"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chicago:
Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1323.
 
JAMES H. STEWART

     Among the pioneers of 1851 are to be numbered the members of the Stewart
family, nearly all of whom had attained maturity at the time of their removal to
the west, leaving pleasant home to aid in the growing civilization and to
benefit by the limitless advantages offered in the new land.  Today the Stewart
family is represented by but few of those who experienced the trials and
privations of that long and dangerous journey, no direct members of the family
being now living, James H. Stewart, the remaining brother, having died August 6,
1899, leaving to bear his name a widow and five children.
     The father of James H. Stewart, George Washington Stewart, was born in
Scotland, settling at an early date in Virginia from whence he removed to
Indiana, rearing his family principally in that state, though he later made his
home in Missouri.  While a resident of the Northwest Territory he participated
in the Black Hawk war, which resulted in freeing that section of country from
the depredations of the Indians. James H. Stewart was born in Fountain county,
Ind., June 19, 1825, and on attaining manhood he engaged in farming in Holt
county, Mo., marrying, March 11, 1845, Miss Louisa J. Thornton. Her birth
occurred August 9, 1821, in Clark county, Ohio, near Springfield, she being the
daughter of John and the granddaughter of Coats Thornton. The latter was a
native of England, and on coming to the United States he settled in Virginia,
where he reared his family, his son John being born in that state. Later he
removed to Ohio from which state John went to Tippecanoe county, Ind., and
engaged in the prosecution of his trade, which was that of a brick mason. At the
age of nineteen years he served in the war of 1812, being with Hull at Detroit.
On removing to Missouri he located first in St. Clair county, and later in Holt
county, having married Rebecca Robinson, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of
Richard, whose residence was divided between the states of Pennsylvania,
Kentucky and Ohio, his death occurring in Missouri, where his wife also died
three days later.
     James H. Stewart was reared in Indiana, in which state he remained until
1842, when he removed to Missouri, where he engaged in farming. Being located in
the state from which so many emigrants were being constantly given to increase
the population of the western lands, and through which so many emigrants passed,
it was but natural that he, too, should become imbued with the idea of
opportunities beyond the Rockies. Gathering together his worldly goods,
consisting of two wagons, ten yoke of cattle, and much loose stock, all standard
bred and very valuable, they started April 22, 1851, for Oregon over the old
Oregon trail. They were constantly harassed on their journey by the Indians, who
attacked them on Bear river, principally with the intent to steal the stock.
During the attack Mr. Stewart was wounded in the hip, but succeeded in shooting
the Indian that attacked him. One of their number, a Mr. Black, was killed
during the trouble, and one blooded mare was stolen; later, however, the mare
was recovered from a man who had purchased her of the Indians. Upon their
arrival here, September 22, 1851, Mr. Stewart took up a donation claim of three
hundred and twenty acres, located two miles north of Corvallis, Benton county,
upon which the family remained for many years. In spite of the floods of 1861
'which washed away all of his stock with the exception of two heifers and one
filly, Mr. Stewart succeeded in building up a modern farm, well equipped and
well stocked, being now a very valuable property which Mrs. Stewart still owns.
Some time before the death of Mr. Stewart they removed to Corvallis, where they
lived a life retired from the active duties which had so long and so
successfully occupied them. Politically he and his wife were in accord, both
being Republicans. Personally, Mr. Stewart was a man of rare worth and nobility
of character, his religion being a consistent belief in the Golden Rule. During
his pioneer days in Oregon he made many friends, and when fortune favored him
with a comfortable competency, won by his untiring efforts, he held his place in
the esteem of the older generations, with an added place in that of me new. His
death was a loss to the entire community.
     Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, Marcellus died in
infancy; Henrietta is now Mrs. Randall, of Corvallis, with whom Mrs. Stewart
makes her home; Mahala is Mrs. John Stewart of Corvallis; Jehil is a resident of
Salem; Melissa is the wife of W. H. McMahan of Corvallis; and La Fayette makes
his home in Corvallis. The three last named were born in Oregon. Mrs. Stewart is
a member of the Methodist church. She has five children living, six
grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.  The brothers and sisters of Mrs.
James H. Stewart, who crossed the plain in 1851, were John, Mary, Rebecca and
James, of whom the three first-named died in Washington, and the latter in
Eugene, Ore.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.