his straightforwarddealing, his earnest desire to please his patrons and his reasonable prices...Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born five children: FrancesAnnie, the wife of Monroe Williams; Sarah Catherine, the wife of Ben-jamin Cheek; Ralph William J.; Ray Austin; and Elizabeth La Vern.This family found in the 1880 census, Staunton, Clay, Indiana.

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947
Name: William David Stewart
Birth Date: 5 Sep 1851
Birth Place: Staunton, Indiana
Death Date: 19 Jul 1934
Death Place: Danville, Vermilion, Illinois
Burial Date: 21 Jul 1934
Burial Place: Brazil, Indiana
Death Age: 82
Occupation: Retired Merchant
Race: White
Marital Status: W
Gender: Male
Residence: Ill
Father Name: James Stewart
Father Birth Place: Indiana
Mother Name: Youcam
Mother Birth Place: Indiana
FHL Film Number: 1711834

Obit
William D. Stewart, age 83, died Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs A.W. Poling, Danville, Ill. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Monroe Williams, Mrs. Benjamin Creek and Mrs. A.W. Poling and two sons, Ray and Ralph Stewart, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. the funeral services will be held at Danville and burial at Billtown cemetery at 2:30 p. m. Sunday.