John R. Stewart

STEWART, MOELLER, ROGER, LAWSON, WHITWOOD, ATWOOD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/17/2011 at 21:24:41

JOHN R. STEWART is a member of the firm of Stewart, Moeller & Co., who conduct one of the foremost enterprises of Reinbeck, as well as of Grundy County. From the inception of the business until the present time the firm has enjoyed a profitable and steadily increasing trade, and at the present time they carry about $20,000 worth of lumber. Upon coming to Grundy County, Mr. Stewart opened the first lumber and coal yard in Reinbeck and is recognized as a wide-awake and prosperous business man.

Perthshire, Scotland, is the native place of our subject, where he was born October 21, 1853, to James and Jessie (Roger) Stewart, also natives of that place. The father was born in 1811, and was a well-to-do farmer in Scotland, where he owned one hundred acres of land. Of the parental family of ten children, six were born in Scotland, and of these our subject is the eldest. His brothers and sisters who are living are: James, Peter, Agnes, Maggie, Alexander, Jessie and Jennie.

The parents of our subject were strict Presbyterians in religion. On emigrating to the United States in 1865, they made their home in Iowa. In Clinton County, the father rented land a few years, and in 1874 removed to Tama County, where he became the proprietor of a large estate, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he resided until his decease. In political matters he was a stanch Republican.

J. R. Stewart, of this sketch, is a man of fine education. He completed his studies at Cornell University, which he attended for three years. When ready to begin a business career, he came to Reinbeck and embarked in the lumber and coal trade, first forming a partnership with a Mr. Lawson. This connection lasted for some time, when our subject purchased his partner’s interest and later sold the same to Mr. Moeller, who has since been identified with the business.

The lady to whom Mr. Stewart was married September 15, 1880, was Miss Mary, daughter of Henry B. and Henrietta (Whitwood) Atwood, natives of Canada and New York respectively. Mrs. Stewart was born in Clinton County, Iowa. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children: Carrie, Nellie, John, Grace and Henry James. In religious matters our subject and his wife are devoted members of the Congregational Church, in which they are active workers, Mr. Stewart being a Deacon. He is also Superintendent of the Sunday-school, which is the largest in Grundy County. The principles of Republicanism meet with his hearty approbation, and socially he is a member of Lodge No. 394, A. F. & A. M., and Reinbeck Lodge No. 386, I. O. O. F. He has been the incumbent of several of the township offices, and as a public-spirited man is held in the highest esteem by the entire community.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894