Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-11

OF the most widely-known men in
Pennsylvania as he had been In the
States military establishment from
the Civil War In which he served as
Il volunteer and had campaigned in
every county. being noted as an ora
tor and after dinner speaker.
General Stewart died on his birth
day. He was born near Belfast, Ire
land, September II, 184S, but was
than year old. He grew up in Nor
ristown, where he attended the
schools and then attended Quaker
City Business College. When only
sixteen years of age he enlisted as a
private in the 13Sth Volunteers and
after the war engaged in glass manu-
facture in which he remained until
1882.
Long Military Record
General Stewart was elected to the
House of Representatives from
Montgomery county in 1884 and
served for two years.
The military record of General
Stewart is a long one. Three years
after the close of the war he became
connected with Montgomery county
unit of the Guard and in 1877 was
appointed adjutant of the Sixth
L HHSSlNdnld anu 1909
became assistant adjutant general of
the First Brigade and was reappoint-
ed in 1894. He had much to do with
the development of the Guard after
its reorganization and on January
10, 1895, he was appointed Adjutant
General by Governor Daniel H.
Hastings. He has been reappointed
by every Governor since, filling the
office of Adjutant General of Penn
sylvania longer than any man in the
history of the State and laboring
constantly at his desk. General Stew
art refused to take vacations and
handled all the details of the military
arm himself.
Refused to Heed
After the transfer of the Guard
to the United States in 1898, he or
ganized the Provisional Guard and
was engaged in working out plans
for formation of the Pennsylvania
Reserve Militia under the act of
1917 to take the place of the troops
now in federal service the day before
he died He had been going over
names of men to organize the units
and considering location of the COM
panies. Although urged by friends
not to undertake this work so soon
after the strain of attending to the
General Stewart refused to abandon
it, promising to take rest when the
task was ended.
MainStay of Guard
General Stewart attended every
of the National Guard,
division and brigade for more than
forty-five years and in the last two
decades has been the mainstay of
the Guard. He was called upon to
reorganize the State militia half "a
dozen times, the last time in ac-
cordance with the national defense
act, which work was in progress
when the Guardsmen were modified
at Mt. Gretna for Mexican border
service fifteen months ago.
A book could be written. upon his
labors in the military affairs of the
State and he exerted a wide in
fluence in national military affairs.
Under his administration the Penn
sylvania Guard went to the fore
front of the organized militia.
General Stewart served as a mem
ber of the militia board of the War
Department for several years and
was frequently called to Washing
ton.
Throughout his long military
career General Stewart wrote all of
the orders isued by his department
and personally looked after details
of equipment and other matters
which would have long ago worn out
less vigorous men.
Helped Organize G. A. r.
General Stewart was active in the