Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-01-30
SEVENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

On itSJ thursday evening whel
Postmaster j. r.. Stewart returned
home from the post-oifice he found
to his surprise that his house wa
crowded with his friends and neighbor
who had assembled to offer their con
gratulations,-that day being tn,
se'enty-iirst anniversary of his birth
Before Mr.. Stewart could recover from
his surprise at this unexpected yisi
he was ushered into the parlor where
ID. G. VaDVoorhis, in behalf of the
assembled friends, in few we'll chosen
remarks presented him with q splendid
upholstered rocking chair. To say
that father Stewart was greatly sur
prised upon being made the recipient
OF this token of the esteem in which he
is held by his neighbors is putting II
mildly indeed.
Mr.. Stewart was deeply moved and
could scarcely find words to express
his gratitude for this kind remembrance
but the emotions which filed his heart
| and strove for utterance were so evi.
dent that they spoke more eloquently
than words.
After partaking of a sumptuous re-
past which the ladies of the company
had prepared and spending couple OF
hours in a social way all returned to
their homes wishing their venerable
neighbor many more years of comfort
and happiness.
Mr.. Stewart is one of our most
highly esteemed citizens and is living
comfortably with his family, consisting
of his estimable wife and one daug ghter
in their village home. He has been
postmaster at this place about two
years.
AT my request Mr.. S. gave your
correspondent the following sketch OF
his labors as a minister of the Gospel.
1t was after was so years old that |
was licensed to exhort in Seneca Co.,
o., and was given an appointment the
following year in Sauduskv Co., preach
ing on the same circuit two years. l
was then sent to Henry county from
thence to Wyandott Co., then back to
Henry county. About that time
located in Wood county on the pike
near Stony Ridge and was assigned to
the circuit embracing, Stony Ridge,
Woodville, Millbury, Martin, Thomp-
sons school house and Bellville Ridge.
| was next sent 20 Portage circuit con-
tanning six appointments where
renamed two years and after an absence
of one year was sent back for one year
more. During the years absence
preached at Luckey and Pemberville
and organized class at each place and
superintended the building of church
at Luckey.
was next sent to Paulding and
Putnam counties as an Evangelist.
This was hard work but my health was
good and the success l met with in
couraged me in my labors. During the
two winters l was there it was very
wet and the roads were mostly impassa-
BILE for vehicles so l was frequently
compelled to walk Is to 20 miles to
meet my three appointments each
Sabbath.
We built a fine new church at Harts.
burg and another at Wisterman and
organized societies at several other
points which have since grown and
prospered and built places of worship
At the close of my labors in that
field, being somewhat worn down,
accepted an agency to sell Bibles and
spent year in Illinois, and had the
privilege of preaching the gospel in
many towns in the four counties
visited.
Returning home l spent year al
Hector and succeeded in building up g
good society which has since erected
Il church building and parsonage.
For some few years passed l have
had no regular work though I have
done great deal of preaching, in fac,
as much as some ministers on regular
work.
Besides attending to his official
duties, father Stewart finds time tc
display his mechanical genius by re
pairing watches, clocks, etc. He il
still hale and hearty, reads and writes
without the aid of glasses and give.
promise OF being blessing to hi,
friends for many years to come.
A. NEIGHBoR.