Brevard-Volusia County FlArchives Biographies.....Stewart, Charles Hutchins 1867 - 
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Author: B. F. Johnson (1909)

Charles Hutchins Stewart

    Charles Hutchins Stewart, prominent banker, merchant and politician, of
Melbourne, was born in Joliet, Ill., September 22, 1867, and is the son of Rev.
William Fletcher and Julia Ann (Hutchins) Stewart. He has been a resident of
Florida since 1885.

    Mr. Stewart is of Scotch descent and traces his genealogy to Colonial times,
his early ancestors immigrating to America and settling in New England in the
first half of the eighteenth century. His great-grandfather, Daniel Stewart,
born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1762, was an enthusiastic patriot at the outbreak
of the Revolutionary War, and when less than fifteen years of age assisted in
winning our national independence. In 1802 he emigrated to Ohio, settling on a
large tract of land now comprising Athens county. His son, Rev. John Stewart,
the grandfather of the subject of our sketch, was a pioneer in the history of
the Methodist Church in the West and a minister of much note in his day. He was
the author of a celebrated work, entitled "Highways and Hedges, or Fifty Years
of Western Methodism," being an autobiography of his life's services in the
early Methodist ministry in Ohio.

    The education of Charles Hutchins Stewart was obtained in primary schools of
Evanston, Ill., and Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., and Northwestern
University, in Evanston; though he did not graduate. In 1885 he came to Florida,
and after spending several winters in various parts of the State, located, in
1888, at Daytona, where he opened a drug store. This he conducted until 1894,
when he disposed of his stock and located at Melbourne, where he formed a
partnership with Mr. F. H. Fee, under the firm name and style of Fee and Stewart
for the purpose of conducting a hardware and furniture business. The firm opened
stores at Melbourne and Fort Pierce, and has achieved marked success, winning
wide reputation for honorable dealing and business sagacity enviable to a high
degree.

    In 1905 Messrs. Fee and Stewart were incorporated as the Fee and Stewart
Company. During the same year Messrs. Fee and Stewart formed a copartnership for
the purpose of conducting a general banking business. This institution is one of
the leading factors in the financial and economic welfare of Melbourne and has
the confidence and substantial support not only of the people of that city, but
the public in general wherever the bank is known.

    While devoting to his private business affairs that attention they deserve,
Mr. Stewart takes a deep interest in politics, ranking high in the councils of
the Republican party, in which he is a leader, both in his county and the State
generally. He has served as a member of the Florida Republican Congressional
Committee, and in 1908 had the distinction of receiving the nomination for
Presidential Elector from his district. With the political and civic life of
Melbourne he is especially identified, as evidenced by the people having called
him to serve them several terms each as Mayor, Clerk and Alderman.

    But it is in the economic welfare of the State and the material interests of
its people that Mr. Stewart is mostly concerned. The greatest need of the State,
he affirms, is the development of its natural resources, and this could be more
easily and properly effected by giving greater enouragement to new settlers and
the inducing of Northern capital to make investments within the State than by
any other means that could be adopted. He has himself made large investments on
the East Coast and is actively engaged in promoting its many and varied interests.

    Mr. Stewart is a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and for a
number of years was also identified with the Congregational Church of Melbourne
as organist. He ranks high in the Masonic Order, being a R.A.M., K.T., A.
&A.S.R., and A.A.O. N.M.S., and has held the offices of Junior Grand Deacon,
Grand Standard Bearer and District Deputy Grand Master of the Florida Grand Lodge.

    In 1888 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Annie Mabel Nash, of
Daytona, the daughter of Clarence and Annie (Hyatt) Nash. Of this marriage three
children have been born, two of whom are living, viz: Gladys Hutchins and
Fletcher Clarence.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

FLORIDA EDITION
MAKERS OF AMERICA
AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS
VOL. III.
Published under the patronage of 
The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida

ADVISORY BOARD:
HON. W. D.  BLOXHAM
COL. FRANK HARRIS
HON. R. W. DAVIS
SEN. H. H. McCREARY
HON. F. P. FLEMING
W. F. STOVALL
C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY

1909
A. B. CALDWELL
ATLANTA, GA.

COPYRIGHT 1909
B. F. JOHNSON

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