James H. Stewart

James H. Stewart, pioneer of Washington county, passed away in Lincoln, May 16, 1929 at the age of seventy-one years, ten months and five days.

“Jim” Stewart, as we of the early days knew him, was born at Cuming City July 11, 1857, the eldest son of James S. and Mary Ann Stewart. His early life was spent on the farm which is now owned by Bert and Ed Jensen, the home now occupied by Bert being the old Stewart homestead.

He was educated in the Blair schools and early in life affiliated himself with the Baptist church in which he was an indefatigable worker. He went into business when quite young and established a hardware business with F. W. Kenny as partner, building and occupying what is now known as the old Home Theatre building.

He was married Sept. 25, 1884 to Miss Anna Gross and to them two daughters were born, Mrs. L. D. Milliken of Ord, Neb., and Mrs. J. A. Raitt of Paso Robles, Calif. The married life was a very happy one but in 1896 business reverses came and he failed in business. Following the failure he went to Oklahoma, just then in the early days of settlement. Here he again went into business and succeeded in a moderate way.

About a year ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he partially recovered and he was taken to the home of his daughter at Ord, Nebraska. Here he again became worse and was taken to Lincoln where he was given the best of care but he gradually failed passing away on May 16.

The body was brought to his old home in Blair last Saturday and on Sunday morning at nine o’clock the funeral ceremony was held at the home of Miss Frances Gross and later interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

James Stewart was a man of ability, a gentleman at all times and his old friends, though long years had passed since they had looked upon his face, showed their respect for him by gathering in his honor at the last sad rites.

Besides the widow and two daughters he leaves two brothers, Grand Stewart of California and Kermott Stewart of Blair.

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

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