BIO: Miller STEWART, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  MILLER STEWART, M.D., of Forest Home, Centre county, has been one of 
the most important factors in promoting the development of the great 
lumber interests in this section of Pennsylvania, and belongs to that 
class 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  209

of typical American citizens whose business careers not only advance 
their individual prosperity, but add to the public welfare also.  There 
is much in his life that should serve as an inspiration and 
encouragement to others, for his career is that of a self-made man - 
one who has been the architect of all his own fortunes and has builded 
wisely and well.
  Dr. Stewart was born at Penn Manor, Huntingdon Co., Penn., October 1, 
1819, a son of Robert and Margaret (Miller) Stewart, natives of 
Scotland and Ireland respectively.  The paternal grandparents always 
remained in the former country.  They were representatives of the old 
Stewart family, famous in Scottish history.  Both the maternal 
grandparents were centenarians at the time of death.  The parents of 
the Doctor met and married in Huntingdon county, where the father 
purchased from the agent of William Penn 300 acres of land, paying for 
it seven pounds and three shillings.  There he remained until his death 
in 1820, and was extensively engaged in farming.  The mother died on 
the old homestead in 1886, at the age of eighty-seven years, she 
having, after the death of Mr. Stewart, married Elisha Green.  Their 
children were:  John, who died at the age of seventy-two years; James, 
who died aged eighty-two years; David, who died aged seventeen years; 
William, who died at the age of seventy-six; Margaret, who married 
Benjamin Burns, and died at the home of our subject, at the age of 
seventy-three; and Miller, the subject of this review.
  At the age of eighteen years Dr. Stewart started out in life for 
himself as a clerk to the prothonotary of Huntingdon.  In 1839 he 
secured a clerkship in the collector's office at Hollidaysburg, and in 
the fall of 1841 entered the Allegheny Literary College, where he 
pursued his studies for a year.  He then went to Huntingdon, and in 
1842 began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. William Swope, 
at Huntingdon, after which he took a course in Jefferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the spring of 1845.  
Returning to Huntingdon county, Dr. Stewart engaged in practice there 
until 1849, then spent one year in traveling West and in 1851 
established a home at Fairmont, Marion Co., Va., where he practiced 
until January 1854.  At that time he came to Snow Shoe township, Centre 
county, and became interested in the development of the lumber 
business, in connection with his brother, William, the business 
relation between them existing until the latter's death in 1886.  
Subsequently the Doctor increased his operations, conducting an 
extensive enterprise in that line until 1889, when, his labors having 
brought to him an ample fortune, he retired to private life.  In 1879, 
while working in a sawmill, he had four of the fingers on his right 
hand cut off by a buzz-saw, after which he learned to use his left hand 
in writing. 
  On September 29, 1853, Dr. Stewart wedded Miss Patsy E. Shaw, a 
native of George Creek, Allegany Co., Md., born in February, 1833.  Her 
parents, Major William and Patsy (Burns) Shaw were natives of Maryland, 
and their parents of England, whence at an early day they came to 
America, locating in Maryland.  Major Shaw's children were: William and 
James, both deceased; John, a farmer of Iowa; Andrew, who is living on 
the old homestead in Maryland; Mrs. Stewart; Margaret, wife of Samuel 
Rees, a farmer and cattle dealer of West Virginia; Henry C., a farmer 
of West Virginia; and Benjamin, a physician, now deceased.
  The children of Dr. and Mrs. Stewart are William, who is engaged in 
the canning of salmon, in Seattle, Wash.; Walter S., a physician of 
Wilkesbarre, Penn.; David, who is living with his parents; Mary E., 
wife of J. B. Miller, a physician of Westernport, Md.; De Laune G., a 
dentist; Margaret Ann, who is living with her brother, Walter; and 
Robert F., of Seattle, Washington.
  In 1864 Dr. Stewart erected his present handsome and commodious 
residence.  He is heavily interested in Pennsylvania Railroad stock, 
but aside from looking after his investments has no active business 
interests.  In politics he is a stalwart Republican.  The spirit of 
self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual, and it 
is this that has brought to him prosperity.