Robert J. Stewart, p. 1104

ROBERT J. STEWART. Among the citizens of Smith township, none can claim more noble ancestry than the gentleman of whom we write, he being descended from the Scottish royal house of Stewart, his great-great-grandfather having been Lord Stewart.

Many generations ago Lord Stewart left his highland home in Scotland, and settled in County Tyrone Ireland, where some of his descendants yet remain (as Lord Robert, brother of James, remained as lord), while others of them emigrated to America. James Stewart embarked with his family for America on the ship "Doras," which was boarded on the voyage by a British man-of-war. All able-bodied men on the "Doras" were impressed into the British navy, and Robert Stewart (a son of James), being eighteen years of age, was one of them, and he served on board a man-of-war for several months, when he was released. The youth then joined his parents in Washington county, Penn., settling in Mt. Pleasant township, and soon after he was united in marriage with Ann McGaugh, also a native of Ireland. Six children were born to their union, namely: John, Eliza T. (Mrs. Kidd, Sarah, Robert, James and Andrew.

John Stewart ( a son of Robert and a grandson of James) was born in 1818, in Jefferson township, this county, where is assisted in the duties of the farm during his early years. In 1843 he was married to Tamar McClurg, who was born in 1821, daughter of Joseph McClurg, and their children were Mary A., Sarah F., Robert J. (whose name opens this biography), Rachel L., Eliza J., and Cynthia M. (deceased). After his marriage John Stewart located in Jefferson township, where he followed farming until 1858. He then moved to a farm in Smith township, where he died August 14, 1881, his widow being laid beside him in 1888. John Stewart was successful in business, and generous and kind-hearted in private life. Politically he always voted the Democratic ticket, and he and his wife were members of the U. P. Church at Burgettstown.

Robert J. Stewert, was born April 2, 1849, in Jefferson township, this county, and received a common-school education. Being naturally adapted to work of a mechanical nature, he followed the carpenter trade without serving any apprenticeship, while he farmed on the home place. On September 29, 1870, he married Elizabeth J. Johnston, who was born April 2, 1848, a daughter of Frederick Johnston, of Cecil township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart passed the first portion of their wedded life on a part of the home farm in Smith township, and in 1872 moved to Venice, same county, where he farmed for two years; then in 1874 he located on part of the home farm in Smith township, where he is now residing, all the present buildings on the place having been erected by his own hands. He is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. Like his father he votes with the Democratic party, though taking no active part in the contests of the different factions. He and his wife are conscientious members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1104 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1997 by Wilbur Frye of Pacifica, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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