William Stewart (1800-1883)

He was born in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. He was educated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, before becoming a merchant, contracting with the government to furnish the troops with provisions until in 1828.  He settled in Pittsburgh, and engaging in contracts with the government, and kept commission houses in Cincinnati and New Orleans. In 1826, he became involved in the building of steamboats, imported queensware and in 1828 he was one of the firm, known as Lothrop & Stewart, that built the third rolling mill in Pittsburgh. In 1841 be moved his family to Steubenville.  He was a Captain of various boats on the Ohio, Mississippi, Red, Tennessee, Wabash and Illinois rivers, and made several trips across the Gulf of Mexico.  During the Mexican War he had five boats in the Government service. His last trip on the river as an officer of a boat, was down the Mississippi and up Red River 100-miles, up Black River to the Washita, and up the Washita to Arkadelphia, where he sold his boat and returned home to Steubenville. He then became engaged in the oil business, drilling several wells and erecting two refineries, before retiring. He was survived by three sons and three daughters.