My Stewart Roots

1850-1860
A lot of what I have learned about my Stewart ancestors has come from census information (see Censuses in the "Stewart Documents" page). From that source I have learned that my Stewart ancestors haven't always lived in Richmond County. John Wesley Stewart was my G-G-G-Grandfather. John was born July 15, 1818, and died in 1855. He died at an early age, being about 37 years old. I don't know the cause of death. He left his wife Eliza with seven children, the youngest being born the same year of his death. My G-G-Grandfather Arnold Wesley was only 3 years old at the death of his Father.

In the 1850 census, John and his family lived in the Centre District of Stanly County. How long he had been there or when he moved there, I have yet to discover. The census' prior to 1850 just named the head of household, and the number of heads in the household categorized in age groups. No other names were listed. In the 1850 census was listed John W. Stewart, age 32, his wife Eliza, age 28, son Thomas, age 4, daughter Martha, age 2, and son Benjamin, age 4 months. Martha died young, and was not listed in the 1860 census. John's occupation was listed as "farmer". John died in 1855, so he wasn't in the 1860 census. I spent a lot of time searching for Eliza in the 1860 census. I searched all the Stewart's in North Carolina. There were none listed in Stanly County in 1860. I found her and the children in Moore County in 1870, so I checked there for an 1860 listing. I checked every 1860 census page from Moore County and stumbled upon Eliza and her children in the same household, but the census taker had failed to record the "Stewart" surname. He had mistakenly dittoed the surname of the household preceding Eliza's, so there was no way to find her using "Stewart" in my 1860 searches. I was just lucky to find her. In the 1860 census Eliza was38 years old. Her occupation is listed as "Farmer". Their real estate property was listed as $2.50 value, personal property as $3.50. Quite meager. Listed in Eliza's household was Thomas, age 13, Benjamin L. (L. for "Lilly"), age 10, Mary Jane, age 8, Arnold, age 7, Amy (looks like "Ann" in the census, but her name is Amy), age 6, and Josephine, age 5. Eliza hadn't remarried, so the burden of running the farm was all hers, with a portion I'm sure being borne by the young Thomas, Benjamin and Arnold. I wondered why Eliza had moved to Moore County. A lot of times when the head of household dies, the survivors will move closer to kin for help and support, often by invitation from relatives. Two households down the census was a listing recording George Stewart and his family. George was 71 and a Wheel Wright. George Stewart was the father of Eliza's husband John.

1870
In the 1870 Census, Eliza was recorded as living in the Ritter Township of Moore County. Though still in Moore County, she had moved from her 1860 location. The neighbors names were different. Eliza was still a single parent then, listed in the census as a housekeeper. My G-G-Grandfather Arnold was 18 years old then and still with his mother, his brother Benjamin and younger sisters, Josephine and Amy, all under the same roof. Thomas had left the nest by 1870, but remained in Moore County in the Carthage District and in the 1870 census was listed as a laborer in the household of a H. H. Lawhorn. He must have still been single as there was not a wife listed with him.

1880
After 1870, I could no longer find any records on Eliza. She was 48 in the 1870 census. She might not have survived to see 1880. By 1880, all of her children had left home and started families of their own. Eliza was not found in any of the listings of her childrens households. Thomas, the eldest, had remained in Moore County. Thomas, age 32, was listed as a farmer in the Carthage township. Listed with him was his wife Ellen F., age 30, Sarah E., age 8, Lilly M., age 6, Mary E., age 4, Laura J., age 3, and John Wesley (after his Grandather), age 1. Benjamin had moved from Moore County and was found to be living in the Laurel Hill Township of Richmond County (Scotland County was still a part of Richmond County in 1880). He was listed as B. L. Stewart, age 29. His wife Eliza Jane (Wright), age 28, and daughter Lisa (Lou?) Ellen, age 2, were listed in his household. Benjamin's occupation was listed as "working in cotton factory", probably the old Morgan Mills of Laurel Hill. G-G-Grandfather Arnold had left Moore County also and was found in the Williamson District (now part of Scotland County?) of Richmond County. I had difficulty finding Arnold in the census because the census taker had spelled his name "Arnal", age 27. I guess he spelled it like he heard it. Listed in Arnold's household were his wife Delia (Morgan), age 25, my G-Grandfather David, age 4, and his brother (Arnold) Drake, age 1, (note: Arnold was the Great Uncle that was referred to by my Dad and his brothers that knew him as "Uncle Non". He was known for his long praying sessions saying grace over Sunday dinner when he came to visit.). Arnold was a farmer, probably share cropping. Arnold's sister Josephine, age 22, was listed on the same census page as her brother Benjamin. She was listed as the wife of C. A. Hodges, age 19, whose occupation was listed as "working cotton factory" as was his brother-in-law Benjamin. C. A. & Josephine had one child listed, a daughter. The spelling of the daughter's name by the census taker looks to be "Leles", age 11 months.

