RITES HELD FOR DR. E. R. STEWART LAST TUESDAY

DEAN OF MEDICAL MEN OF COUNTY PASSES AT AGE OF 81 YEARS

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Dr. Edward Russ Stewart passed away at his home last Saturday evening at 11:45 at the age of 81 years. He was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, and when a young man he settled in Missouri where for three years he taught school. During this time he became interested in the study of medicine, attending a medical school at Union Star, Missouri.

He was married in January of 1889 and two years later, in 1891, he located in Blair and continued an active practice until 1932 when he retired. Naturally, in the course of such a long practice in one place, his acquaintanceship was large and his clientele were like one family which he overlooked and cared for with all the professional pride of the family physician.

His practice was general and he was highly esteemed and every one spoke highly of him and his passing will be long felt. During his long practice, Dr. Stewart was instrumental in delivering approximately 1800 babies. Many of these are now middle-aged and are proud to point to him as a sort of godfather in their especial case.

Five children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Stewart – Ethel, who teaches in the Omaha City Schools; Harold, Donald, and Kenneth of Blair and Keith of Big Springs, Texas.

Funeral rites were held at the Campbell Mortuary on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, with Mrs. Derelle Barber, minister of the local Congregational Church officiating and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

The sympathy of the public goes out to the bereaved widow and children who survive him.

# 2 - - from the Pilot-Tribune, May 6, 1943

DR. E. R. STEWART IS DEAD

VETERAN PHYSICIAN SUCCUMBS AT AGE 81

LONG AILING, DR. STEWART DIED ON SATURDAY, SHORTLY AFTER SON HAD ARRIVED HOME FROM ARMY. SERVICES WERE HELD TUESDAY

(picture & caption:) Dr. E. R. Stewart….. A “family doctor” is dead.

Dr. E. R. Stewart, 81, dean of Washington county physicians and a “family doctor” in Blair from 1891 until his retirement about ten years ago, died Saturday evening at his home, south Walker avenue at Butler street. He had been in failing health for several years, and was bedfast most of the time recently.

His death occurred only a few hours after a son, Sergeant Keith Stewart, had arrived home with an honorable discharge from the army.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Campbell mortuary, with Mrs. Derelle E. Barber, pastor of the Congregational church, in charge. Interment followed in Blair cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Dr. Stewart’s four sons, also Dr. Walter E. Goehring and Dr. C. D. Howard.

BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA

Edward R. Stewart was born April 8, 1862 in Center county, Pennsylvania, one of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. John G. Stewart. The family later moved to Moweaqua, Illinois and later to Union Star, Missouri.

Dr. Stewart received his primary education in Illinois, and after attending the State Normal School about a year, he taught in the public schools for a time before entering the Missouri Medical college at St. Louis. He was graduated from that school in 1887 with a doctor of medicine degree.

WAS FIRST AT LINWOOD

Coming directly to Nebraska, Dr. Stewart located at Linwood in Butler county, where he remained four years. In 1891 he came to Blair, his home since. During his many years of practice here, Dr. Stewart was estimated to have delivered 1,000 babies, many of them now grandparents.

While living at Linwood, he managed a drug store, and in August, 1919, he bought the Farnham & Sampson drug store here, now known as the Stewart Pharmacy, and operated by Dr. Stewart’s eldest son, J. Harold.

Dr. Stewart and Miss Estelle Diefendorf were married January 17, 1889.

Surviving him are his wife, Estelle; one daughter, Miss Ethel Stewart of Blair and Omaha; and four sons, J. Harold, Donald, Keith, and Kenneth Stewart, all of Blair. There are five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Dr. Stewart was a member of the State Medical Society and of the Washington County Medical Society, of which he had served as president. At one time, he served on the city council. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masons and Knights of Pythias.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Note: Born 8 April 1862 - taken from stone Find A Grave Memorial# 119601728