In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1809
From History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909)
JOHN STEWART.
John Stewart, of Jackson township, was born on the Catawba Indian reservation in South Carolina, July 2, 1809, and was one of thirteen children, but he was not the unlucky one, for he was a money maker. He wedded Matilda McCullough in 1824. She had been born at sea. They had ten children, all hustlers and not one a quitter, only one of whom was born in this county after their settlement in 1857. In 1865 he married Emma Ferguson and she bore eight children. In the south Mr. Stewart was naturally a democrat and voted for General Jackson, but up here his political views changed to republican. He was a first class citizen.
As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John Stewart: Frank Stewart (b. 1853) Eli Humphrey (b. 1812)
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.