I haven't been able to trace Eliza's other 2 daughters, Mary Jane and Amy, after 1870. According to information provided by Essie Mae (Herring) Stewart, Mary Jane married a John S. Cheek, and Amy married a Lemmons. I hope to find more on them as I have time. Essie Mae married James Ray Stewart, a son of Joseph Cleveland Stewart, who was a brother to my Great-Grandfather David Wesley. Grandpa Bert Stewart referred to him as "Uncle Cleve". Essie sent some family tree information to my Uncle David Coy in 1993, and he shared that information with me. I was grateful to receive the information as it provided names that helped me to go back further into my ancestry.

1890-1900
Most of the 1890 census's were destroyed in a fire in the records office in Washington, so for the 20 year span between 1880 and 1900, I have little information. During that period of time, I know that Arnold Wesley died June 17, 1897 of Typhoid Fever. Since the last census listing in 1870 when there were only 2 children in Arnold's household, sons David Wesley and Arnold Drake, Arnold and Delia had conceived 4 more children. Mary Elizabeth, b: Jan. 26, 1882-d: May 2, 1953, Joseph Cleveland Stewart, b: April 21, 1885-d: June 10, 1943, Raleigh Roland Stewart, b: Nov. 12, 1888-d: Jan. 10, 1955, and Arthur Colon Stewart, b:July 13, 1890-d: Dec. 20, 1970.

I've searched the 1900 census' for any information about Great-Grandfather David Wesley and any of his siblings. I was not successful at locating any of them in North Carolina in my first attempts. According to the information that Essie Mae had provided, reiterating what Grandpa Bert had told me personally, David Wesley was married twice. From Essie's information, David was married first to a Marjorie Lee (was Lee a middle or last name?). She died August 14, 1907. Marjorie gave birth to twins, a daughter and son. The daughter died at birth, and I wondered if perhaps Marjorie had died from complications from the birth of the twins. Also according to Essie, the twin son, David, had died in Chicago. I assume that he died in adulthood. Thinking about David and Marjorie's son dying in Illinois, I theorized that perhaps that is where he was born, and where David Wesley and Marjorie lived during that short time period. How David Wesley had ended up in Illinois is a mystery (if my theory has any substance). Persuing this theory, I did a 1900 census search for David Stewart in Illinois. The 1900 Census were unique to any previous census' in that there was more useful information recorded. The month, year of birth and the age of the individuals were recorded. In the North Litchfield Township of Montgomery County Illinoise 1900 census page 1, I found a listing for a Mary (Marjorie?) Stewart. She was listed in the household of and as the daughter of a John Pollard. David Stewart was recorded as John's Son-in-Law, Mary's husband. David and Mary were living with her parents. David Stewart's month of birth was listed as April, in the year 1876. The same month and year that my Great-Grandfather David Wesley was born. Coincidence? Maybe...

