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History of the County of Perth, 1825-1902
William Johnston, 1903
p.538
James STEWART, of North Easthope, son of John Stewart and Mary Crerar [footnote: should read Catherine Crerar], was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and came with his parents to Canada in 1832, settling in North Easthope. The Stewart family is an old one in this county, and one of the most distinguished for the capable and public spirit of its members. By reference to the list of public officers in North Easthope it will be found that the subject of this sketch was for a long period prominent in municipal affairs. During his whole career he was much esteemed as an officer, a private citizen, and an upright public man. Peter Stewart, his brother, was for many years closely connected with municipal government in North Easthope, and one of its trusted public servants who did much to develop its resources. This old pioneer family, along with many other settlers of this township, had an awful experience in their journey from the glens in Perthshire to the wilderness of the Huron Tract. Mr Peter Stewart, even at the distance of 70 years from that ill-starred time, relates with thrilling interest many details of that terrible voyage across the sea, and that still more terrible journey to the west. Cholera, with relentless tenacity, hung around those poor helpless immigrants like an insatiable demon. They were shunned by people on their journey as being plague- smitten, and almost every encampment where they rested was marked by the grave of a victim snatched from those weary and heart-broken wanderers.
Meg Fuller Perth County Coordinator
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