Obituary of Joshua Thompson Stewart [I00247].

Transcription:

J. T. Stewart, Assemblyman, Passes Away
Veteran Lawmaker Dies In Hospital at 9:12 A. M. After Operation
Long and Useful Career in Education and Politics Closes

J. T. Stewart, veteran lawmaker, educator and historian, died at (:12 o'clock this morning in the Indiana Hospital, where he had been admitted for an operation August 17.

With his passing, Indiana County lost one of its most active and well known citizens, whose career of civic usefulness dated from his entry into the teaching profession at the age of 18 and did not terminate until his death at the age of 78.

First elected to the State Assembly in 1935, he had served three full terms and was the nominee of the Republican party for a fourth. In addition to an active career in politics and education, Mr. Stewart found time to pen a history of the county, to engage actively in civic and religious functions and to [form] friendships throughout the county. He was engaged in private business at different times, once as proprietor of a store and another time as an insurance agent.

Joshua T. Stewart was born August 22, 1862, in Buffington Township, the son of James and Elizabeth Jane (Cole) Stewart and grandson of Major James Stewart, who was born in the same township in 1796.

Receiving his early education in the public schools of Buffington Township and select schools in Strongstown, Armagh and Greenville (Penn Run), he later attended the Millersville State Normal School, the Ada, Ohio, Normal University and the Indiana Normal School, now the State Teachers College. He was graduated from the latter in 1888.

He became a member of the East Union United Presbyterian Church at the age of 16 and was elected Sunday School superintendent at 17.

He entered the teaching profession at 18 in his native township, where he taught three terms, later teaching in West Wheatfield Township. He also taught school at Smithport, New Forence, Grisemore, Mechanicsburg, Armagh and Greenville.

In 1899 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, which position he held for nine years.

Mr. Stewart was a clerk of the session in the first United Presbyterian Church here and superintendent of the Bible School for 17 years.

He was state deputy of wights and measures from 1927 to 1934, secretary of the board of the Y. M. C. A. here for 10 years and active in many other affairs.

One of the late legislator's outstanding achievements and a lasting monument to his memory is his two-volume historical work, "Indiana County--Her People, Past and Present," published in 1913.

On January 1, 1889, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Emma Mack, of West Wheatfield Township. They set up housekeeping in Mechanicsburg. To this union two children were born, Joseph Mack Stewart and Elizabeth Mary Edna. A third child, Irene, died in early infancy. Their mother died November 15, 1910.

On June 4, 1913, Mr. Stewart was married to Genevieve Morrison, a native of East Mahoning Township, a school teacher. To this union three children, J. T., Jr., Eleanor and Richard, where born.

Surviving are the children to the first marriage, Joseph Mack Stewart, Columbus, Ohio, and Mrs. Morris Straub, Johnstown; his widow, Mrs. [Genevieve] (Morrison) Stewart, 717 School street, and her three children, J. T. Stewart, Jr., Harrisburg; Miss Eleanor Stewart, a teacher at Wehrum, and Richard, a pupil in Indiana High School, at home. Two brothers, William G. Stewart, Dilltown, and C. C. Stewart, Brushvalley, also survive.

Friends will be received after noon tomorrow at the family home, 7171 School street. Funeral arrangements have not been complete yet. They will however, be conducted in the First United Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Stillman A. Foster, D. D., pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church, assisted by the Rev. R. E. McClure, pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church of Blairsville.

Indiana, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA

Source: The Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania), 7 Oct 1940, Page 1 (Newspapers.com : downloaded 16 February 2021).