Notes |
- Robert Stewart was born in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada on the family farm owned by his parents. His grandmother Catharine Stewart, his aunt Catharine Stewart, and his uncles Peter and William Stewart initially lived with the family. Robert's parents and grandmother died when Robert was only 11 years old leaving Robert as the eldest of four orphans. Robert and the two next eldest orphans were raised by their uncle, Peter Stewart and aunt, Catherine Stewart on the Stewart farm in west Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. Robert's youngest brother, James, was raised by his aunt Margaret McCallum in the nearby city of Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. Robert would later marry that aunt's daughter.
In 1851 Robert was residing in Puslinch, Wellington, Ontario, Canada with this Uncle Peter Stewart and his orphaned siblings Hugh Stewart and Catharine Stewart.
Robert has not been found in 1861 anywhere in Ontario. Sometime between 1851-1866 Robert moved to Chicago, Illinois, USA. The 1861 Puslinch census does not show Robert living with the rest of his siblings, so it is possible that he may have already left for Illinois by this time. However he has not been found in the 1860 American census. So it's possible that he may have been residing in Ontario in 1860 and the USA in 1861 thereby missing both censuses.
In 1866 Robert returned briefly to Hamilton to marry his first cousin, Elizabeth ("Edith") McCallum, daughter of Margaret McCallum (nee Stewart), Robert's father's oldest sister. Robert's youngest brother, James, was a witness to the wedding. Robert Stewart is listed in Central Presbyterian Church's marriage record as residing in Chicago, Illinois, USA at the time of his wedding. In 1869, Robert's sister, Catherine, also emigrated to Illinois, settling in Bellflower, south of Chicago.
Robert and Edith began their family in Hamilton where their first two daughters, Margaret and Mary were born. In late 1869 (after the birth of daughter Mary) or early 1870 (prior to the American census), Robert returned to Chicago, Illinois, USA, this time with his young family. The 1870 USA census shows Robert with his wife and first two daughters living in Chicago. Robert was employed as a carpenter, like his father-in-law. Their third child, Robert, was born in Chicago.
By 1873 Robert and his family had returned again to Hamilton where their fourth child, Minnie, was born.
In 1881, Robert was residing in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with his wife and children. He was employed as a merchant.
In 1891, Robert was residing in Ward 7 of Hamilton City, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with his wife and children. He was employed as a brewery agent. Also residing with them was Robert's 90 year old mother-in-law/aunt, Margaret McCallum.
In 1901, Robert was residing in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with his wife and three of his adult children. He was employed as a beer agent.
In 1911, Robert, now 72 years of age, was residing in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with his wife and daughters Margaret and Mary along with their husbands. Robert's employment is given only as "income," presumably referring to a pension or other retirement income. It is worth noting that, by this time, the alcohol business in Hamilton was become controlled by the emerging Italian mafia, under the future kingpin, Rocco Perri, who had close criminal ties to Chicago. Robert's son-in-law, Detective John Cameron, would be the first recorded Hamilton Police officer to have an encounter with Rocco Perri. Robert's niece, Jane Ord Stewart (daughter of Robert's brother, Hugh) married Tom Brown, future Chief of Police for Hamilton, whose career became very involved with Rocco Perri.
In 1921, Robert, now 83 years of age and widowed, was residing in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Jack Leith. Robert was not employed.
Robert and Edith had four children, but only one grandchild, who died as an infant in 1905. Robert died in 1922 from acute pneumonia. He was 85 years old. He had no suriviving descendants. With the deaths of his children, this line became extinct.
Robert's gravestone reads:
Hamilton Cemetery
Hamilton, Hamilton Municipality, Ontario, Canada
PLOT M/O, 1878
Inscription
Robert STEWART / died Aug. 25, 1922 / aged 85 years / Elizabeth McCALLUM / wife of / Robert STEWART / died Nov. 10, 1912 / in her 75th year / Robert James / their only son / died April 24, 1906 / in his 32nd year / Jack LEITH / 1873 - 1964 / John CAMERON / born June 27, 1861 / died July 11, 1921 / Annie CAMERON BEAR / born Nov. 4, 1875 / died Apr. 16, 1956 / Muriel / died Aug. 7, 1899 / Stewart / died July 28, 1908 / infant children of / John & Minnie / CAMERON / Charles CAMERON / born Dec. 24, 1879 / died Dec. 27, 1912 / John MUIR / born Mar. 4, 1857 / died Mar. 1, 1924 / James A. MUIR / born in Orkney / Scotland 1858 / died Oct. 24, 1942 / his wife / Margaret MUIR / 1872 - 1954.
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