DR. EDWARD STEWART
Submitted by Jon H. Stewart and Pauline Stewart Varley.
Our family in Washington County began with the arrival at Blair of Dr. Edward Russ Stewart in March of 1891 at the age of 28. He had practiced medicine in the town of Linwood, Nebraska for 3 years prior to that. He was born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania in 1862. His parents moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio to near St. Joseph, Missouri. He taught school in Ohio and attended St. Louis Medical College, graduating from there in 1887. He practiced one year under a doctor in a little town in Kansas. He then moved to Linwood, Nebraska and started private practice in that community, having gone there because his older sister had moved there after the Civil War. Dr. Stewart met a young woman, Estelle Diefendorf Dunkle, visiting in David City, Nebraska from New York State, in 1889. They were married the next summer and had a baby girl Ethel, when they moved to Blair. Dr. Stewart practiced in Blair actively for 51 years, delivering over 1800 babies in that period. He was the first doctor in Washington County to use small-pox vaccine. He was active in civic affairs as a school board member and a city councilman and was an avid politician and amateur architect. Dr. Stewart and family were Congregational in faith.

He was born April 8, 1862, died May 1, 1943; his wife was born December 25, 1867, died July 18, 1953.

From Dr. Stewart's marriage were born 5 children:

1. Ethel STEWART Willsey
   born January 19, 1890
   died October 25, 1980
   was a retired school teacher
2. John Harold STEWART
   born January 17, 1892
   died October 22, 1945
   (The only grandchildren of Dr. Stewart were born to his son John)
3. Donald Diefendorf STEWART
   born May 30, 1896
   died September 15, 1971
   married Eleanor Spicer of Beloit, Wisconsin
   he was a World War I veteran
   and retired mail carrier
4. Keith Edward STEWART (twin)
   born September 26, 1901
   died June 30, 1947
   married Hilda Walters
   had no children
   was a World War II veteran
5. Kenneth Arthur STEWART (twin)
   born September 26, 1901
   died November 3, 1967
   married Lillian Muhle
   had no children
   worked in the family drug store

JOHN HAROLD STEWART (2nd Generation)
Submitted by Pauline Stewart Varley and Jon Harold Stewart.

John Harold Stewart was born in Blair in 1892, graduated from Blair High School, worked in Blair and Niobrara, Nebraska and in 1915 married Merle Taylor of Blair, Merle being the 9th of 14 children born to Adonirum Judson Taylor and Florence Maria Wishart, who arrived in Blair by covered wagon from Ohio.

John Harold Stewart became the manager of Stewart's Pharmacy in 1916 after his father Dr. Stewart, had purchased the business of Farnham and Samson and moved his medical office into the back of the "drug store."  J. Harold, as he was always known, managed the store for his father and mother until his death in 1945. He was active in civic affairs all his life, being a city councilman two terms, mayor of Blair 1930-32, and school board member for three terms and president of the board at the time of his death. After his death his wife Merle bought the store from her mother-in-law and managed it until 1958 when she sold it to Wayne Anderson, the present owner.  J. Harold and Merle were Congregational in faith.

From J. Harold Stewart's marriage were born five children: Jean, Janet, Marianna, Pauline and Jon, and there were 17 grandchildren.

1. Jean was born in Blair in 1916, graduated from Blair High, attended Dana College, went to work in Blair and in 1938 married Gordon E. Colborn of Superior, Nebraska who had recently graduated from the University of Nebraska and was an engineer with the C.C.C. Corps in Blair. They lived in Blair, moved to western Nebraska, to Texas, and to Tennessee and her husband retired as an engineer with the T.V.A. system in Norris, Tennessee. They now live in Norris and in Phoenix, Arizona. Jean has 3 children, all girls, Carol, Cynthia and Melissa, all of whom are married and have families.
2. Janet was born in Blair in 1917, graduated from Blair High, attended Dana College, worked in Blair and in 1937 was married to Harold O. Hurd of Omaha who had just graduated from Dana College. He started work for Texaco and was employed by them in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado until his retirement a few years ago. They now live in Phoenix, Arizona. Janet has 4 children, 2 girls and 2- boys, Jolinda, Rebecca Merle, Steven and John, all of whom married and have families.
3. Marianna was born in Blair in 1921, graduated from Blair High, attended the University of Nebraska and while there met and married Kenneth H. Berkley who was just graduating from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He joined the Naval Air Force and retired from the Navy as a Commander. They now live in Virginia Beach, Vir-, ginia. Marianna has 4 children, all girls, Donna, Marlene, Charla, and Lynn; Donna has married, no family; Marlene is single; Charla married, no family; and Lynn is single.
    
4. Pauline STEWART Varley
    
5. Jon (see Jon H STEWART, below)

JON H. STEWART, II (3rd Generation)
Submitted by Jon Harold Stewart, II

Jon Harold Stewart was born in Blair in 1930. He was graduated from Blair High School, attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln one year and then spent four years in the Air Force during the Korean War. He met and married Jeanine Millicent Berger in Great Falls, Montana, while in the service. After his discharge in 1954 he worked in Blair as a carpenter for two years and then purchased Stewart's Market. He has been active in civic affairs, serving on the first Blair Planning Commission, four terms as councilman and two terms on the Blair School Board. He was appointed by Judge Chester N. Sutton in 1972 as Associate County Judge and is still serving in that position.

Jon's wife, Jeanine, manages the family grocery store they bought in 1956. They live in the house that Dr. E. R. Stewart, Jon's grandfather, built in 1911. Jon H. believes he is the only person in Blair's history who is a third generation city council member (grandfather, father, and son); he also succeeded his father as a member and president of the Blair School Board.

Three children were born to Jon H. and Jeanine: Jon H. Stewart, III, age 21, living in Blair, having three children; Marcella Ann, age 25, living in Omaha; and Leslie Jean, age 24, living in Blair. Jon and Jeanine belong to the Episcopal Church.

1. Jon Harold Stewart, III, was born at Great Falls Montana Air Force Base in 1953, raised in Blair from the age of six months, graduated from Blair High and married Mary Lou Williby in 1974. He works as the butcher at Stewart's Market and helps his mother run the store. Jon is active in sports and interested in youth activities in the community. He and Mary have three children: Maria Joy, age six; Jon Taylor, age three; and Greg William, age eight months. The family attends the Methodist Church. Jon Taylor Stewart is the seventh in direct line to carry the name of John (Jon) Stewart.
2. Marcella Ann Stewart was born in Omaha in 1955, raised in Blair, graduated from Blair High, attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln one year, and attended Metro Tech School in Omaha; one and a half years. She is single and lives in Omaha where she has worked as a surgical technician at University Hospital for four years.
3. Leslie Stewart Watts was born in Omaha in 1956, raised in Blair, graduated from Blair High and went to work at the Washington County Bank where she has worked for the past six years. She married Robert D. Watts of Blair in 1978. They live in Blair, have no children and are members of the Catholic Church.