James Linclon Stewart, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1335-1336 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JAMES LINCOLN STEWART, M. D., conspicuous among the leading 
physicians and surgeons of Irene, is a native of Minnesota and the son 
of William Riley and Albina Stewart, the father born in Connecticut, and 
still living, hale and hearty at the age of eighty-eight, the mother 
also living and in her seventy-sixth year, having been born and reared 
in the state of New York. William Riley Stewart is the son of Marvin and 
Mehitable (Clark) Stewart, the former of Scotch lineage, although a 
native of England, the latter a descendant of one of the earliest white 
families of the United States, several members of which, in an early 
day, intermarried with various Indian tribes. The aboriginal strain has 
been apparent in the family for a number of generations, and, far from 
being deplored, those inheriting the blood are proud of the fact, the 
Doctor in particular, as it has had much to do in making him a genuine 
American and giving him much more than ordinary interest in the land of 
his nativity. Albina Drew, who married William Riley Stewart, is the 
daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Debow) Drew, both members of old and 
highly respected families of York state, the former a son of Samuel and 
Mollie (Townsend) Drew, the latter of Garret and Elizabeth (Barnnes) 
Debow. The most remote ancestor on the maternal side of whom the Doctor 
has any definite knowledge is his great-great-grandfather, Gilbert Drew, 
father of the Samuel Drew, who married Mollie Townsend, as noted above. 

	Dr. James Lincoln Stewart was born November 22, 1865, in Minnesota 
City, and spent his youthful years on a farm, working in the summer time 
and attending the public schools of winter seasons, until attaining his 
majority. Meantime the intellectual discipline received in the schools 
of his native town was supplemented by a course at the State Normal 
School at Winona, where he was graduated in 1886, and later he attended 
for some time the State University, devoting a part of the interim to 
agricultural pursuits and teaching, in this way earning means to defray 
the expenses of his collegiate training. Having decided to make medicine 
his life work, Dr. Stewart, after a preliminary course of reading under 
the direction of a competent instructor, entered the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1893, and immediately thereafter he began the practice of 
his profession at Hurly, South Dakota. After remaining eight months at 
that village, he sought a new and wider field in the town of Irene, at 
which place he is still located. The Doctor early associated himself 
with the progressive members of the profession, and has availed himself 
of every possible opportunity to enlarge his knowledge and perfect his 
skill, being at this time identified with the South Dakota State Medical 
Society, Sioux Falls Medical Association, the American Medical 
Temperance Association and the American Medical Association, holding at 
this writing the position of secretary of the South Dakota State Medical 
Society and serving in the same capacity with the Association of State 
Medical Secretaries. For several years he was a member of the 
legislative committee of the South Dakota Medical Society and while 
serving as such was instrumental in bringing about much important 
medical legislation. He was elected, in 1902, a member of the house of 
delegates of the American Medical Association, which held its sessions 
at Saratoga Springs, New York, in June of that year. 

	Dr. Stewart exemplifies in his own life the theories which he 
advocates and for which he has long contended, that good health can only 
be secured and maintained by strict observance of temperance and correct 
living. To this end he has always been a total abstainer from everything 
in the shape of intoxicants, has never used tobacco in any form, and 
believing tea and coffee to be harmful in their effects upon the human 
system, discards both beverages, besides being temperate in the use of 
food and abstaining from all habits and indulgences calculated in any 
way to interfere with the normal functions of any of the bodily powers, 
at the same time maintaining that serenity of mind is necessary to 
equanimity and harmony in the human organism. He has unbounded faith in 
his chosen calling and believes that when properly applied, there is no 
profession which is so potent in uplifting the human race physically, 
morally and intellectually. 

	Politically, Dr. Stewart yields allegiance to no party, being 
independent in the matter of voting and supporting the principles which 
in his judgment best conduce the public good. While manifesting but 
little interest in secret fraternal organizations, he nevertheless holds 
membership with the Modern Woodmen of America; Brotherhood of American 
Yeoman and Order of Home Guardians societies, and in religion subscribes 
to the Baptist faith, haying been a member of the church of that name 
since his young manhood. 

	On September 19, 1893, the Doctor was united in marriage, at 
Hurley, South Dakota, with Miss Myra Judson, whose father, Rev. T. H. 
Judson, was perhaps the first Baptist missionary sent to the state. 
Three children have blessed this union, namely: James Earl, born July 
13, 1894; Howard Monroe, June 27, 1896, and Joy Myra, whose birth 
occurred on February 8, 1901.