STUART, JOHN T., was born Nov. 10, 1807, in Fayette county, Ky., seven miles east of Lexington. His father, Robert Stuart, was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in Rockbridge county, Virginia. He was a Presbyterian minister, but went to Lexington, first as professor of languages in Transylvania University. He was there married to Hannah Todd, daughter of General Levi Todd. See sketch of the Todd family. Rev. Robert Stuart, while connected with the University, became pastor of the Presbyterian church, at Walnut Hills, seven miles east of Lexington, where the subject of this sketch was born. John T. Stuart graduated at Centre College, Danville, Ky., in the fall of 1826, studied law with Judge Breck in Richmond, Ky., and came to Springfield, Illinois, arriving Oct. 25, 1828. He traveled on horseback and was ten days on the road. He at once engaged in the practice of his profession, and when the Indian troubles came on, that culminated in the Blackhawk war, Mr. Stuart became the major of the battalion in which Abraham Lincoln commanded a company. In 1832 Mr. Stuart was elected one of the Representatives of Sangamon county in the State Leg slature. In 1834 he was re-elected. Abraham Lincoln was elected that year, also, and they roomed together at Vandalia. While they were taking a morning walk during that session, Mr. Lincoln asked Mr. Stuart his opinion in regard to his studying law. Mr. Stuart advised him to begin at once, proposed to loan him the necessary books and act as his preceptor, all of which was gratefully accepted by Mr. Lincoln, and when he was qualified for practice he gladly accepted the offer of his preceptor to become his partner. In 1836 Mr. Stuart was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated, as he expected to be, his object being to keep the Whig party--which was largely in the minority in his district--in order for future campaigns.

John T. Stuart was married Oct. 25, 1837, at Jacksonville, Ill., to Mary V. Nash, a daughter of General Frank Nash, of St. Louis county, Missouri, and a niece of the late Judge Lockwood, of Illinois. They had six living children--

BETTIE, born July, 1838, in Springfield, married Christopher C. Brown. See his name. She died, and the Bettie Stuart Institute was named in honor of her memory.

JOHN T., Jun., born Dec. 16, 1842, in Springfield, was married there Sept. 6, 1866, to Emily W. Huntington. They have four children, GEORGE H., MARY V., ELIZABETH H. and EDWARD S. BROWN. John T. Stuart, Jun., is a merchant in Chicago, and, with his family, resides there.

FRANK N., born in Springfield, Ill., is running a ranch in Plum Valley, near Sedalia, Colorado.

VIRGINIA L., HANNAH and ROBERT, all born in Springfield, live with their parents.

John T. Stuart was elected to Congress in 1838, defeating Stephen A. Douglas, when the partnership between him and Mr. Lincoln ceased. He was again elected in 1840, served that term, and in 1843 formed a partnership with Benjamin S. Edwards, under the firm name of Stuart & Edwards. It is the oldest law firm in the State, and with one exception, Mr. Stuart is the oldest practicing attorney in the State. He was elected in 1848 State Senator for four years for the district composed of Sangamon, Menard and Mason counties. He was out of politics after that until 1862, when he was elected to Congress, serving one term. In 1866 he was elected President of the Springfield City Railway Company, President of the Springfield Watch Company, President of the Bettie Stuart Board of Trustees, and is one of the three commissioners for building the new State House. As Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Lincoln Monument Association, it devolved upon him to do more than any other one man, in superintending the erection of that monument to the memory of his legislative colleague, law student and partner, and life-long friend--Abraham Lincoln. The law firm of Stuart & Edwards was changed in 1858, by admitting C. C. Brown, to that of Stuart, Edwards & Brown.