# John Wesley Stewart

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19th century American politician

This article is about the 19th century Wisconsin state senator and Chicago politician. For others with a similar name, see [John Stewart](/source/John_Stewart_(disambiguation)).

John W. Stewart Portrait from Chicago Tribune obituary Chairman of the Cook County Board of Commissioners In office December 1, 1879 – December 1, 1880 Preceded by Henry Senne Succeeded by D. B. Purington Member of the Chicago City Council from the 4th ward In office 1876–1878 Serving with James H. Gilbert Preceded by Rensselaer Stone Succeeded by Herbert E. Mallory Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 24th district In office January 2, 1860 – January 6, 1862 Preceded by John Holden Warren Succeeded by Edmund A. West Member of the House of Representatives of the Wisconsin Territory for Dane, Green, and Sauk counties In office January 4, 1847 – May 29, 1848 Serving with Charles Lum (1847), William W. Wheeler (1847), Elisha T. Gardner (1847–1848), & Alexander Botkin (1847–1848) Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Personal details Born (1822-06-01)June 1, 1822 Vincennes, Indiana, U.S. Died September 7, 1899(1899-09-07) (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Cause of death Edema Resting place Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, Wisconsin Party Republican Whig (before 1854) Spouse Armida Ann Bowen ​ ​ (m. 1843⁠–⁠1899)​ Children Libbie Stewart (b. 1846; died 1902) John F. Stewart (b. 1849; ) Charles Stewart (b. 1853; died 1853) Education Augusta College Profession Lawyer

**John Wesley Stewart** (June 1, 1822 – September 7, 1899) was an American lawyer, banker, [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician, and [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin) pioneer. He was a member of the [Wisconsin Senate](/source/Wisconsin_Senate), representing [Green County](/source/Green_County%2C_Wisconsin) during the [1860](/source/13th_Wisconsin_Legislature) and [1861](/source/14th_Wisconsin_Legislature) sessions. Before Wisconsin's statehood, he served in the lower house of the [5th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly](/source/5th_Wisconsin_Territorial_Assembly). Later in life, he was active in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) politics, and was [chairman](/source/President_of_the_Cook_County_Board_of_Commissioners) of the [Cook County Board of Commissioners](/source/Cook_County_Board_of_Commissioners) in 1880. His name was often abbreviated as **J. W. Stewart**.

## Early life and education

John W. Stewart was born in [Vincennes, Indiana](/source/Vincennes%2C_Indiana), in June 1822. Due to his father's ministry, he traveled frequently during his childhood around southern Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. At age 12, he went to work as an apprentice in the office of the *Times* newspaper in [Troy, Ohio](/source/Troy%2C_Ohio). He worked there for two years before returning to his education, attending the preparatory course at [Ohio University](/source/Ohio_University), then attending [Augusta College](/source/Augusta_College_(Kentucky)) in [Augusta, Kentucky](/source/Augusta%2C_Kentucky), for three years.[1]

## Wisconsin career

In the Spring of 1841, he traveled west to the [Wisconsin Territory](/source/Wisconsin_Territory), taking a steamboat down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River, then up to [Prairie du Chien](/source/Prairie_du_Chien%2C_Wisconsin). He arrived on March 4, 1841, to booming fanfare, due to the coincidence of [William Henry Harrison](/source/William_Henry_Harrison)'s inauguration as president that day.[2] After arriving at Prairie du Chien, he quickly made new acquaintances. He moved to the nearby town of [Lancaster](/source/Lancaster%2C_Wisconsin), where he went to work in the law offices of [Barber](/source/J._Allen_Barber) & [Dewey](/source/Nelson_Dewey) to study law. With the assistance of Barber and Dewey, he was appointed deputy clerk of the United States district court.[2] He was soon admitted to the bar, and was also named postmaster of Lancaster.[1] During his leisure time, he continued studying law with Barber and Nelson, who became lifelong friends.[2]

