[p. 810] a prominent manufacturer of Wampum, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is superintendent and director of the American Cement Tile Manufacturing Company, a concern of magnitude, whose product is widely sold throughout the country. So far as known they are the only manufacturers of this particular style of tile, who do not use the steel wire reinforcement, and as a result are without competition in that respect. Mr. Stewart was one of the early stockholders and the organizer of the company, but it was not until a year after its organization that he became superintendent and devoted all his energies to the business. Mr. Isadore Myers serves as president, and Mr. Joseph Freeund as vice president. The main building of the plant, constructed by Mr. Stewart, is 565 by 65 feet in dimensions, and the offices on the ground floor are separate. The plant covers twelve acres of ground and maintains an average pay roll of sixty persons.
James H. Stewart was born on the old home farm in Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1851, is a son of James and Eliza (Alcorn) Stewart, and a grandson of William Stewart, whose surname was spelled "Stuart" prior to his coming to America. He was of Scotch birth and came of a prominent family of Scotland. When a young man he came to the United States, and located on a farm near Pittsburg. He was there married, and a few years later moved to Beaver County, locating on the farm which became known as the old Stewart homestead. William Stewart followed farming all his days, and lived to reach an advanced age. He was the father of the following children: Jane and James.
James Stewart was born on the old home place in Beaver County, and also was a farmer throughout life. In the spring of 1873 he sold the old homestead and moved to Lawrence County, where he purchased an improved farm of eighty acres, in Shenango Township. This he subsequently sold, and moved to Wampum, where he spent the declining years of his life, dying in 1904, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow survived him two years, dying June 22, 1906, at the age of eighty years. Her maiden name was Eliza Alcorn, and they were married in Beaver County. The following children, were born to them: William; Sarah, who married Joseph Granden, both now being deceased; James H.; John; Isabella, wife of Howard Tilbaugh, both deceased; Ida, wife of John Zainer; Eva, wife of Jacob Pitts; Dove, wife of F. M. Inks; and Melinda.
James H. Stewart spent his boyhood days on the farm in Beaver County, received meager educational training in the public schools. He accompanied his parents to Lawrence County, and then took up the trade of a carriagemaker with Lewis Etter, with whom he continued three years. He then moved from Mount Jackson to Wampum, and for six years conducted a shop, at the end of which time he learned the trade of a carpenter, and took up contracting, meeting with a high degree of success. He next built the hotel at Wampum, which he conducted for four years, then sold out to Casper N. Trunk, and gave his attention to the tile business, as superintendent. He was also one of the organizers, stockholders and directors of the First National Bank at Wampum, but is not now connected with that institution.
In 1872 Mr. Stewart was united in the bonds of matrimony with Maria J. McAnlis, a daughter of Alexander McAnlis, who was one of Lawrence County's pioneer families. Six children were born to them, as follows: Clarence, who conducts his father's farm of 100 acres in Shenango Township; Lena; Wade, who lives at Wampum, married Verna Martin and has a son, Vinson James; Ella, wife of Charles Roberts, of Dickerson, Pa., has the following children: Oland and Iva. Fraternally Mr. Stewart is a member of Wampum Lodge No. 865, I. O. O. F. He is Republican in politics, and is serving as a member of the School Board. He has a comfortable home which he built on Kay Street, in Wampum. Mr. Stewart is a man of large business capabilities, a substantial citizen, and takes an earnest interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his home community.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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