My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT E. STEWART, president Braddock National Bank, and attorney at law, North Braddock, was born in Westmoreland county, at the place now known as Stewart’s station, in 1841, the youngest of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, born to John and Margaret (Shaw) Stewart. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent, the great-grandfather, John Stewart, having come from Ireland to America at an early date, and settled in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, Pa. David Shaw, maternal grandfather of Robert E. Stewart, was an early settler and prominent farmer in Versailles township, this county, and John Stewart, father of Robert E., was a farmer, and died in 1865, aged sixty-nine years; his wife died in 1858, aged fifty-nine years. The subject of this memoir was reared on a farm, educated at the common schools, attended an academy at Turtle Creek two and a half years, five months at Madison College, Ohio, one year at Jacksonville, Indiana county, and entered the junior class of Jefferson College in 1858, graduating in 1860. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 123d P. V., and was mustered out at the expiration of the term of enlistment, with rank of first lieutenant. He was afterward commissioned major, and assigned to the 24th regiment U. S. colored troops, and was in command of the regiment when mustered out, in 1865. In that year he commenced the study of law under Hon. J. P. Sterrett, and in 1866 entered the office of Hon. W. G. Hawkins, Jr., and the late Hon. J. P. Penney as a student, and was admitted to the bar May 9, 1867. Since then he has practiced his profession at the several courts of Allegheny county. In 1873 the Braddock Trust company was organized, and Mr. Stewart was elected vice-president. This organization existed until 1882, when a majority of its stockholders organized the Braddock National Bank, of which Mr. Stewart was elected president.

Our subject married, in 1868, Caroline Markle McMasters, daughter of John and Leonora (Markle) McMasters, and eight children were born to them: Margaret, John McMasters, Harry, Robert E., Jr., Leonora, James Sterrett, Caroline and David, all of whom are living except David, who died in infancy. Since 1875 Mr. Stewart has resided at North Braddock. He has always taken an active part in the public welfare of the community, being a leader in all educational and religious work. He is president of the Allegheny County School Directors’ association. He and his family are members of the U. P. Church; politically he is a republican.