After a year as postmaster, he moved east to [Monroe](/source/Monroe%2C_Wisconsin), where he began his own legal practice. At that time, he was only the second practicing lawyer in what is now [Green County, Wisconsin](/source/Green_County%2C_Wisconsin).[1] He was appointed [district attorney](/source/District_attorney) of Green County in 1843, and was called upon to prosecute the infamous case of Wisconsin territorial legislator [James Russell Vineyard](/source/James_Russell_Vineyard), who shot and killed fellow legislator [Charles C. P. Arndt](/source/Charles_C._P._Arndt). The killing had occurred in February 1842, but in 1843 was brought to Green County as a change in venue. Stewart was assisted in the prosecution by Dane County district attorney [Alexander L. Collins](/source/Alexander_L._Collins). Vineyard was ultimately acquitted, with the jury finding he acted in self-defense.[2]

In 1846, then only 24 years old, he was elected to the [5th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly](/source/5th_Wisconsin_Territorial_Assembly) running on the [Whig Party](/source/Whig_Party_(United_States)) ticket.[1] He was one of three at-large representatives of [Dane](/source/Dane_County%2C_Wisconsin), Green, and [Sauk](/source/Sauk_County%2C_Wisconsin) counties. Stewart went on to serve in both regular sessions of the 5th Legislative Assembly, and the special session called to prepare a second constitutional convention after the rejection of the first attempt at a Wisconsin constitution.

In 1851, he purchased the Green County *Union* newspaper, then a neutral paper, and turned it into the Monroe *Sentinel*, a partisan Whig newspaper.[2] He employed as editor John Walworth, who was later an important figure in the founding of the Republican Party.[3] He largely abandoned his legal career in the 1850s, instead becoming a real estate speculator, buying land from the federal government and selling to settlers.[2]

When Monroe was incorporated as a village, Stewart was elected as the first village president.[2]

Stewart was a member of the Whig Party state central committee in 1853, and joined the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) after it was established in 1854. In 1859, he was elected to the [Wisconsin Senate](/source/Wisconsin_Senate) on the Republican Party ticket. He defeated Democrat [Henry Adams](/source/Henry_Adams_(Wisconsin_politician)) in the general election[1] and represented all of Green County in the [1860](/source/13th_Wisconsin_Legislature) and [1861](/source/14th_Wisconsin_Legislature) legislative sessions.[4] During his term in the Senate, he was elected by the Legislature as one of their appointees to the [University of Wisconsin Board of Regents](/source/University_of_Wisconsin_Board_of_Regents).[1]

During the 1850s, Stewart had served as a brigade paymaster in the Wisconsin militia. In 1862, he was appointed an allotment commissioner for Wisconsin regiments of the [Union Army](/source/Union_Army). He spent much of the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) traveling to the various Wisconsin regiments spread across the theaters of the war to assist soldiers in directing their pay to their families back home.[1][5]

## Chicago years

In 1867, Stewart began an extensive vacation through Europe. When he returned to the United States, he moved to [Chicago](/source/Chicago).[2] Before leaving Wisconsin, he had been a part owner of the State Bank of Monroe, and after the federal banking law, he became an original shareholder in the Second National Bank of [Freeport, Illinois](/source/Freeport%2C_Illinois).[6]

Stewart was subsequently elected to the [Chicago City Council](/source/Chicago_City_Council) and was part of the "reform city council" of Mayor [Monroe Heath](/source/Monroe_Heath).[1] While on the council (1876–1878), he held a seat representing the city's [fourth ward](/source/4th_ward%2C_Chicago),[7] andwas the author of the measures to abolish and re-organize the board of public works and the city health department.[1]

Stewart was subsequently elected as a representative of Chicago on the [Cook County Board of Commissioners](/source/Cook_County_Board_of_Commissioners), and was elected chairman of the county board in December 1879.[1] He ran for another term as chairman in December 1880, but was defeated by D. B. Purington.[8]

In his later years, he resided mostly in [Daytona, Florida](/source/Daytona%2C_Florida). He died of [Drospy](/source/Edema) at his home in [Evanston, Illinois](/source/Evanston%2C_Illinois), on September 7, 1899.[6]

## Personal life and family

John W. Stewart was a son of Reverend John Stewart, a [Methodist](/source/Methodism) minister of the Ohio conference. Although a fourth generation American, his family was almost entirely of Scottish descent.[1]

John W. Stewart married Armida Ann Bowen, a daughter of another prominent Wisconsin Territory lawyer, William Bowen. They had at least three children, though at least one died in infancy. Their only known surviving son, John F. Stewart, followed his father to Chicago and also worked extensively in city government.[9]