Laura Jane Caddell
I am grateful to Amy Sadler Seitz for most of the Caddell family information that I have here. She has saved me a tremendous amount of time, work, and frustration duplicating the research that she has already completed.
Laura Jane was David Wesleys second wife, and my G-Grandmother. Laura was the daughter of Martin M. Caddell. Martin was born in Moore County May 6, 1859. He was married twice. His first wife, Christian Patterson was Laura's Mother. Laura is recorded in the 1880 Census as L. J. Caddell of the Sandhills Township of Moore County. Laura wasn't even a month old then. The census was taken June 24-25, and Laura was born May 27. Sometime between 1880 and 1882 Martin moved his family to Robeson County. Laura's Mother died sometime between 1884 and 1888. About 1888 Martin married Salina Jane Caddell. Salina was Martin's first cousin as their fathers were brothers.
The 1890 census was destroyed, but I assume that Laura was still living at home during most of the 20 year time period between 1880-1900. I found Laura in the 1900 census in the Harleesville Township of Marion County, South Carolina. According to information recorded on the census she had already been married for 2 years to her first husband Luther Stubbs. Laura had birthed 3 children, but one had died. James and Laura's daughter Macy (I believe the actual spelling was "Maecy" or "Maecie"), was 2 years old then, born January 1898. Their son James was only 5 months old, born Jan 19, 1900. During a video interview with my Grandfathet and Grandmother that my Uncle Ted Stewart recorded, Grandma said that Luther inhaled smoke while fighting fire at his home, and died from complications. This had to happen about 1907-08 because Luther and Laura's youngest daughter, Ludie, was born about 1908. I don't know when my Great-Grandfather David Wesley and Laura Jane developed a relationship or for how long they had known each other, but there was not a big time period between Luther Stubb's death and the marriage of David Wesley and Laura Jane. Within a 2 or 3 year time period Luther Stubbs died, Ludie stubbs was born (about 1908), David and Laura were married (1908-1909), and then the birth of David and Laura's first child, William Allen Stewart, born September 1, 1910. Laura was about 5 months pregnant with William Allen when the 1910 census was taken. (I need to note for the record that both Laura Jane and William Allen Stewart both have the wrong years of their births recorded on their headstones. Laura's birth year is also recorded wrong on her death certificate. Allen's birth year on his headstone is 1909. He wasn't yet born in the 1910 census. Laura is recorded as being born on her death certificate and headstone in the year 1881, but she was recorded to be about 28 days old in the 1880 census recorded June 24-25, 1880.)
In the 1910 census, David and Laura were living in the Hamer Village of Dillon County, South Carolina. David and Laura had been married for a year at the time of this census. David, age 33, was listed as head of household. His occupation was Night Watchman in the cotton mill. Laura, age 28, was listed as his wife, no occupation. It was also recorded that Laura had given birth 8 times, but only 5 children were living. Macie Stubbs, age 13, was listed as stepdaughter. At 13, her occupation was listed as spinner in cotton mill. James Stubbs, age 12, was listed as David Wesley's stepson. His occupation at the tender age of 12 was the same as his sister's. He was a spinner in the cotton mill. Stepdaughters Eupha Stubbs was 8 years old, Mary Stubbs was 6 years old, and Ludie Stubbs was 2. Laura and Luther Stubbs lived in Marion County in 1900. Dillon County was carved out of Marion County in 1910, so even though both censuses are listed to be in different counties and townships, Laura could have been living in the same vicinity in both censuses.

1920
Sometime between 1910 and 1920, David Wesley and Laura Jane moved to Richmond County and settled into a small house on Middle Street in East Rockingham. David worked in the cotton mill as a Carder according to the census. His age was listed as 40 years old, but he was actually 44. Laura at 39 did not work and was listed as wife. During the ten year period David and Laura had been quite efficient at procreating, birthing four children to add to the family. William Allen was 9 years old. Brother Bert (Funderburk), was 7. Laura was 6 years old, and Edith was 3 years and 8 months old. David's step daughters, Mary Stubbs at 15 and Ludie at 12 were still under roof also. Maecy, Eupha, and James (Jim) were old enough to be on their own and weren't listed in David's household. I haven't found any information about Maecy's whereabouts in 1920. She would have been 22 years old in 1920. Jim and Eupha had both married, but hadn't flown far from the nest. David Wesley and his family lived at #29 Middle Street. Eupha was found living next door at #31 Middle Street. She was listed as the wife of Amon Player. Amon was 18, Eupha was 17. Amon's occupation was listed as spinner in the cotton mill. Next door to Amon and Eupha, living at #35 Middle Street was James Stubbs and his wife Maggie. James was 18, and Maggie was 16. James was also a spinner in the cotton mill. No children were listed with Eupha nor James' family.

