Daniel Stewart, contractor and builder, is numbered among the solid and enterprising business men of Galena, who have been instrumental in promoting her growth and advancement, as the metropolis of a rich and prosperous county. Our subject is a worthy descendant of a sturdy New England ancestry, and is himself a native of that part of the country, having been born in Farmington, Franklin Co. Maine, of which his grandfather was a pioneer. Our subjects' father,Daniel Stewart was born in the same town as our subject's grandfather, who was a native Martha's Vineyard Island, having removed there in the early settlement of the county. His name ws Hugh stewart, a revolutionary soldier, who was early placed upon the pension roll, and received a pension during life. He settled in Farmington in 1794. He then bought a tract of timbered land, and cleared a farm. The country roundabout the settlement was very wild and sparsely populated; deer, bear, and moose were plenty in the forests near at hand for years, and for a long time Hallowell, thirty-six miles distant, wsa the only town of any size, and was the nearest market. The grandfather of our subject continued his residence on the old homestead, that he had hewed from the primeval forests of New England, until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Church. It is a tradition of the Church family of Farmington that they descended from Richard Church, the famous pilgrim warrior, who was a relative of Col. Benjamin Church, so well known in the French and Indian Wars. Our subject's uncle on the Church side, John Church, was a patriot and soldier of the Revolution, and removed to Farmington ME in 1790, and died in 1838, aged 85 years.

The father of our subject was reared on the old homestead, and in early manhood learned the trade of cabinet-maker in his native town. He spent his entire life in his native county; and being a man of more than ordinary force of character and intelligence, took an important part in public affairs. He served the ocunty as Sheriff for a number o fyears, and held other official positions. The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, was Delight CHurch, and she was a native of the same county, and spent her entire life there. Six children were born to the parents of our subject - Charles, Susan, Adolphus, Arabelle, Mary and Daniel.

The latter, who is the subject of this sketch, went to Rowley, Mass., when he was eight years of age, and resided with a family of the name of Hale, and there attended the district school, and assisted on the farm. He lived there two years, and then went to Nashua and resided with an elder brother, finding employment in a cotton-mill. He remained with his brother two years and then returned to Maine, and at fourteen commenced to learn the trae of carriage-maker, serving six years. He then did journey work for two years, and after that worked at his trade in Concord, N.H. remaining there until 1850, when he came to Chicago. He found employment as fireman in the coach-shop of Frink, Walker & Co., and continued with them until 1852, whenhe came to Galena. He started in business for himself, and engaged in carriage manufacture until 1870. He then abandoned that business, and became a contractor and builder, which he has followed ever since, and has amassed a comfortable competence thereby.

Mr. Stewart wsa married the 17th day of January 1855 to Miss Marena Pierce, and to them eight children have been born - Fannie, Ada, Charles, Edward, Fred, Daniel, Susan and Henry. Mrs. Stewart was born in Devonshire, England and was a daughter of John and mary P. Pierce, also natives of Devonshire. They emigrated to American, and settled in Savanna IL (Carroll County) and about 1840 came to Jo Daviess COunty, and spent their last years here. Mrs. Stewart is in every respect , an admirable woman, and a sincere Christian, being a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

During his many years residence here Mr. Stewart has gained a fine reputation as a man to be trusted, and as a reliable citizen. He possesses in a large degree the sturdy common sense, clear judgment, and capability that characterized his New England ancestry; and his steady and skillful labors, and good management of his affairs, have been amply rewarded, and he is now well-fortified against material misfortune. He is quite prominent in the various social organizations of this vicinity, being a member of the following; Miners Lodge No. 273, A.F. & A.M. ; Jo Daviess Chapter No. 51; Eli Parker Council No. 60; Galena COmmandery No. 40; and has served as grand Steward of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M., State of Illinois. In politics, in which, as a true American citizen, he is much interested, he has always been a stalwart Republican since the formation of the party.

Contributed by Christine Walters - From Portraits and Biographical Pg 462