William G. Stuart

Few men are more widely, and none more favorably, known than William G. Stuart, who for almost half a century has resided here and during the greater part of that time has been identified with its commercial interests, always maintaining an unsullied reputation for enterprise and business integrity. For the past twelve years he has been engaged in real estate, fire insurance and bonds operations, and the substantial success he has derived from these fields of activity is an evidence of his ability, his sagacity and his progressive methods.

He was born in Lebanon, St. Clair county, Illinois, August 31, 1851, a son of John and Eliza (Glover) Stuart. The father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 8., 1808, his parents being Rev. John and Anne (Alderman) Stuart, natives of Edinburgh, Scotland and Holland, respectively, who were married in this country. The former was a minister in the Presbyterian church and father of four children, two sons and a daughter growing to maturity.

John Stuart, the father of William G. Stuart, spent his boyhood days in Seneca Falls, New York, and received his education in the old academy at Rochester, that state. He played the flute in the band which assisted in entertaining Marquis de La Fayette, on his visit to that city when he was traveling through the United States. There also, during a three years' apprenticeship, he learned the trade of millwright, and afterwards built many mills in Canada, Michigan and Illinois. He was of a strong mechanical turn of mind and made a machine to cut grass, the first manufactured in the United States. He claimed that McCormick pirated his idea and derived benefits from his inventions which consisted of a stationary sickle and movable guards. With another he organized a clock company at Hartford, Connecticut, with a distributing center in Jacksonville, Illinois, and employed a number of men to sell clocks in this section of the country. For a time he was interested in a stage line, which he had helped to organize and which ran from Painted Post, Michigan to Columbus, Ohio, but after he took up residence in Bellevue, about 1861, he was engaged in general merchandising. His death occurred in this place in 1886. Hw was married in Lebanon, Illinois, to Miss Eliza Jane Glover, who was born in Kentucky in June, 1849, and died in the former place about 1857, Leaving four sons and two daughters. Later Mr. Stuart married Mrs. Davenport, and of this union were two sons and one daughter.

William G. Stuart resided in Lebanon, Illinois, until 1859, when his father removed to St. Louis, Missouri, that city being the family home until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he came to Bellevue. In this town he has since resided. He availed himself of the educational opportunities afforded by the public schools here and for thirteen years worked in this father's store. Then, with the intention of starting out independently, he was a salesman and solicitor in various lines until about twelve years ago. He sold at one time farm implements and the old chain pimps, and later was a distributor for rubber bucket chain pumps. About twelve years ago he became interested in real estate, fire insurance and bonds, and has found business a very profitable one. He deals not only in local lands bu in lands in many states and in foreign countries as well, and by earnest, self-denying effort and close application he has gained a large clientage, whose wealth enables them to make extensive investment in the property he handles in different parts of the country. Thos who deal with him learn quickly that the may rely upon his scrupulous care in carrying out his part of the bargain while his judgment is seldom if ever at fault.

In 1878 Mr. Stuart was married to Miss Louise Burger, who was born in Savanna, Illinois in 1861, and was a daughter of Henry and Theresa (Schlecht) Burger, natives of Germany. Unto them were born four sons; Charles H., Walter G. and Victor H., all of Bellevue; and Rodney B. of Montana. On the 31st of December, 1897, Mr. Stuart was called upon to morn the death of his wife, who had been a faithful helpmeet and mother for more than a score of years.

Owing to his upright life, Mr. Stuart has a circle of friends almost coextensive with than of his acquaintances, the high regard which his honorable record has brought him being evident in the fact that for sixteen years he has served the citizens of Bellevue as city clerk.

Source: History of Jackson County, Ellis, 1910; volume 2, pages 261-261