The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-12-21
COL. A. FRANKLIN STEWART,
Commanding Officer Srd Reg, LIST
Brigade U. R., X. of P, and Royal
Kyam Temple No. /, Dramatic Or
der Knights of Omar, Oriental De-
partment, X. of P.


Among the many young men of the
Race who are doing something along
religious and fraternal lines, not
one has a more brilliant record than
! Col. A. Franklin Steward. This il
lustrious man was born in Georgia, in
1877. His parents died while he was
yet child and the plucky youth mov-
ed to Atlanta with his baby sister,
although it was impossible for him to
attend school, he determined to give
his sister an education and out of his
meagre earnings, he accomplished this
end. Although Stewart never at
tended school a day in his life. his
wonderful ability and power to grasp
things stood him in good stead, and
he acquired the art of reading in the
same manner he acquired other things
by indomitable perseverance and
push.
Stewards public life was started
in the same year as his religious life,
in 1898. Throughout his life he has
looked toward the Bible as his guild
ing star, and in connection with the
Army Drill Regulations it has been
his constant companion. In 1898 he
Joined Company A, Second Battalion,
Georgia State Militia. Here his sterl-
ing qualities and initiative asserted
themselves and he was soon promoted
first to a Corporal position and then
to First Sergeant, which position he
held until his Company was mustered
out of service. During this time
Stewart was also recording secretary
| of The Colored Mems Protective AS
ISOLATION. The day afte the Maine
was blown up in Havana Harbor,
Stewart enlisted in Troop X of the
famous Tenth Cavalry, in which troop
he served until the end of the war;
| being discharged with honors on Gen
eral Orders 40-1899. In the same
year the War Department called for
two Negro Regiments and Stewart
was one of the first to answer the call
In an examination for one of the II
commissioned officers he won the
position of first duty sergeant, Com
pany f, which was the leading COM
pany of the Regiment commanded by
| Capt. Leon w. Dennison of Chicago
whose Brother Col Dennison now
commands the famous 8th, III. Stew
art accompanied his regiment to San
/ Francisco and Angle Island, Cal,
| Honolulu, Hawaiian Island Sergeant
! Stewart bears the distinction of being
the first foreigner to march on Jap
anese soil bearing the arms of his
country on his shoulder. He was n
the leading file of the leading com
pany Of the 48th Infantry which pa
raded the streets of Yokohoma, ia
pan, Jan. 10, 1900, by the special in
vitation of the Emperor of Japan.
The regiment also stopped at Maya
saki, Japan, reaching Manila Jan. 25,
| 1900. Sergeant Stewart was in ac-
ton with the Insurrectos at various
times and places in the Provinces of
IILuZon and Benguet. He returned to
H America in 1901 and was married to
Miss F. L. Mabry, on the 18th of
July, 1901. He also became active in
Ichurch work, having moved his mem
bership to the Wheat street Baptist
Church, Atlanta.
II He has served as Deacon, Clerk,
Pres. of B. Y P. u, Asst. Supt Of
IFS. S. and has represented his church
in all the conventions and unions in
the state.
Il Stewart joined Richard Allen
Hodge, K. Of P, in June 1902. Or
ganized Lily Co. No. 9, Uniform rank
lSeptember II, 1903, served as Cap
tain of same three years. He was
commissioned Major of 3rd Battalion,
First Regiment in 1906, organized
IThird Regiment 1909 and commanded
same Since that time, with the ex-
ception Of two years, he was state
mustering officer Col. Stewart bears
1.-THE distinction Of having organized
more companies in his state than any
other man. He IS now the ranking
Colonel of Georgia.
When Potential J. S. V. Washing
ton of the Dramatic Order Knights
Of Omar sent Deputy Potentate, Gus
Sharpe, south to introduce the Orien-
tai Department of the Knights Of
Pythias, Col. Stewart threw himself
into the work, and ably assisted Capt.
Shafer in landing Kyam Temple at
Atlanta.
The Colonel is Royal Vizier Of the
said Temple and has been the cause
If tho Grand Cbarcal1or Grand Mod