HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
p. 1312-13.  Boyd County.

JOSEPH FRANKLIN STEWART.  A prominent figure in the legal circles of
Ashland, Joseph Franklin Stewart has made the most of his opportunities,
achieving distinction in his profession and building up a remunerative
practice.  A son of Joseph Marshall Stewart, he was born at Boltsfork,
Lawrence county, Kentucky, May 14, 1872.  His grandfather, Absalom
Stewart, came from Virginia, his native state, to Kentucky in the early
forties.  Settling in Lawrence county, he took up land on the Bear Creek
branch of the Big Sandy river, and on the farm which he redeemed from its
pristine wildness spent the remainder of his days, passing away about 1878,
aged three score and ten years.  As a young man he was identified with the
Whigs, but later in life became a stanch adherent of the Republican party.
He was a man of deep religious convictions, and an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South.
     Born in Virginia, John Marshall Stewart was but a child when his
parents migrated to Kentucky.  Reared on the home farm, he learned the
trade of a stone mason when young, and became very successful as a
railway contractor and builder.  He built many miles of railroad in his
day, his work being chiefly with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, with
the Big Sandy branch of that road, and on the Norfolk and Western Railway.
He made his home for many years at Boltsfork, but now, retired from
active pursuits, resides at Rush, Boyd county, Kentucky.
     He married Martha Isadore Merritt, who was born in West Virginia,
a daughter of Rev. Malachi Merritt, a Baptist minister, their marriage
being solemnized November 1, 1870, at her home in West Virginia.  She
died August 16, 1908, aged fifty-seven.  Eight children were born of
their union, seven of whom are now, in December, 1910, living.
     The oldest child of his parents, Joseph F. Stewart attended the
district schools as a boy, and early became initiated into the mysteries
of agriculture.  His father being away from home much of the time, the
management of the home farm devolved to some extent on him from his
boyhood days.  He had ambitions, however, for a professional career, and
for eleven years he taught school in Lawrence, Boyd or Carter counties.
Turning his attention to the study of law in 1900, Mr. Stewart was
graduated from the law department of the Southern Normal University at
Huntingdon, Tennessee, in 1901, with the degree of LL.B.  Locating soon
after in Ashland, Boyd county, he has been in active practice here since,
and by a systematic application of his abilities to his chosen profession
has won splendid success as a lawyer.  As a stanch Republican in politics,
Mr. Stewart takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, having served
as secretary of the Republican County Committee, and having at one time
been his party's candidate for county judge.  Fraternally he is a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Knights of the Golden
Eagle.
     On March 2, 1897, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Cosa
Shepherd, a native of Lawrence county, Kentucky.  Her father, David
Shepherd, was a native of Virginia, as was his wife, whose maiden name was
Frances Lambert.  Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are the parents of two children,
Paul K., born July 20, 1902; and Alphonsine, born April 4,1905.  Both Mr.
and Mrs. Stewart are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and are bringing up their children in the same religious belief.

Stewart Merritt Lambert Shepherd
=
Lawrence-KY WV VA TN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/boyd/stewart.jf.txt