OBIT: John STEWART, 1886, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Death of John Stewart

  From the Altoona Tribune we learn that Mr. John Stewart died at his 
home near Altoona on Sunday morning after a brief illness.
  Mr. Stewart was born in Tuscarora Valley, Juniata county, September 
9, 1800.  His father was killed while the son was but a boy, and the 
latter was then brought up by Mr. Thomas Ashcom, with whom, in 
Shirleysburg, Huntingdon county, he learned the trade of a saddler.  
After learning his trade he returned to Tuscarora Valley, where he was 
married, in 1822, to Miss Catharine Briggs.  After their marriage, Mr. 
and Mrs. Stewart returned to Shirleysburg and there for many years he 
carried on the saddlery business for Mr. Samuel Bell.  Before coming to 
Altoona and after leaving Shirleysburg, Mr. Stewart and his family 
lived at Newton Hamilton, Waterstreet, Birmingham and Shaver's Creek, 
Huntingdon county, and at Stormstown, Centre county.  He came to this 
city from Shaver's Creek in the spring of 1855 and he settled in that 
part of the city now known as the First ward.  In the fall of the same 
year he was appointed toll gate keeper at the first gate on the road, 
which is now within the city limits.  Here he remained until 1866 when 
he was placed on duty at the gate which he guarded up until almost the 
day of his death.  His wife died nine years ago.  To them were born 
seven children.  The eldest daughter, Mrs. Thomas Nelson, died in 
Altoona in 1856; Samuel B. joined the Second regiment of the 
Pennsylvania Reserves, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; two 
sons, Wilson and Thomas, died while young.  The living children are: 
John O. Stewart, of Huntingdon, an engineer on the middle division; J. 
R. Stewart, of this city, who is now an engineer on the Pittsburg 
division, but who from 1855 until 1879 was a passenger engineer on the 
branch road; one daughter, Nancy J., residing at the toll gate, where 
she kept house for her father.
  Mr. Stewart was a quiet and unobtrusive citizen, and a Christian as 
well.  In the year 1821 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and after his removal here attended the church of his faith.  
At the time of his death he was a member of the First church, Altoona.  
During his lifetime Mr. Stewart neither smoked nor chewed tobacco, nor 
did he drink intoxicating liquors of any kind.  His health, too, during 
all these years was of the best, and it was but seldom that he was 
called upon to take any medicines, and until about four years ago he 
worked daily at his trade.

Huntingdon Globe, Huntingdon, Pa., April 15, 1886