| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 295 cont'd |
OLIVER H. STEWART.
OLIVER H. STEWART—Although Mr. Stewart does not make his home in Allen County at the present time, he is one of the native sons of the county and has been prominently identified with her interests so that his history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He occupies an enviable position in financial circles, not alone on account of his brilliant success but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. He is a man of energy, of keen perception, forms his plans readily, and is determined in their execution, brooking no obstacles that bar his path to success along the line of honorable effort.
Mr. Stewart was born in this county on the 6th day of November, 1861, a representative of one of the leading pioneer families, his parents having settled in what is now Allen County in May, 1856. He is the fourth son of Watson and Elizabeth Stewart and was reared and educated in Humboldt. In 1885, though a staunch Republican, he was appointed under the Democratic administration, Agent to the Mexican Kickapoo Indians under the control of the Sac and Fox Agency in the Indian Territory and detailed as an expert accountant to the Sac and Fox Agency. He remained there for a year at which time he removed to Parsons, employed by W. L. Bartlett and Company of that city, large dealers in general merchandise, and subsequently became a member of that firm, where he continued for ten years, his labors and counsel proving important factors in the successful conduct of the business. In 1897 he returned to Humboldt to assist in the settlement of the estate of the late Paul Fisher, and when that task was completed returned to Parsons, Kansas, assisting in the organization of The State Bank of Parsons, which was opened for business on the 7th day of November, A. D., 1899, with a paid up capital of $25,000, with Mr. Stewart as president of the institution. In 1900 The Savonburg State Bank with paid up capital of $6,000 was also organized and opened for business on the 23rd day of October, Mr. Stewart being also president of this institution. He gives both banks personal attention, and they are classified among the safe financial institutions of the State.
He and Mrs. Stewart own and operate upward of nine hundred acres of Allen County's most fertile soil, in high state of cultivation, finely improved, and carrying a considerable number of fine cattle.
On the 9th of May, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stewart and Miss Katie Fisher, a daughter of Paul and Nancy E. Fisher, one of Allen County's native daughters. They have four sons: Lyman O., Ellsworth F., Harold E. and Paul F., aged respectively twelve, ten, five and one year. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have many warm friends in Allen
| 296 | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
County as well as in the city of their present residence. In his political affiliations he has always been a Republican. He has served as president of the Board of Education of the city of Parsons, and member of the City Council of the city of Humboldt. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum. Both Mr. Stewart and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Parsons.
Pages 295-296, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
