Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-04-20
A. L. STEWART.
His Last Iliness-DfsOrder for
Once in his StOres--SOme Ac-
count of his Life.

From the New York Evening Post, April 10.
Mr.. Stewards illness began q week
ago, when he caught bad cold, but he
was not considered in danger until the
end of last week, when bis friends eX-
pressed some concern. Yesterday his
condition was dangerous, infiamma-
ton of the bladder having set in, and
this morning his business partners
spoke of his sickness with great reluc-
tance and depression. AT half-past 2
o'clock this afternoon, while Mr.. Libby
and Judge Hilton were in consultation
in the downtown store, the news of his
death-which occurred at 2 o'clock
reached that place. The shutters were
lowered at once, and all persons except
those having business in the establish
ment were excluded. Mr.. Libby and
Judge Hilton continued their confer
ence until five minutes of O'Clock,
when the latter gentleman entered q
carriage and drove up Broadway.
Within the store groups of clerks
gathered and talked about the sudden
event, and the goods lay in disorder
upon the counters. No business was
done except in the counting-room,
where it was found impossible suUma-
rily to suspend business. Around the
doors on Broadway large crowds were
constantly collecting, asking for par
ticulars of his death.
In lS4S Mr.. Stewart bought the old
Washington Hall property, on Broad
way, and Chambers street, of the late
Mr., John G. Coster, paying for it what
appears now trifling sum, viz, S65, 900.
On this he erected tine large marble
store in which he at first combined his
great business of a wholesale and retail
dealer of dry goods. In 1862 Mr.. Stew
art secured a Sailors Snug Harbor
lease of the entire block at Broad
way, Ninth and Tenth streets and
Fourth avenue, and erected thereon
the great warehouse now occupied as
the retail department Of his business,
and from that time became recognized
as one of the greatest merchants in the
world, if, indeed, he had any rival.
His Tenth street store is the largest re-
tail in the world. II. has eighteen
floors, covering in all two and a quar-
ter acres, and in it 1000 persons are
employed. The sales of his two stores
Lave amounted to so, ,000,000 per an
mum. During the war of the rebellion
Mr.. Stewart was liberal contributor
10 the Sanitary Commission. and was
one of the most ardent supporters of
the government, identifying himself
strongly with the Republican party.
In March, 1869, Mr.. Stewart was nom-
mated to the Office of Secretary of the
United States Treasury by President
Grant, but, owing to his widely extern
ded commercial enterprises as an i'm
o,I Of ha t1,ao doarno1
ineligible by the Senate, and his nOm-
ination was withdrawn. MIR. Stewart
never sought Office, and was one of the
most outspOken opponents OF munich
pal rings and corruption in New York,
and to his efferts the defeat of the
Broadway Railroad project which was
revived from year to year, was mainly
due. In 1867 he went to Europe as
one OF the American representatives
to the Paris Exhibition.
Although Mr.. Stewart was not CEN
sidered a generous giver to charitable
purposes when called upon by solici.
tors, he gave largely but always in his
own way. During the famine in Ire
land in 1874 he chartered ship, which
he loaded with prvisions and sent to
the relief of his suffering countrymen
Again, when Chicago was desolated by
fire in 1871, he made an unconditional
gift of $50, 600 for the relief of the suf.
ferers. Another princely charity was
his proposed home for working wO.
men on Fourth avenue, which remains
unfinished at the time of his death.
One of Mr.. Stewards greatest enterpri.
ses was the purchase of the famous
Hampstead Plains, on Long Island,
and their conversion into valuable
farming lands, beside the erection OF q
thriving city upon the westerly end OF
the estate. He brought his lands with
in easy reach of New York by means
of the Central Railroad Of Long Island,
whichwas built with his own money,
and the erection of Garden City was
pushed with all the strength of his will
and ample fortune, and 1t now stands
as an enduring monument to his men,
DRY.
large system of factories has been build
ing at Glenham, near Fishkill, n. Y.
Rut little has been said about this en-
,eurise, but 1t Is known that he inten-
ded to manufacture there carpets and
other fabrics which form q large part