James Stewart

Stewarts__1912

• Birth Notes
  • Baptism: March 23, 1843, Churchtown Presbyterian Church, Tamlaght, Co. Londonderry, Ireland (Source: Churchtown Presbyterian Church records, Tamlaght, Co Londonderry.)
    
    Family letters state that James was born in the year 1845, however, no record of his birth or baptism is found in that year. Although it is
    possible that he was born in 1845 (and the child born
    in 1843 died) and his baptism was not recorded in the
    Churchtown Presbyterian Church, I believe the 1843
    date is accurate and for whatever reason he  chose to say he was born in 1845. Other souces give his year of birth as 1847.
    

• Death Notes
  • (Obituary)
    (Headline)  James Stewart Dies at Colmar--Was Director of Public Health and Charities in Mayor Fitler's Administration--Once a Power Downtown--Born in Ireland, He came to Philadelphia 60 Years Ago.  Funeral Tuesday.
    
    James Stewart, director of the Department of Public Health and Charities under Mayor Fitler, and for many years a member of the old Board of Guardians of the Poor, died yesterday, the second anniversary of the death of his wife.  Death came at the farm of his son, Edwin Fitler Stewart, near Colmar, Bucks County, where he had made his home for the past year.
    In his old home at Fifth and Greenwich streets, Mr. Stewart was long a political power in the First ward before the ascendancy of the Vare brothers.  He was a thirty-second degree Mason, member of Washington Lodge, a Knight Templar, and for thirty-five years of the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.
    Born in County Derry, Ireland, he came to Philadelphia sixty years ago, and has lived here nearly all the time since then.  Ten of his twelve children reached maturity.  Nine are married.  They are Dr. William T. Stewart, Camden, S.C.; Mrs. William C. Proctor, Dallas, Tex.; Mrs. Henry J. Gibbons, Cynwyd; Mrs. George E. Bean, of Cynwyd; James Bolton Stewart, United States consul at Chihuahua, Mexico; Mrs. Nathaniel Gildersleeve, Lansdowne; Edwin Fitler Stewart,  of Colmar; Miss Nancy R. Stewart, Norfolk, Va.; Mrs. Henry A. Hoyt, Fallon, Nev.; and Mrs. Howard A. Stockwell, Belmont, Mass.
    Funeral services will be held Tuesday at the home of Mrs. Bean, 330 Bryn Mawr road, Cynwyd.  Dr. J. Gray Bolton, Mr. Stewart's cousin, and the Rev. Victor Lukens, pastor of the Old Pine Street Church, will be in charge of the services.----Philadelphia Inquirer, November 7, 1920
    
    

• General Notes
  • STEWART, JAMES, a member of the Board of Guardians of the Poor, was born in County Derry, Ireland, August 14, 1847.  His father, John Stewart, was a tiller of the soil in County Derry.  James attended the private schools in the vicinity of his home until 1865, when he came to American, settling in Philadelphia, where he finished his education, becoming a student in Crittenden's College.  On leaving this institution he accepted a clerkship in the office of William P. Clyde & Co., the well-known steamship owners, where he continued three years.  At the end of that time he started in business for himself, opening a grocery store at the corner of Sixth and Sylvester streets.  He is now located at Fifth and Enterprise streets.  Mr. Stewart has attained prominence in several secret orders.  He is a member of Richmond Lodge, No. 320, F. & A. M.; Harmony Chapter, No. 52, and Mary Commandery, No. 32, K. T., having also become a thirty-second degree member of the Ancient Scottish Rite.  He is also a member of Birmingham Lodge, No. 8, K. of B.; of Reliance Lodge, A. O. U.W., and Montgomery Lodge, A. P. A.  He is a Republican, and was elected a member of the Board of Guardians of the Poor by the City Councils, in June, 1881, taking his seat in that body at its reorganization in July of that year.  In religion Mr. Stewart adheres to the belief of his ancestors, which was that of the Presbyterian Church.  In January, 1871, he was married to Sarah Jane Stewart.  They have six children, all of whom are living with their parents at No. 1517 South Fifth Street. -----from  Men of America: A biographical album of the city government of Philadelphia in the bi-centennial year (1883)
    {Biography from The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 21, 1887}
    Mr. James Stewart is a member of the Board of Guardians of the Poor.  He was born in county Derry, Ireland, August 14, 1847.  He completed his education begun in the old country, in a business college in this city, and upon leaving the latter institution he accepted a clerkship with William P. Clyde & co., the shipping firm, where he remained three years.  He resigned to go into the retail grocery business, in which he is now engaged at Fifth and Enterprise streets.  Mr. Stewart has attained prominence in several secret Orders.  He is a member of Richmond Lodge, No. 230, F. and A. M. Harmony Chapter, No. 52, and Mary Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templars, having also become a thirty-second degree member of the Ancient Scottish Rite.  He is also associated with the Knights of Birmingham, Ancient Order United Workmen and the American Protestant Association.  He is a Republican, and has been a member ot the Poor Board since June, 1881.  He resides at No. 1517 South Fifth Street.-------1887-03-21 The Philadelphia Inquirer from an article entitled The Cabinet Complete: Appointment of the Directors of Charities and Correction under Mayor Fitler.
    
