Representative Joel Stewart View All Years

Compiled Historical Information
Date of Death: 4/28/1918
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Assemblies Served:
Senate: 23 (1890) - 24 (1892)
House: 20 (1884)
Home County: Poweshiek
Joel Stewart
Poweshiek County
Born on March 15, 1833, in Catskill, Green county, New York, and spent his early youth in the east. About 1849 or 1850 he started for the gold fields of California. He spent three years at different points in California, returning to New York, where he went into business. On September 6, 1856, he was married to Anna Marie Buch Haber, and in 1867 came west to Joliet, Illinois, where he remained about a year and then came on to Grinnell. He located northwest of Grinnell near where Newburg is where he secured about 1,600 acres of farm land. Here he became known far and wide as a successful farmer, shrewd, careful, genial and influential. A democrat of the old school, he was always interested in politics and took a leading part in the policies of the party in county and state. In 1883 the party nominated him for the lower Iowa house. He was made the fusion candidate and was elected, defeating Honorable Charles Spencer in a republican county. He served the county in the winter of 1884 in the 20th general assembly. In 1885 Mr. Stewart was nominated for the Senate in the Tama-Poweshiek district but was defeated by Senator Poyneer. In 1889 he again became a candidate for the senate being supported on a fusion ticket. Poweshiek was then in the same district with Keokuk county, and Senator Stewart was elected and served in the 23rd and 24th general assemblies. He was a Mason and a member of the Congregational Church.
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