Also as Stuart, this family name has been familiar in Scotch and English history for centuries. The founder of the Montgomery county family was Donald Stewart, born in Scotland, of an ancient branch of the line. He emigrated to the United States about the year 1800, settling on a farm in Montgomery county, town of Amsterdam, on what is known as the "Ridge Road." He married Elizabeth ———— and reared a family of three sons, all of whom met violent and accidental deaths on the farm after they had attained manhood. The founders both lived to old age. Children:
- Is only remembered by the familiar name of "Captain"; he was unmarried, and met his death from a fall from the hay mow of his father's barn.
- Archibald, when at the age of twenty-one and unmarried, came to his death from a kick by a horse he was leading.
- Damon, see forward.
(II) Damon, son of Donald and Elizabeth Stewart, was born in 1792, on the homestead farm, which he afterward inherited and on which his long and active life of ninety-two years was passed. He met his death also in a violent manner, September 12, 1884. He was riding an unruly horse which threw him, death resulting immediately. His unusual activity may be inferred from the fact of his attempting to ride a fractious horse at his then age of ninety-two. He married, in Amsterdam, when he had attained the age of almost sixty, Effie ————, an orphan, born in Kingsboro, New York, died June 19, 1899. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were members of the Presbyterian church. Children:
- Jane E., born January 21, 1852; married James O'Brien, of Amsterdam, and has a daughter
- Mary, born in 1884.
- Mary, born May 25, 1853; married Rev. Williard Scott, a minister of the Presbyterian church, now superannuated, and has a daughter Marion, aged seventeen.
- Archibald, see forward.
- Sarah, born March 5, 1857; married Horace Cowling, of Johnstown, New York.
- John, born May 5, 1859; married Marilla Cole; children: Duncan, Raymond, Harry, Hattie, Marian and Marguerite.
- George H., born April 6, 1862; a farmer of western New York.
- Maggie D., born August 21, 1865; married L. H. Van Anthrop of Johnstown. New York; children: George (2), Laurens Yates and Pearl.
(III) Archibald, eldest son and third child of Damon and Effie Stewart, was born March 5, 1855, on the homestead farm, where his father and two uncles met violent deaths, and which has descended to him, the third in direct line and ownership. He has devoted his life to agriculture and has achieved success. He owns the homestead farm of one hundred and eighteen acres, with attractive buildings, and another of one hundred acres in another locality. He is a well-known and much respected man in his community. His political preference is for the Republican party. He married, December 10, 1892, in Amsterdam, Jennie, born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, December 28, 1876, daughter of John and Jennie (Dey) Howland. John Howland lived in Monmouth county and died there in 1879, at the age of twenty-seven. His wife, Jennie (Dey) Howland, was born in New York City, died in Monmouth county, New Jersey, January 18, 1877, aged twenty-three. Jennie Howland, their only child, being early left an orphan, was reared in Charlton, New York, by friends and kinsmen. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Stewart have one child, Irving, born November 12, 1907.