James H. Stewart Bio USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. HON. JAMES H. STEWART, State Commissioner of Agricul- ture, and for many years director of the Agricultural Ex- periment Station at Morgantown, exemplifies the most ad- mirable qualification for his present duties. He is a man of high character, represents the substantial social attain- ments of a family of long residence in the state, and has the advantage of thorough training and long and successful practice in the fundamentals of agriculture and stock raising. Mr. Stewart was born on the Stewart plantation on the Kanawha River in Putnam County June 20, 1859, son of James and Martha Jane (Staton) Stewart. The Stewarts are a prominent family of Scotch-Irish origin, for many generations identified with old Virginia and later with West Virginia. Martha Jane Staton was a daughter of James Staton, member of the Staton family who first set- tled on the Kanawha Eiver in Putnam County, about 1812. The original Staton plantation subsequently came under the proprietorship of James Stewart, who developed it into one of the famous estates of the Kanawha Valley. It remains in the family, being the birthplace of and still owned by James H. Stewart. The home of James Stewart in ante-bellum days was widely noted for its atmosphere of culture and refinement and its genuine hospitality. Many distinguished guests were entertained there, and the intellectual and social standards thus created have continued to this day. Martha Jane Staton was a rarely gifted woman in all the arts of the household, skill- ful in the making of fine woven fabrics and other furnish- ings for her home, and some of the counterpanes, table covers and kindred articles that she made with her hands are still in the home, priceless heirlooms. James H. Stewart attended country schools, the Shelton College at St. Albans, graduated with the class of 1882 from the University of West Virginia, and also studied law in the University, graduating in 1885. However, he never practiced law, finding abundant occupation for his time and talents on the home plantation in Putnam County. In 1893 he was made one of the regents of the State Uni- versity, and in the following year the University author- ities literally took him away from the plow and placed him in charge as director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He therefore removed his family to Morgantown, and remained director of the station fourteen years. Fol- lowing that, until 1916, he was agricultural agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway system. Mr. Stewart was first elected State Commissioner of Agri- culture in 1916 and was reelected in 1920. In both elec- tions he was on the republican ticket, and in the primaries and in the general election he received the highest vote ever accorded in West Virginia. Under Mr. Stewart the Department of Agriculture has become one of the most vitally important and valuable in the state government. It comprises a number of bureaus and sub-divisions, each under the direction of a specialist, and in the aggregate it is performing work of genuine and lasting benefit not only for every interest that can be grouped under the general head of agriculture but for the welfare of the state as a whole. Some of the effective lines of its service includes the spreading of knowledge among farmers and stock raisers as to the best means of increasing crop yields, getting rid of blights and insect pests, grading up cattle and livestock, and teaching effi- ciency and business methods in farm management. Under this department cattle are being tested out in West Vir- ginia at a lower cost per animal corresponding with the efficiency of results that any other state in the Union ex- cept Iowa. The department has done a great work in eradicating tuberculosis, and another source of valuable service is the promotion and supervision of agricultural fairs. Mr. Stewart is also a member of the Board of Public Works in West Virginia, and a member of the Budget Committee which makes up the appropriations for the state. During the war with Germany the work of his department was given over almost entirely to measures leading to the winning of the war. Mr. Stewart was a member of the State Council of Defense, and accepted as his special province all questions relating to increased food production and conservation of food supplies. While his official residence is in Charleston, Mr. Stewart retains his home at Morgantown, and he also keeps, in close touch with the management of his old home estate on the Kanawha. This comprises several hundred acres of fine agricultural and horticultural lands, and its several units combine to make it one of the model farms and orchards of West Virginia. An important feature of this estate is the famous James H. Stewart apple orchard, one of the largest and most successful orchards in West Vir- ginia. Mr. Stewart married Miss Minnie Louise Vance, and they have one son, James Vance Stewart. The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 288