The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-07-31

1 Nan WHO for Nearly a Half Century
~ VorkediG Interests Of 0Wosso
IA OWoSSo Citizens.

of the banking hrm or M. L. oteWarI ~
Co. who had probably been the longest
in business iy&his city of any of Owes
SO residents, died at his home at 1918
Saturday niglk
Mr.. StSwart's illness had extended
over period of several weeks during all
Of which time its serious nature was
well known. His vitality proved re-
markablsA fora man who for the last few
wears had seemed so frail and even when
the end was plainly near he excited the
wonder Of all by living for two weeks
when his death would have caused no
surprise at any hour. For the last week
he was unconscious much of the time
and for the last three days he lay in
comatose condition from which he never
rallied. His disease was an affectation
of the kidneys complicated with heart
trouble.
While MIR. Stewards death is dis
tinct loss to the community, it cannot
fail to bring out sharply the years OF
patient service which he gave to the
city which was for so many years his
home. He lived here, and was in bust
ness here forty-seven years continuous
Nv. During all of that time he was
looked up to both by citizens in general,
and, if possible. even more by those
with whom he was associated in bust
ness 1t was this trust in him on the
part of his business associates which had
much to do with the fact that for so
many years he kept the money of his
fellow citizens ana that he founded the
banking business (which now survives
him. When he VI hs still in the grocery
business. which h& first engaged in and
built fr6mka sma concern to large
and fofitable business, he owned the
largest and best safe in the city and
kept the surplus funds of his fellow
merchants in it on many nights when
they had no place where they felt that
they could safely leave them. AS he
prospered in business it was only natur-
al that he should invest in larger safe
and start the banking business which
since 1869 has occupied a most honorable
piavo In tho life of the city and the
county. For the eight years from 1872
to 1880, besides his banking business,
Mr.. Stewart also had the care of the
county's cash, having been elected and
reelected county treasurer for those
years
The work done for Owosso by this
money keeper of the people and financial
adviser of business men during all of
these years will never be adequately
told. The number of Owosso citizens
whom he has in times past tided through
financial difficulties, because he had
faith in them and in the city, and dared
to give them the needed credit at times
when the prevailing panic would have
forced them into bankruptcy,
can Of course never be known. Only
now and then some grateful person will
tell of some hitherto untold incident of
this kind That his interest in the well |
fare of the city kept up even to the last,
his attitude in the matter of the secur-
ing the beet sugar factory for Owosso
shows perhaps the best of all. AL
though already become quite feeble, he
would anxiously inquire from different |
committee men day after day for the
last word concerning the outlook and
lid all in his power to aid his son, Mr..
Chas. d. Stewart, who was member
IF the committee, and the other mem
oers of that body in their work. The
inal success of the committee in secur-
ng the factory for Owosso was a cause
If no greater rejoicing to any Owosso
,itizen than to him.
In his social life, too, Mr.. Stewards
influence was equally felt. His affiics
ion Of deafness did not come on him
until about twenty years ago, and be-
ore that time no one enjoyed mingling
With his fellows more than he. Owosso
ociety was always the richer for his
presence in it. He was member of the
church and both in its
work. and the work of the Masonic
lodge of which he was also member,
le did much to improve conditions
bout him. Even after his deafness be-
anne so bad that he could not enjoy
ociety as he had before. his interest in
II that was of interest to his associates |
till continued.
The same affection which robbed him
much of the enjoyment of society also
lade his work in his banking business =
luch more difficult for him. Although
/ a measure it was the cause of his
urying his life to greater extent than t
Q would have otherwise done, it also S
lade him depend more and more on his a
N. The result has been that for il
amber of years Mr.. Charles ID. Stewart, T
no now becomes the head of the bust
sss, has had more and more to do with v