STEWART, CAPTAIN THEODORE A., is a well-to-do farmer of Sangamon County and a veteran of the Civil War. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1844, and is a son of Lewis M. and Hannah (Harbor) Stewart, who were farmers. About 1849 the parents moved to Indiana and there spent the remainder of their lives. Captain Stewart received his early education in the public schools of Indiana, and after his service in the war attended the university at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he studied law. He was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of his profession in 1876, but on account of poor health was unable to stand the confinement of work in his office and for a time taught school in Sangamon County. He then engaged in farming and secured possession of 260 acres in Sections 28, 29, 32, and 13, and 320 acres in Section 34, all in Town 14 North, Range 4, West, part of which extends into Christian County, though the most of it is in Sangamon County. He has been very successful in his agricultural operations and is an enterprising progressive citizen.
In 1861 Captain Stewart enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, at Fort Wayne, and served four years and six months. He participated in the Battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, in the Atlanta Campaign, then went back to Franklin, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., receiving his final discharge at Indianapolis, Ind. He proved himself a good soldier and has always been the friend of any enterprise which he thought would be of public benefit.
Captain Stewart was married, in Sangamon County, December 24, 1874, to Miss Maria Colean, daughter of Joseph H. and Maria Colean, who came to Sangamon County from Jersey County, Ill., in 1855. The father died in October, 1888, and both parents are buried near Pawnee. Five children were born to Captain Stewart and his wife, namely: Alma, born November 22, 1875; Amy, November 14, 1877; Albert T., February 26, 1880; Frank A., August 25, 1882; Joseph L., July 24, 1889. Captain Stewart is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is a member of Pawnee Lodge No. 765, A.F. & A.M.