    Immigration: According to his petition for Naturalization he was under 18 years of age when he
    emigrated in 1865. The 1900 Census documents him emigrating in 1862. The 1920 Census says 1865.    We have two photos of him at a young age but neither are dated.  One says "age 21".  I have now found a book on the Hibernian Society members stating James Stewart, member, born in Killymuck, emigrated in 1865 arriving in Quebec, Canada, on June 25. 
    
    Naturalization:  Naturalization was a two part process
    which generally took five years. The “first papers”
    could be filed 2 years after emigration and the second
    papers, 3 years after that.   A minor had only to file
    the second papers.  James Stewart’s “second papers” or
    petition for naturalization was filed in the Court of
    Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia,
    September 16, 1872.  Information on it includes his
    address-1626 So. 6th St, his birthplace- Ireland, his
    year of immigration-1865?, his signature, and that he
    had resided in the U.S. at least for five years and in
    Pennsylvania for at least one year.   John Stewart, Sarah Jane Stewart’s father, vouched for him on his naturalization papers and gave his address as 613 S. 8th St, Philadelphia, Pa.
    Photo:  Reimer Photographers, Arch St., Philadelphia, PA - "age 21". Probably taken about 1869.
    
    Church Affiliation: Presbyterian.
    Kensington First Presbyterian Church, 418 E. Girard,
    Phila., PA:  This is the church he is recorded as
    leaving for South Presbyterian Church of Southwark. 
    His name is not in the Church records but he would
    have been fairly young.  There is a Martha Stewart and
    Samuel and Monah Bolton recorded in this church.
    South Presbyterian Church of Southwark, 3rd and
    Redwood St., Phila. PA:   James and Sarah Jane became
    members by certificate on June 7, 1872 (Revd. R. M.
    Patterson).  The session record which is somewhat
    water damaged  says she was admitted by certificate
    from Union Presbyterian Church and he from Kensington
    Presbyterian Church.  There are baptism records for
    the four older children in this church. (An
    interesting discovery was that James Gray Bolton,
    James Stewart’s cousin was also admitted on
    certificate from the Kensington First Presbyterian
    Church on Oct. 10, 1873.  He was later dismissed
    having been ordained to the Ministry in 1875 and
    becoming a member of the Presbytery.)   James and
    Sarah Jane Stewart left for another church on January
    7, 1883.
    Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 505 Pine St.,
    Phila. PA:   Mr. James Stewart and Mrs. Sarah Jane
    Stewart, his wife, “received to membership by letter”,
    December 18, 1884 from the South Presbyterian Church
    of Phila.  They were received in the study of the
    pastor, Rev. Hughes O. Gibbons, future father in law
    of Mary Minerva Stewart.  They paid rent of $5.00
    every three months for ½ pew number 32 from 1884-1895.
    Occupations and Appointments:  
    Clerk, Clyde Steamer Lines, Philadelphia,Pa., 1870
    Grocer, “Dealer in Groceries & Provisions”, circa
    1871-1890
    Member of the Guardian of the Poor, Philadelphia, Pa  1881-1886
    A Director of Board of  Charities and Correction under Mayor
    Fitler, Philadelphia, 1887-92
    Philadelphia City Milk Inspector, Bureau of Health,circa 1892-1918.
    
