Written by Lulu Stewart Miller
Philander Barret Stewart was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1776. He married Sally Scott in 1801 and soon after the young couple moved to Ohio. To them were born twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, but death from contagious fevers claimed the lives of five of their children. In 1825, Philander, while attempting to rescue three women from a capsizing boat, lost his life.
Four years later the widow with her seven children sold the farm in southern Ohio and on a flat boat built by two brothers, embarked with these brothers and their families, making a total of twenty people, going down the river to Shawneetown, Illinois; then nearly across the state of Illinois by oxteam to Beardstown, Morgan County, where they settled on a farm for about ten years.
Andrew Jackson Stewart was the youngest son, born September 12, 1819. When he was twelve years of age he rescued the daughter of his employer from falling down a well. The little girl's name was Eunice Pease Haws and the grateful mother promised Andrew, not realizing it was prophetic that, "When she is grown up, you may have her for your wife."
When a young man, Andrew hauled passengers from Beardstown to Springfield, Illinois. Once he carried some men who were going to work on the railroad near the State Capitol, but upon reaching their destination, the travelers refused to pay. It was on this occasion that Andrew met the future emancipator. Finding all efforts to collect unavailing he sought a lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln. After explaining the case to Mr. Lincoln he was given the following solution to his troubles, "Take their baggage, Mr. Stewart, you already have it--pawn it for the amount due you, and then if those gentlemen want their trunks, they may redeem them." The young teamster decided to follow his sagacious advice but when the men were apprised of this plan, they soon paid their fare.
About the time the Stewart family moved to Illinois the Mormons were being driven out of Missouri and came to Illinois where they founded the city of Nauvoo. All the children, with the exception of Lucinda, the eldest, became converts. Andrew assumed the responsibility of his mother after his brothers and sisters had married and continued working as a farmer and storekeeper in that community. Later he joined the migration of the Mormons across Iowa and settled on Keg Creek, near the present site of Council Bluffs. While working in this vicinity he again met the father of the child he had rescued and going home with him, renewed acquaintanceship with Eunice. After a short courtship they were married Jan 1, 1844. She was also a member of the Mormon Church.
After the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Andrew expected to be a member of the first group that crossed the plains to Utah, but he was selected to remain in Council Bluffs and assist in taking care of those families who were left behind. He helped to outfit his brother, Benjamin Franklin Stewart, who was a member of the original band of pioneers. In May, 1850, Andrew left for Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City September 15th.
On October 21st of that same year he, with other men, were called by Brigham Young to settle on Peteetneet Creek, the present site of Payson.
In 1856 Andrew was called on a mission to Australia. He petitioned the government in Australia for right to solemnize marriages and register births and deaths according to the laws of the country. While serving in this faraway land he received news that Johnston's Army was on its way to Utah Territory.
The following notes were taken from his journal regarding his mission:
"Left Provo May 13, 1856 went to Washoe Valley, Nevada--surveyed there for two months, assisting brethren to locate on farm lands in connection with Orson Hyde. August 26th left Washoe on foot with pony packed to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains, with Brother George S. Clark. Had earned $455 cash and $21 in gold dust. At French Gulch sold the pony for $45. Went on to Stockton in a wagon and from there on to San Francisco by boat; October 8, 1856 embarked for Australia. Anived at Melbourne December 10th, sixty-two days out of San Francisco. December 18th went on to Sydney. Brethren in Sydney advised me to shave off my mustache, so I would not be taken for a "Beardy", which I did.
This was at Christmas time and while he speaks of considerable rain, he also mentioned the extremely hot weather. On May 15, 1857 Andrew Jackson Stewart was unanimously sustained as president of the Australian Mission. On May 18th of that year Andrew solemnized the first marriage of the Latter-day Saint Church in Australia.
Upon his return to Utah he served as territorial surveyor and, in 1860, was assistant Attorney General. He also served a deputy clerk of the Supreme Court. He was a successful agriculturist, specialized in stock raising and was president of the Utah Stock Association. He died at Benjamin, Utah, December 5, 1911.