1930
The 1930 Census is the last census made available to the public. It is also the last census that David Wesley and Laura Jane would ever be recorded in, as both died before 1940.
As in the 1920 Census, David and his family was still living in the Hannah Pickett (the Safe Mill that we know was originally Hannah Pickett!) mill village. Sometime during the previous decade, David and Laura had moved from 29 Middle Street to 203 School Street. David was 53 years old and listed as head of household. He worked as a "laborer" in the cotton mill. Laura did not work outside the home. Keeping with the family tradition, sons Allen at 18 and Funderbert at 16 were also listed as laborers in the cotton mill. David's daughter, Laura M., at 15 was a spinner at the cotton mill also. Laura Jane had given birth to 2 more daughters since 1920. Lyna Christine was born in June, 1922, and Ruby R. was born about 1924. Christine at 9 and Ruby at 6 were listed in the census. Davids stepchildren James and Eupha were still living in East Rockingham also. James at 30 and wife Maggie at 27 were living at 59 Third Avenue. Since 1920, James and Maggie had birthed 4 children. James Luther Jr. was 9, Howard E. was 7, James W. was 4. and Leo was almost 2. James' sister Eupha and her husband Amon were living next door at 58 Third Avenue. Amon was listed as a laborer, probably in the cotton mill also. Amon and Eupha had 2 daughters, Gertrude, 9, and Hazel M., 4-1/2 years old. Hazel was mentally handicapped. Grandpa told me that she couldn't do anything on her own. Hazel died at 11 years old and is buried in Mizpah Cemetery next to my G-Grandmother, Laura Jane. Amon and Eupha had lost another child, Harrel, born in October of 1922, and died in February, 1923.
Mary Stubbs had married Frank G. Clack, and in 1930 had been married about 10 years. They lived at 37 Main Street in the Hannah Pickett (Safe') village. Mary was listed as being 16 years old when she married, and Frank was listed as being 18. In this 1930 Census, recorded on April 3ed, Mary was listed as 26 years old and Frank was 28. Frank was a fixer in the cotton mill. Mary was keeping house. 4 children were listed in the household. The census taker's writing was difficult to read, but it looked like the spelling was "Bessy" as the name of the eldest daughter. Bessy L. was 9, Lloyd R. was seven, Lonnie F. was 5, and Mary B., the youngest child was 3 years, 5 months old. There was also 2 boarders listed in Frank and Mary's household. Gibbard Mishue was 18, and Doug Thompson was 20.
Ludie Stubbs was married to Watt Tucker, and had been married about 16 years. Watt and Ludie lived at 122 Front Street in the Hannah Pickett Village. Ludie was 22 and Watt was 28. 3 children were listed in the household. Crawford was 6, Hardley was 4, and Eugene was 2. Watt worked in the Cotton mill, and Ludie was at home with the children.

I think that Grandpa did tell me a lot of what he knew. But I also think that he didn't know a whole lot about his family history, other than what he knew from events during his lifespan. His parents lives seemed to be the cotton mills and mill villages of Raeford and Rockingham. It wasn't an easy life.

I wish that I had talked to my Grandfather Bert Stewart more often, but that's always the way it is. We always have plans to talk to our elder relatives, and to do so while they are living, but it seems that we never seem to have the time, or take the time to do so. Then they're gone, and gone with them is a world of family history and information. Hindsight is 20/20.

Click here to go to earlier Stewart history page from Tom Stewart.