    1870 U.S.Census [2 Ennumerations- June 1870 and Sept 1870] and 2 Filmings]
    1st Enumeration: James Stewart, age 22, 1527 Palmer St., clerk with SSO, boarding with the W. C. Stackhouse family.  Next door lives the Supt of the Clyde S.S. Lines, John Laughlin, which is where James clerked. Laughlin was born in Ireland.
    
    1870 Letter – April 5, 1870 from James Stewart to Sallie Stewart. The stationery heading reads "Office of Steam Lines" Wm. P. Clyde, agent." [1844-1932]
    1870 Letter, Oct 28, 1870 from James Stewart to Sally Stewart.
    The stationery heading reads “Office of Steam Lines”.
    1871 Philadelphia City Directory:
    1873-1877 Mercantile Tax License, Phila, PA:  J. Stewart, Grocer, Ward 1.  This is a long list which was published for several years in the Phildaelphia Inquirer of all merchants.
    1873 Letter:  Address on letter is 1626 So. 6th St.,
    Philadelphia, Pa. (Ward 1)
    1875 Philadelphia City Directory: James Stewart listed
    as a Grocer at 1626 S. 6th St. and 1517 So. 5th St..
    1877, March 16 Article in Philadelphia Inquirer:  Grocers and others urging passage of an ordinance to do away with Hucksters and Peddlars - First Ward: James Stewart.
    1879 Letter: Address on letter is 1517 So. 5th St. ,
    Philadelphia, Pa. (Ward 1)
    1880 U.S.Census - (taken June 3, 1880):  Philadelphia,
    Pa., Ward 1, E.D. 10, Address- 1517 So. 5th St., Head
    of House, Age 34, Occupation-Retail Grocer, Born in
    Ireland, Parents both born in Ireland.  Living with
    the Stewarts is an apprentice grocer-Robert Henderson,
    born in Pa.; Mary Filber,a servant born in Ireland;
    and  Margaret Lowry-Dressmaker, born in Ireland.  The
    children are William T., age 8; Martha L., age 6; Mary
    M., age 4; and Maggie F., age 1. Wife, Sarah J. is
    listed as 28 years of age, Occupation-Keeping House.
    1880 Philadelphia City Directory:  James Stewart
    listed as a Grocer, 1517 S. 5th St.
    1881, June 3 Philadelphia Inquirer: Four Poor Guardians Elected:  James Stewart was named to succeed Mr. William A. Durfor receiving 94 votes (Article in File)
    1881, July 5 Phildelphia Inquirer:  Guardians of the Poor meeting: James Stewart to serve on the comm on the Insane, comm on farm and garden, comm on Heating and Ventilation, comm on Supplies for Jan, Feb and March and comm for Out door Districts (1st District)
    1884, May 29 Philadelphia Inquirer:  Expiration of term of James Stewart in June and two others.
    1884, June 6 Philadelphia Inquirer: James Stewart reelected as member to Guardians of the Poor with 91 votes and much politicking by friends.
    1885, Feb. 17 Philadelphia Inquirer: Article determing the blame of the Blockley Almshouse Fire in which 19 inmates died by the City Council.  Failure to fix responsibility but lots of future plans.  Guardian Stewart waid it was unfair to stigmatize the old people, seventy and eighty years of age at the Almshouse as "paupers" as they were made so probably by causes over which they had no control, and forced in to their destitute condition by circumstance they could not prevent..  "I will venture to say," said Guardian Stewart, "that of the 1000 of these people at the Almshouse 800 are fit subjects for a hospital.  They are men and women unable to take care of themselves.  I think to remove them to the House of Correction is only a mild form of transporting them into exile"
    1885 Philadelphia City Directory:  James Stewart
    listed as a Grocer, 1517 So. 5th St.
    1886, July 6 Philadelphia Inquirer: Office of the Board of Guardians to be reorganized.  James Stewart chaired the committee at 42 N. 7th St.
    1887, March 21 Philadelphia Inquirer: Appointment of the new Directors of Charities and Correction:  James Stewart appointed under Mayor Fitler.  It is described as a very commendable and capable Cabinet. (Article on File which includes James Stewart's biography)
    1887, April 4 Philadelphia Inquirer: The New Board of Charities visits the House of Corrections and all hands express themselves as Well pleased with the Institution.  James Stewart said: "We are all well pleased."  ....James Stewart, who is equally well informed on everything relating to the institution in West Philadelphia familiarly known as "Blockley"....also said "The question that we will have to meetch so that it will be utterly impossible to manage both institutions under what might be termed one form of government."  Mr. Stewart said further that the almshouse could not be considered as anything more than a large infirmary, and for that reason could not be classed with the Correction.  In his opinion the power of appointment rested with the board.  All hands were delighted with the trip yesterday, and learned a number of things concerning the institution and its management which cannot fail to be of great value to them in the future.
    1888, April 3 Philadelphia Inquirer:  Mayor's Message(Fitler) reviewing Departments and mentions he appointed as Directors, Richard C. McMurtrie and James Stewart to the Dept. of Charities and Correction.
    1890 Philadelphia City Directory:  James Stewart
    listed as a Grocer at 1517 So. 5th St.
    Boyd’s Philadelphia Blue Book, 1891-1892: Departments
    of Charities and Corrections:  Office, Harmony and
    Hudson Sts.,  James Stewart, Treasurer.
    1893 Gopsills Philadelphia City Directory:  James
    Stewart, Grocer,  1517 S. 5th
    1894 Gopsills Philadelphia City Directory:  James
    Stewart, Grocer, 1517 S. 5th
    Soundex Index to 1900 Census: Age 53, b. 1847 in
    Ireland, resides at 1517 So. 5th St., Philadelphia, PA
    1895 Gopsills Philadelphia City Directory: James
    Stewart, Grocer, 1517 S. 5th.  Also lists William
    Thos, student and Martha L., teacher, and Robert,
    bookeeper.
    1895, November 22 Philadelphia Inquirer:  The First Ward Man, Stewart, is mentioned for the Board of Education to replace Abraham S. Jenks who had just died.
    1900 U.S. Census: Ward 1, ED 14, James Stewart and
    family living at 1517 So.  5th (in files).  James Stewart is said to be age 53, emigrated
    in 1862 and has lived 38 years in this country.
    1910 U.S.Census Miracode Index: Pennsylvania,
    Philadelphia, ED 1011, James Stewart-Husband, white,
    age 63, BP-Ireland.  Other residents: Wife-Sarah Jane,
    age 58; Martha L., age 30; Rhoda N., age 30; Elvira
    L., age 16; Dorothy N., age 14.
    1910 Philadelphia City Directory: James Stewart,
    Inspector, h. 1228 So. 5th St.
    Obituary:  Philadelphia paper, November 7, 1920.
    Residences: 
    Killymuck Glebe, Tamlaght O’Crilly Parish, Co. Derry,
    Ireland, 1843-1865
    1626 S. 6th  St., Philadelphia, PA, 1872-?
    1517 S. 5th St., Philadelphia, PA, 1879-1900
    1228 S. 57th St., Philadelphia, PA, 1900-1918
    6124  Columbia Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 1918-1919
    Pinebrook Farm, Colmar, PA, 1919-1920
    
