JAMES R. STEWART. Prominent among the many families of Irish descent who have added so greatly to the improvement of America, ranks the one of which this gentleman was an honored member. As early as 1795 John and Mary Stewart emigrated from Ireland, bringing with them their four children, and made for themselves a new home in what was then an undeveloped country. Mr. Stewart died, December 18, 1836, when eighty-six years old; his wife preceded him to the grave February 12, 1836, being at the time eighty-five years of age. The eldest son, Archibald Stewart, married Rebecca Reed. a native of Pennsylvania and after his marriage settled in Chartiers township Washington Co., Penn., where he engaged in farming and also carried on the blacksmith's trade. He was an elder in the Associate Reformed Church and in the United Presbyterian Church at Cross Roads. Politically he was a Republican. His death occurred June 5, 1862 after he had attained his seventy-fifth year, and on May 3, 1857, his wife passed from earth in her sixty-fourth year. Their children were: James R., who married Elizabeth T. Miller; Mary, Mrs. Samuel Griffith of Hickory, Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county; Jane, Mrs. William S. White, who died in 1883; Joseph, who was married in Illinois, and died there; William, who lived in Villisca, Iowa, and is married; Margaret, who married David Miller, and died in 1872; Sarah, Mrs. Andrew Miller, of Mt. Pleasant township, and John, who first married Miss Eliza McLaughlin, and afterward Miss Elizabeth Slemmons. He died in 1886, in Donegal township, Washington county. James R. Stewart was born June 9, 1812, on the farm where his widow now resides. His educational advantages were very limited, the schools of that time being only rude huts, and the teachers being but indifferently prepared to impart knowledge. However, he learned the blacksmith's trade thoroughly under the tutorage of his father, and afterward followed it in connection with farming. On May 23, 1839, Mr. Stewart married Miss Elizabeth T. Miller, a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Filston) Miller, and after their marriage the young couple resided on the home farm, where Mrs. Stewart is now living, and where Mr. Stewart died, May 22, 1880. He was sincerely mourned by the numerous friends who appreciated his sterling worth and strict integrity. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were earnest church workers, and devoted much attention to deeds of charity. Their union was blessed with two children: Jacob M. (of Charters township, who married Miss Rebecca Todd, and after her death married Miss Lizzie Grounds) and Rebecca, who married, October 20, 1864, William H. Thompson, who was born in Canonsburg, May 17, 1837. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson located in Canonsburg, where he engaged in wagon- making, and then moved to Hickory, where he died February 1, 1873 at the age of thirty-six years. He was an active worker in the Republican party; and was a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg. The children born of their union were: a son who died in infancy; Stewart J., a farmer by occupation, who owns the valuable farm on which he lives; Joseph H., a graduate of Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Penn.; Elizabeth Emma (deceased) and Millie R. Mrs. Thompson has given her children superior educations; she now makes her home with her children on the farm. Jacob Miller, father of Mrs. Stewart, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and there married Jane Filston, also a native of that section of the State. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Washington county, locating near McConnell's Mill, in Chartiers township, and a few years later took possession of the property, now known as the "Col. Robert Miller" farm, where the following children were born: Rachel, Mrs. Thomas Sproat, of South Strabane; Mary, Mrs. Samuel McNary (she and her husband have each been married before); Nancy, Mrs. John Boon; Jane, Mrs. Richard Sproat, of Ohio; Samuel, who married Miss Mary Ann Cockins, and lived in Mt. Pleasant township; Catherine, Mrs. James McDowell, of Mt. Pleasant township; Jacob, who married and moved to Ohio; Margaret, Mrs. John McDowell, Mt. Pleasant township; Robert, who first married Abbicah Cundal, and afterward made Elizabeth Glen his wife (he died in October, 1891); Elizabeth T., Mrs. James R. Stewart; Sarah, Mrs. James Patterson; and Sophia, who has never married. Mrs. Elizabeth T. Stewart is the only member of the Miller family now living, and is a worthy representative of her highly respected ancestors.

Text taken from page 1247 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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