STEWARD-William (Stewart) - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Mrs. John Steward furnished the writer the following sketch of his father, William STEWARD one of the pioneers of Crawford Co and a soldier of the War of 1812. William Stewart, son of Henry Steward who was a native of Scotland and born in the state of Conn July 4, 1789. When a boy his parents moved to Oswego, NY where he grew to manhood. In 1812 when the war between Great Britain and America was declared he volunteered in the American service and served through the war under General Scott. He was wounded at the battle Chipawa and was in Ft. Erie when it was blown up. After returning from the War of 1812 in 1817 he married Phoebe Dean who bore him 3 sons: Harvey, Alexander and Darwin; in 1824 his wife died. In 1826 he removed to Fountain County, Indiana and lcoated near Terre Haute. In 1832 he married Melissa Dickinson who bore him 9 children: Noah, died in infancy; Phoebe; John; Samuel; William; Mary Henry and Fannie. Phoebe married a Mr. Couch and Mary, a Mr. Orme. In the fall of 1836 he moved with ox teams from Terre Haute Indian ato VanBuren, AK. During the winter of 1836 he bought from the government the land upon which Lancaster is now situated. He moved to said land in the Spring of 1837 and built a dwelling house fo rhis family, he also cleared the land for a farm and then built a grist mill and saw mill which he operated by water power. He continued this work until his death. (cont. on p. 487) In 1846 when war was declared against Mexico, two of his sons, Alexander and Darwin voluntered in the1st Ark regiment commanded by Colonel Yell. Alexander was 2nd Lt of the Van Buren Avengers and was enrolled June 26, 1846 at Van Buren. Darwin held 3rd corp in the same company and was enrolled June 26, 1846 at Van Buren. He was killed at the battle of Buena Vista.