    James Stewart was a member  (and treasurer)  of the Department
    of Charities and Corrrections (In charge of the house of corrections
    and Almshouse). He was on between 1888 to 1892, which coincides with
    Edwin Fitler's term of office as mayor. He is listed as one of 14
    Inspectors of milk  from 1909-1920 (the year he died) at a salary of
    $1020. In 1918 that bumped up to $1200.  He was on the school board
    from district (ward) 1 for the A.S. Jenks school.--Bruce Reeves research in Philly, May 2005
    
    It is interesting how little discoveries lead to a better understanding of the lives of our ancestors. 
    One of the men in the Philadelphia Hibernian Society, John Laughlin, was owner of several steamships and when my James Stewart came to Philadelphia, the first census with him shows him living next to John Laughlin and working as a clerk for the Clyde Steamship Lines.  I gradually have paid more attention to this since the Hibernian book says John Laughlin was born in Tamlaght O'Crilly.  I found John's father Samuel Laughlin in the 1831 Census and TAB and then found Sam's will (which I mentioned to you and would love to have the full info from it). 
    Now this morning reading the history of Churchtown Church for the umpteenth time (this time because of my Samuel Stewart timeline) I discover that along with Samuel Stewart as a first elder in 1842 is also SAMUEL LOUGHLIN.  I always passed over this name before because it did not mean anything to me.  Now I have this little connection between these two families which is just so neat!!  
    

Click here for details of James' family with Sarah (Sally) Jane Stewart

¹ Churchtown Baptism Records

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