## Electoral history

### Wisconsin Senate (1859)

Wisconsin Senate, 24th District Election, 1859 Party Candidate Votes % ±% General Election, November 8, 1859[1] Republican John W. Stewart 1,633 58.16% +1.64% Democratic Henry Adams 1,175 41.84% Plurality 458 16.31% +3.28% Total votes 2,808 100.0% +41.82% Republican hold

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-green_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-green_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-green_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-green_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-green_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-green_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-green_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-green_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-green_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-green_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-green_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-green_1-11) [*History of Green County, Wisconsin*](https://archive.org/details/historyofgreenco00unio/). Union Publishing Company. 1884. pp. [367](https://archive.org/details/historyofgreenco00unio/page/367). Retrieved May 21, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-obit-lancaster_2-7) ["In Memoriam - John Stewart"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-teller-john-w-stewart-obit/125082383/). *The Weekly Teller*. September 28, 1899. p. 4. Retrieved May 21, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-biog_3-0)** [*Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin*](https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio01unse/). J. H. Beers & Co. 1901. p. [369](https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio01unse/page/369). Retrieved May 21, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-annals_4-0)** Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature". [The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin 1882](https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/742ZPKF2KGL2D8H) (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. [199](https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A742ZPKF2KGL2D8H/full/AXSLWXP3H2KOA58P), [201](https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A742ZPKF2KGL2D8H/full/AQD5UWBOUHRIJC8T). Retrieved May 20, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Allotment Commissioners"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/appleton-post-union-army-allotment/125078654/). *Appleton Post*. March 13, 1862. p. 2. Retrieved May 21, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit-trib_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit-trib_6-1) ["Death of John W. Stewart"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-john-wesley-stewart-obit/30989823/). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. September 9, 1899. p. 7. Retrieved May 21, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Centennial_List_7-0)** ["Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052355/http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm). Chicago Historical Society. Archived from [the original](http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm) on September 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The members of the Board of County Commissioners"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-inter-ocean-cook-county-chair/125080613/). *The Inter Ocean*. December 2, 1880. p. 4. Retrieved May 21, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cook_9-0)** Andreas, A. T., ed. (1884). [*History of Cook County, Illinois*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_V_A1AQAAMAAJ/). A. T. Andreas. pp. [453](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_V_A1AQAAMAAJ/page/453/). Retrieved May 21, 2023.

Wisconsin Senate Preceded by John Holden Warren Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 24th district January 2, 1860 – January 6, 1862 Succeeded by Edmund A. West Political offices Preceded by Henry Senne Chairman of the Cook County Board of Commissioners December 1, 1879 – December 1, 1880 Succeeded by D. B. Purington

v t e Presidents of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Henry B. Miller (1872–73) S. Ashton (1873–74) William R. Burdick (1874–75) A. B. Johnson (1875–76) Charles C. P. Holden (1872–73) Henry C. Senne (1877–79; 84–85; 87–89) John Wesley Stewart (1879–80) D. B. Purngton (1880–81) D.W. Clark (1881–82) Adam Ochs (1882–83) Joseph Donnersberger (1883–84) George C. Klehm (1885–87) J. Frank Aldrich (1887) George Edmanson (1889–90) Robert J. Smith (1890–91) John M. Green (1891–92) George Edmanson (1892–93) George Struckman (1893–94) Daniel D. Healy (1894–98) James C. Irwin (1898–1900) John J. Hanberg (1900–02) Henry G. Foreman (1902–04) Edward J. Brundage (1904–07) William Busse (1907–10) Peter Bartzen (1910–12) Alexander A. McCormick (1912–14) Peter Reinberg (1914–21) Daniel Ryan Sr. (1921–22) Anton Cermak (1922–31) Emmett Whealan (1931–34) Clayton F. Smith (1934–46) William N. Erickson (1946–54) Dan Ryan Jr. (1954–61) John J. Duffy (1961–62) Seymour Simon (1962–66) Richard B. Ogilvie (1966–69) George Dunne (1969–90) Richard Phelan (1990–94) John Stroger (1994–2006) Bobbie L. Steele (2006) Todd Stroger (2006–10) Toni Preckwinkle (2010–present) Elections 1946 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Wesley Stewart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Stewart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Stewart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.