My Genealogy Hound

SALMON C. STEWART. A comparatively old settler of Kearney county, as he is one of that county’s most prosperous, most intelligent and most highly esteemed citizens, is Salmon C. Stewart, cashier of the State Bank at Axtell, a short biographical sketch of whom is here inserted.

Mr. Stewart comes of the pioneer stock of the “Buckeye State,” his parents both being natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Hamilton county and the mother in Belmont county. His father, James A. Stewart, who is still living, being a resident of Minden, Kearney county, this state, was born in the year 1811 and reared in his native county in Ohio. He has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Bradley of Hamilton county, by whom he had one child, Willliam H. Stewart, now residing in Danville, Iowa, and holding a prominent position with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. His second wife was Miss Lucinda Cowles, a daughter of Salmon and Polly (Miner) Cowles, natives of New York. Salmon Cowles was an eminent Presbyterian minister, who served his church with distinction to the age of eighty-five years, passing most of his life in southeastern Iowa, where he is still most pleasantly remembered. The elder Stewart was married the second time in 1843, and by this marriage had born to him ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth, the others being — Oscar E., who resides at Ottumwa, Iowa, being assistant superintendent of the C. B. & Q. R. R., which position he has held for seven or eight years — a gallant ex-federal soldier, who served with distinction as a member of the Fifteenth Iowa infantry during the late war and carrying with him wounds received in the battle of Atlanta; James H., another volunteer to the Union cause, who died of disease contracted in the service of his country; Mary E., widow of A. G. White and now resident of Minden, Kearney county, this state; Laura M., wife of J. H. Cheney, of Livermore, Cal.; Rebecca A., wife of J. W. Gilman, of Minden, Kearney county, this state; John M., assistant attorney-general of this state; Nellie, wife of J. M. Bird, of Hastings, this state; Sybil L., wife of M. J. Wickersham, of Axtell, Kearney county, and Emily T., residing with her father at Minden and a teacher in the public schools at that place.

The subject of this notice, Salmon C. Stewart, was born in Henry county, Iowa, in 1850, and was reared mainly in Des Moines county, that state, being brought up on his father’s farm. He received a good English education and was trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. In 1874, he married Miss Ellen Goldsmith, of Lee county, Iowa, and, returning shortly afterwards to Henry county, that state, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed till 1880, moving that year to Kearney county, this state, and locating on a farm near Minden. He was engaged in farming in Kearney county, only two years, when he moved into Minden and engaged in the loan business. In 1884 he, in company with others, organized the State Bank, at Axtell, of which he became cashier at that date and has held that position since. He has extensive interests outside of the bank, being identified with the leading enterprises and a zealous supporter of the leading interests where he lives. Mr. Stewart has been a hard worker and has been rewarded for his labor far beyond the average man. Fortunate by circumstances, he has been singularly happy in the turn in which he has been able to give his affairs. He began with comparatively little, his start having been secured from his earnings as a school teacher. His investments have been judiciously made, and under his watchful attention have yielded him good returns on every hand. He is a man of sound intelligence as well as discriminating judgment, and he bestows on his affairs that care and solicitude which are the surest guarantees of success.

In 1882, Mr. Stewart was called upon to mourn the loss of his most estimable wife, who had borne him for several years the cherished companionship which he sought with her hand. She had been a life-long member of the Presbyterian church and died happy in the faith which had born the richest fruits in her life and shed over her every act its sweetest fragrance. Besides her husband she left surviving her three children — Lona S., now a student in the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, this state, and Vallie E. and Viola D., at home with their father.

In 1885, Mr. Stewart married again, selecting as a second companion Miss Dora Carpenter, then of Kearney county, but a native of Iowa, who, abandoning the home of her nativity and foregoing the pleasures of youth, came to Nebraska and cast her lot on the then frontier, taking up the rude and inhospitable life of the pioneer, braving all the dangers and hardships of that life, in order to secure an independent living. She took up a claim and became one of the first teachers in Phelps county, making her way heroically and successfully alone until she joined her fortunes with those of her husband. Their union has been blessed with two children — Stanley and Maxwell.

In politics Mr. Stewart is a republican. He has never aspired to public life, but is a stanch supporter of the principles of his party, and renders it efficient aid when called upon for that purpose. He is a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, and, although a member of no church, he is a liberal contributor to all charitable purposes.