BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO "History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890. Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater. Pages 677-678. JOHN STEWART John Stewart, of Richland township, one of the best-known pioneers of Belmont county, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1807. He is the son of Edie Stewart, a native of Virginia. The latter was a son of Robert Stewart. Jane Craig, wife of Edie, was a daughter of William Craig, a native of Ireland, who crossed the mountains with Daniel Boone, and settled in Kentucky, where he fought with that famous hunter in several of his skirmishes with the Indians. He was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and was subsequently one of the first settlers near Wheeling, living there at a time when he had no neighbor within six miles, and he was compelled to frequently seek shelter from the Indians. Edward Stewart came to Ohio In 1803, settled upon leased lands, in the woods of Harrison county. In the war of 1812 he lost his life, and left his widow with four children: William, Robert, John and Elizabeth. After the death of the father, the family sold off the personal property and paid for the land. Left an orphan at the tender age of five years, Mr. Stewart suffered many of the blows of adversity, doubly hard in the wilds of the frontier. The mother and children removed to Virginia, whence about ten years later they returned to Ohio, and settled in Belmont county. At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Stewart became a hired hand at $8 a month, and continued at that price three years. In 1832 he was married to Ann Bell, who was born in 1812, and then leased a farm, and raised tobacco four years. He then went to Logan county, Ohio, but returning to Belmont, bought 120 acres of land, which he cleared and tilled successfully. In 1857 he bought and settled on the farm which he now occupies. His present possessions include 215 acres of valuable land. As has been shown by this brief sketch, his career has been one of unpromising beginnings, and solid and honorable success achieved by persevering industry. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. Nine children have been born to them during their happy married life, which has covered a period of fifty-seven years. The surviving children are: John E., Robert, James, Craig, Margaret J., Anna B. and Mary B. Three of the sons were in the late war of the rebellion; one was out four years and six months, one out three years, the other one not so long. All returned safely home. Two of them are United Presbyterian preachers, and two of them are farmers. The daughters are married and doing well.