My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM STEWART, a prosperous fruit-grower and successful general agriculturist of Benton Township, Berrien County, is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and is one of the fifth generation descended from famous Scottish ancestry, who made their home in the Emerald Isle in 1690. The parents of our subject were Samuel and Jane (Scott) Stewart, also natives of County Donegal, where they attained to manhood and womanhood and were married, reared a family, and at a good old age passed away. Mr. Stewart sailed for America in 1855, and, landing safely upon our shores, found his way soon after to Benton Township, the State of Michigan being since then his permanent home. He was the eldest of seven children, and, encouraged by his success, two brothers afterwards followed him to the United States. Samuel came in 1863, and Edward journeyed hither in 1866. One sister, also seeking her fortune in the land of promise, came in 1866, but later, in 1875, returned to her native land.

In 1864, Mr. Stewart purchased his present homestead, then heavily timbered. He bought at first eighty acres, which he brought to profitable cultivation and improved with excellent and commodious buildings. He experienced severe labor in clearing away the dense woods, but has made his land one of the most productive fruit and grain farms in Berrien County. In 1876, our subject visited the Centennial and after enjoying the great display made a visit to his old home beyond the sea. He remained in Ireland all summer, and during this time married Miss Annie J. Long and brought her back with him to his home in Michigan. In re-visiting the scenes of his youth, Mr. Stewart revived the recollections of his childhood and had the pleasure of seeing his father and mother, who have since both passed away When, in 1855, our subject arrived in St. Joseph his capital was reduced very low, but he had a large reserve stock of hope and courage and with resolution sought and obtained work, step by step winning his way up to assured success and a comfortable competence.

The home farm is attractively located two and three-quarters of a mile east of the post office and is only a half-mile outside the corporation limits of Benton Harbor. It is one of the most desirable pieces of outside property in Benton Township, and annually yields an excellent harvest. He also owns seventy acres in Benton Township besides his home farm. Mr. Stewart also has valuable town property and will soon in all probability retire from active agricultural duties. The union of our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed by the birth of two children. One little one died in infancy; and a daughter, Sarah J., survives. The daughter and her parents attend the Episcopal Church, of which the three are valued members, and all are prominently associated with its social and benevolent work and enterprises. Politically Mr. Stewart is a pronounced and faithful Democrat and served as Treasurer of the township with great acceptability in 1892, being the only Democrat to fill that office in the township the past thirty years. Our subject possesses business qualifications of a high order and, financially prospered, is also public spirited and ever ready to assist in all matters of mutual welfare and local advancement.