BIOGRAPHY: Lachlan Stewart; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

LACHLAN STEWART, one of the well-to-do and successful agriculturists of the
town of Newburgh, is a self-made man, having acquired a fortune and an
enviable position among his fellow-men entirely through his own independent
efforts. His valuable homestead of one hundred and sixty acres lies just
outside of the corporation of Newburgh, and here he is engaged very
extensively in the dairy business, every thing about his farm showing the
careful supervision of the thrifty owner. Mr Stewart is the son of Archibald
and Margaret (Leach) Stewart, and was born in Greenup, Scotland, November 19,
1830, being one of four children, of whom the eldest, John, is deceased;
Archibald was drowned at sea; and Mary, the only sister, married Jesse
Merritt. The father of this family was a sea-captain.

Until he was eleven years of age, Lachlan Stewart lived in his native village,
and then started on a merchant vessel bound for the West Indies. After being
six months on the voyage, he proceeded to New York City, where he stayed until
1841, when he returned home. After remaining there for a short time, or until
1842, he again crossed the Atlantic, and, coming to Newburgh, he assisted in
building the old cotton factory, and also helped to lay the corner-stone.
After some time he once more went back to his native land, first sailing to
Nova Scotia, and thence to Greenup. For a few years, or until 1848, he was
principally engaged in ship-building, and in the year mentioned continued to
en-gage in the sane business in Newburgh, where he was located for two years.
Thence going to Virginia, he was there employed at his trade for a year, and
finally purchased a schooner, which he ran from Newburgh to Albany, New
London, Long Island and other points. In 1862 he sold his vessel, and became
foreman in the dockyards of Homer Ramsdell & Co., of Newburgh, retaining that
position some seven years. The next year he engaged in building ships at
Newburgh, and was then employed in a lumber-yard of that city from 1865 to
1882, when he sold out, with the intention of devoting the remainder of his
life to farming. After partially retiring from business for a few years he
removed to his present farm, which is well adapted to the purposes for which
it is utilized.

April 7, 1853, Mr. Stewart married Julia A. Lyon, who was born in New Jersey,
December 6, 1834, and to then were born eleven children, namely: Julia,
Archie, Annie, Samuel L., Mary A., Charles W., Margaret J., Jesse E., Alice
E., John W. and Thomas W. Samuel is engaged in the lumber business in
Newburgh. Mary A. became the wife of Robert H. Gretter, a jeweler and diamond
merchant in New York City. Jesse E. is still single. Thomas W., who lives at
home, is now taking much of the responsibility from his father's shoulders;
and the other children are deceased. For about forty-five years Mr. Stewart
has been a faithful member of the Methodist Church, and always takes an active
part in every-thing pertaining to its best interests. He has never been a
politician, but votes for the candidates of the Prohibition party.