BIO: Leslie STEWART, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 842 - 844.
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  LESLIE STEWART. - One of the leading citizens of Clearfield County, and 
prominent in the business and political affairs of the community, is Leslie 
Stewart, now a resident of the borough of Clearfield.  Mr. Stewart was born in 
Beccaria Township in Clearfield County on the 22d day of March, 1868, and was 
the son of Joseph and Rebecca Stewart.  His father, Joseph Stewart, came to this 
country from Ireland in 1836, ond in 1845 settled in Clearfield County, which 
was then an almost unbroken forest.  He was one of the pioneers who opened the 
region to settlement and started it on its career of industrial development.
  The subject of this sketch spent his early life on the paternal farm, and got 
what schooling he could at the public schools.  In the meantime he worked at 
farming and lumbering.  He early showed his ambition for the best things of life 
by attending night school, and, after a hard day's labor in the woods, would 
walk to the little school house, and patiently endeavor to acquire an education.
  In 1893, when he was twenty-five years old, having saved some capital, he 
engaged in the mercantile business at West Houtzdale.  After two years and a 
half, he started in the insurance business, in which he has been very 
successful.  For two years he continued at Houtzdale, but in 1897 moved to 
Clearfield, and became a partner in the well known firm of Biddle & Helmbold, 
which afterwards became Helmbold & Stewart, with a very large business in fire, 
life, accident and liability insurance.  Mr. Stewart has traveled extensively in 
this business, and has met with great success in writing large lines of 
insurance.  He has a wide acquaintance throughout Clearfield County, and is 
everywhere well and favorably known.  He enjoys the confidence of the people, 
and is a man whom all respect and esteem.
  Mr. Stewart has always been interested in public affairs, and for that reason 
has been an active politician in the best sense of that term.  He has filled 
many offices.  He was elected inspector in 1892 and then judge of election of 
Bigler township in 1893.  He was for years a member of the Republican Vigilance 
Committee of Bigler township and afterwards of Woodward Township.  He served as 
school director of Clearfield Borough for six years.  In 1905 he was elected 
treasurer of Clearfield county, an office of great responsibility, and filled it 
with the commendation of all.  In 1908 he was chosen chairman of the Republican 
County Committee, and managed the campaign of that year with signal success.
  In church affairs Mr. Stewart has always been active, and an earnest and 
liberal supporter of religious institutions.  He and his family for ten years 
devotedly labored to build up and support the Eleventh Street M. E. Church in 
Clearfield, and is is largely owing to their constant efforts that that church 
has been able to erect its beautiful buildings and to extend its usefulness.
  Mr. Stewart is an enthusiastic member of a number of fraternal orders, and has 
taken an active part in them.  He belongs to Clearfield Lodge, No. 314, F. and 
A. M., and is a Past Master of the lodge.  He is a member of Clearfield Chapter, 
Moshannon Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 90, of Philipsburg, Pa., the 
Consistory of Williamsport, Pa., and of Jaffa Temple at Altoona, Pa.  Mr. 
Stewart is an Odd Fellow, and a member of Clearfield Lodge No. 198, and of 
Clearfield Encampment.  He also belongs to Washington Camp, No. 591, P. O. S. of 
A., of Clearfield.
  Mr. Stewart was married on August 28, 1889, to Miss Laura O. Patterson, 
daughter of Peter Patterson, of Jordan township, Clearfield County, and they are 
the parents of eight children:  Wade I., born Nov. 23, 1890; now a student at 
the Western College of Pharmacy; J. Linn, born April 18, 1892; Blanche R., born 
February 15, 1894; B. Franklin, born December 22, 1895; W. Howard, born January 
20, 1898; Grace M., born January 23, 1900; Frances M., born October 24, 1902, 
and Elizabeth E., born January 24, 1906.  Mr. Stewart and his family occupy a 
handsome house in Clearfield, which is the centre of a happy, Christian home, in 
which this large band of children are being reared with the benefit of the best 
influences, and educated to make the best type of men and women.