D. Grant Stewart Biography


	This biography appears on page 888 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	D. GRANT STEWART is a native of the state of New York, having 
been born in York Center, Livingston county, on the 2d of November, 
1845, and being a son of David and Mary Ann Stewart, both of whom died 
in that state, the father having been a plow manufacturer by vocation. 
Our subject received an education in the schools of his native town and 
Brockport Collegiate Institute, and remained in the old Empire state 
until he had attained the age of nineteen years, when he set forth to 
seek his fortunes in the west. He located in Hamilton, Fillmore county, 
Minnesota, and was there engaged in merchandising for the ensuing 
decade, at the expiration of which, in 1879, he came as a pioneer to 
what is now the state of South Dakota. He took up a homestead and tree 
claims ten miles south of the present village of Bath, in Rondel 
township, and also secured a preemption claim. In the following year he 
began the improvement of his property, all three claims now being under 
cultivation and well improved with substantial buildings, good fences, 
etc., while the timber on the tree claim is now well grown. He remained 
on the farm for ten years and since that time has resided in Bath. 
while he still owns the fine property which he secured in its wild 
state from the government nearly a quarter of a century ago. He was 
married in Minnesota to Miss Emma F. Doten, in 1881, and she survived 
her marriage by only one year. Prior to her marriage she also had filed 
on a tree and homestead claim in Brown county and in the same township 
as the property secured by her husband. His sister, Mrs. Catherine J. 
Anderson, also came to Brown county and took up a claim, in 1880, and 
she died a few months later. On the 19th of March, 1885, Mr. Stewart 
consummated a second marriage, being united to Miss Celia Hanson, who 
was born in Denmark, but reared and educated in Minnesota and Iowa, 
whence she came to Brown county and took up a claim prior to her 
marriage, having also perfected her title to the property. This was the 
same claim on which Mr. Stewart's sister had previously filed entry, 
and the claim is now included in the full section of land which 
constitutes the fine landed estate of our subject and his estimable 
wife, who has been a true helpmeet to him. He also owns an eighty-acre 
tract separate from the main farm. In connection with the growing of 
the various agricultural products best suited to the soil and climate, 
Mr. Stewart also raised cattle upon a quite extensive scale. The 
subject has taken an active interest in public affairs of a local 
nature and is well informed upon current topics and upon the vital 
questions of the day. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, 
and he was prominent in the reform movement which was so strongly in 
evidence in the west a few years since. He is a student of sociological 
matters and is a firm believer in many of the teachings of those who 
classify themselves as socialists. Fraternally he is identified with 
the Modern Woodmen of America and the Bankers' Union, while both he and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. They have six 
children, all of whom remain at the parental home, namely: Emma, Anna, 
Fay, Florence, Frances and Carlisle.